A big dilemma. General Chat

Hey everyone. I need some advice.

I don´t remember if I told you about the puppies that Leo fathered but the female had four puppies, all of whom were stillborn due to the mother getting an infection but I managed to breath life into three of them. One had two much fluid in his lungs and died 10 hours later but the two females thrived and are now 6 weeks little rugrats. They were named Hetja (Hero) and Hope at birth. Well they were also born on the same day as my dad went in the hospital but at that time, even if I knew that the outlook for his cancer was bleak, I still had hope for him to recover and I decided that Hope, the puppy would be his. I was to move to in with him so I would have of course helped while he was sick.

Well my dad didn´t make it. He passed away a few weeks ago.
Now I realized that I have a 6 week old puppy who will be ready for her home in 3-4 weeks and I have no idea what to do.
The thought of her going somewhere else is horrible. My ties to her are so strong and I still feel like she is my dads pup even if they never met. And I literally pulled her away from death at birth.

But I already have three dogs and I live alone with my 13 year old son and Destiny is only 16 months old. I am afraid I can´t take care of 4 dogs and give all of them the individual attention they need.
The breeder says that it´s my call and she thinks I can do it but she also has 10 dogs herself so 5 do not sound very many to her.

Could I get opinions from you guys that have more experience than me? Than might help here.

Head V heart situation, only you can decide, BUT from the tone of your post, it seems your head is leading the way, you have said you know you cant look after 4 dogs, sometimes one dog to many tips us over the edge, for what its worth my advice is to go with your head , its talking sense,

Our heats rule us sometimes even when its the wrong decision, I am sure the breeder will find this pup a good home, take comfort in that thought.

I think that the fact that your asking the question gives the answer, don’t feel guilty im sure your dad would understand and want you to do what’s best for you and the pup. x

Hmmm well only you can decide and if you believe you wouldn't be able to cope with another dog then there's no point going any further with those thoughts tbh. I know if it was me I'd squeeze it in and it's only a tiddler an.d it would be a permanent reminder of my dad
Ignore me and go with your head

Dagbjört I know what I would do but then I am not you, am I. But she is only a tiddler, as are your other three. I was a single parent with two young children, both younger than your son, and I had Griffons - also tiddlers. And there always seemed to be room for one more...

...that one more that just had to stay.

The decision is yours. Head over heart. And in all honesty I cannot see what choice you have.

But I wish you the best of luck in whatever choice you do make, and that the tiddler finds a wonderful home even if it is not with you.

It's not just about slipping another dog in, its whether you can afford another dog, vet fees flea worming treatment food so on, as you have said there's only you, your 13 year old son & your beautiful 3 dogs.
Its not a case of simply saying yes I have the puppy, you got to be 100% sure you want the puppy for all the right reasons & not because the puppy was going to be your dad's, you got to truely want this puppy, don't let yourself feel presured into having the puppy & never ever feel guilty if you say no.
You will make the correct choice in the end.

So sorry you lost your Dad. if you feel you can cope go ahead but if you feel you can't don't be hard on yourself only you can decide. Hope all goes well for you. LOL.

Thank you all for your kind words and advice.

I agree that by asking this my answer should be clear normally but I have a very bad case of fear of making decisions, which is what my dad would help me with.

So here is the deal:
I am a single mother with a 13 year old son. I am an invalid so I do not work but I do go to school as much as my mental health allows me. The reasons for my disability does not affect my ability to take care of my dogs but the training and socialization is actually very good for me and my doctors both mental and physical, encourige me to have dogs.
I currently live in a single house with a massive back and front yard that has been dog proofed and they can roam around as much as I allow them. Normally I walk my dogs offleash for at least an hour 4 times a week. And than we go for leashed walks in between. Than we romp around the yard for playing. I have always got remarks from judges on how muscular and in good shape my pups are.
I can afford to feed them with ease and I feed Regal mixed with raw.
I always have someone that I trust to watch them if I need, my brother and SIL, 3 of my friends and an aunt.
So far all my dogs are pretty easy going and laid back. They are obidiance trained as well as show trained.
They get fed two - three times a day depending on their age and develoment .
My three pups are laid back with other dogs and are well trained around them although the age gap between Desty and the other two can cause a rift since she is much more playful and they get annoyed by that sometimes.

my life pretty much is my son and my dogs. I dont need anything else in my life.

here a few pics I want to share with you and I would really love it if you could help me make this decision. If you were placing a puppy in a new home, would my home be that home?

these are Hetja and Hope. My Hope is the one with the bigger blaze

This is their dad when he was a pup. I think Hope looks so much like him,
They use to be so small. I cant believe they were dead.


Here we tried for a family photo but Leo was not very interested.


And here I just wanted to show you a very cute and important pic. Desty visiting her Afi in the hospital.

I think you need to change your signature Dagbjört and add the name of Hope.

I think it would please your Dad who is, I am sure, watching over you all.

I think you're the ideal home tbh

As long as your happy to add a 4th pup then go for it.

Yes the photo of your Dad made me cry but Dagbjört use your heart and not your head, and keep Hope for the sake of your Dad. Please?

And add her to your signature.

You will cope with Hope. She came especially for you and I think you know that.

Hope will help you cope with the loss of your Dad. And he will look after all of you.

Thank you all. I have taken a long time to think things over and decided that Hope will be coming home in a few weeks.
She will be getting her first set of shots next monday, which I offered to pay for both puppies. The breeder will get the next set.

We will have to be very careful because the mom is very protective and attached to the pups. This is her second litter and she was not like that the last time. The girls are seven weeks old and the mom is still letting them suckle her and still cleaning after them even if they are on solids. I belive she suffered shock in the birth and c section plus loosing two of her pups. I know dogs do not have the same sence of logical thinking as we do but I am sure that all plays a big part in how attached she is to her two remaining girls.
So we will probably just wean Hope into my home gradually. Have her come for visits with mom and than without her before she comes home altogether.
And of course that wont start untill she is at least 9 weeks old. But I am spending a good amount of time with her, playing with her, giving her little treats and cuddling her.
I am also going to do the same thing I did with Destiny, buy a stuffed toy and leave with Hope and her mom and sister and than bring it home with us so she will have the smell of them with her.

Any other ideas to make this transition as easy for everyone as possible?

Oh Dagbjört - I have suddenly gotten rather damp eyes reading your post and seeing your new signature.

I am sure that your Dad is looking down and smiling.

Lovely news I am sure you and your puppy will be very happy together it sounds as if she will have a wonderful loving home with you and well done in reviving those pups my mum did one once when I was 7 years old and she fed him on a salt pot with a teat on it he grew up into a wonderful little dog the pups mum had died giving birth and it was a neighbors dog well done...