Kira was 9 and a half when we got Finn and I thought I had remembered the mayhem of the puppy months, but you must block them out (much like the pain of childbirth!!), because Finn would do things and everything would come flooding back - Kira had done them too and I had completely forgotten!

Re losing a pup... Kira was my first dog and celebrated her 13 birthday last Friday. I haven't yet lost one, although I know it's in the post. I can't imagine how awful it will be. You have my sympathies.

I'm hoping that a second dog will force me to get on with it, amidst my grief, and also perhaps persuade me that finn needs a mate, and therefore not precluede the possibility of another dog. But of course, all that is YEARS and YEARS away!!