Some of you might remember me fostering Bruce the Lab, that was nearly three weeks ago and he's settled in nicely now and is learning the rules and some extras, like recall and how to not hump other dogs!

Selma (my dog) and Bruce get on like a house on fire - play fighting and teasing each other with toys, you know how it goes. Now I'm really worried that Selma is going to grieve terribly when he goes back home, or moves to a new home. Long term I'm planning on getting her a brother (another rescue Border Collie) but this won't be for a year or more because of financial stuff, so she's going to be home alone again when Bruce moves on.

What do you think? Have you had a similar experience? Is there anything I should do in advance of the inevitable break-up?

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Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

My chocolate lab was with my dog Sam ever since he was a puppy,Sam died last July and bruno moped around for days.
There isnt anything you can do apart from shower them with cuddles etc to show them that they havn't lost their love in you.
It is only natural for a dog to miss someone, like when you go on holiday or something.
Hopefully, your dog wont be that bad as they havnt been together for an extensive time, but when the time comes give your dog a lot of attention and she will soon forget about Bruce, she just needs to feel loved and not abandoned.
Hope the dogs ok,
Chloe x

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I think she will miss him for a while, but with lots of love and attention she should move on.
I would try to make sure she spends at least a little alone time everyday so she doesn't become totally dependent on him, this is something I'm working on at the moment as if Zipper goes out Lilly cries and panics until he comes back.

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

My Dixie had Jet, a lab x retreiver when she came how with us, they slept together and were unseperable. When we lost Jet, Dixie was 4 months ols. She got very depressed. We made sure to keep her happy playing games and going interesting walks.

Since then we have had a few fosters and dogs to stay, she isn't phased by it now, but to start with she was a bit miffed when the other dog left.

If you have any friends with dogs then go walks with them

x

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Different for you as you are not losing one through death, but sure there will be someone with some advice our eldest one pined badly when we lost his brother last year he became very depressed if he wasnt laying in his bed he was at the gate looking up and down the road looking for monty to come home it was heartbreaking.

We was told that he would have excepted it better if we had taken him to see his brother being p.t.s, i didnt know this and at the time he was going for one of his usual checks and although we knew his time was very close we didnt know it was going o be hat night.So ime sure thare will be a process you can go through. good luck with them both.

Thanks for the replies, they're really sad stories. I've taken everything on board x

If Bruce goes back to his current owner, I will be able to walk him and Selma together everyday, which I'm hoping is what will happen - for Bruce's sake.

I've booked Bruce in for a fun swim at the hydro pool followed by Selma's agility class, so they will be apart from each other for a short spell but still having huge fun.

I'm also noticing the early stages of separation anxiety with Bruce and me, not good, looks like I've made some school boy errors, so I will have to tighten things up straight away and teach them both some independance!

Thanks again, Rachel

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Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

I think he will feel a bit sad yes.

When Woody died Dante never really got over it, infact his moods changed completely. It wasn't until we got Mika that the Dante we know and love came back to us. I mean its taken him ages to accept Mika but at least he's back.

I never knew until Woody died how sad a dog would be after losing their friend.

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My two babies. Separated for a while but now both reunited on Rainbow Bridge, running in a field of daises. Gone but not forgotten. Love you always and forever



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281358/quotes?qt0401992

A bit of a different story; but my moms Border Collie X Holly used to love my cat star. We had star for 14 years and Holly grew up knowing him. Holly loved playing with star and at night they would sleep together.

Star went missing last year; and since he's been gone she's completely changed. She's still playful as she always will be (she's an excited dog) but she has put on a lot of weight as he's not there to play with and for a long time she was very sad and just lay around a lot.

She's moved on now; but I think she still thinks of him as I do.

Stacey xxx

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