Ms. Benson,

I shall think of your son.

This is the first year in several that we don't have some one in Bosnia, Afghanistan, or Iraq. I am grateful.

Thank you for your son's service to our country.

I wish for you and yours a Happy New Year.

My first post seemed kind of snippy when I re-read it, so I thought I would add this.

I take my old girl over to visit my mom's even older girl. They get along well and just sort of walk around the yard together.
It does seem to perk up my mom's dog while Nico is there and for a while afterwards. But I also am totally sure they are good together and that there won't be any conflict or chance of Carm getting hurt.

After the loss of my dog Levi last year the one thing that truly helped with the grief was having a new pup. He was certainly not a replacement, and I still miss Levi everyday, but having a pup to hold on to and cuddle and teach and enjoy really helped me deal with the loss of Levi.

We waited about a month and a half before we got Yote and it was just about perfect for us, because in those first few weeks I would not have had it in me to care for a new pup.

i had lost my amstaff a few months ago due to diabitis he rname was charm, i waited about a month before i started looking for another amstaff and i stubbled upon the cane corso breed and instantly fell in love, i picked up ace and it helped me and my family ease the pain of loosing charm our beloved princess. ace is a male and now i am thinking about getting him a female to play with, im just hoping they get along. and ace doesnt get upset that he wont have 100 percent of my attention when i bring the female home.

but on your original post i would deff wait on the new dog, give yours all your attention in theese last days weeks or months let him go with a full and loving heart.

Again, thank you all for your heartfelt advice. I think I have convinced my husband that we need to wait...Bear is doing fairly well for a 12-year-old big dog. Mike A., I very much appreciate your kind words regarding my son, thank you, and please feel free to call me Diane. Jennifer, I only took your words as well-intentioned, never "snippy".

Although I have pretty much convinced my husband that we need to wait, we were discussing this matter about 10 days ago with a young couple (my son's best friend and his wife, who are our main dog and house sitters whenever we go out of town). They know Bear very well and of course, offered their advice. They purchased their first home just this past June, a month before their wedding, and have been talking about getting a puppy themselves. Our discussions spurred them into action, and just in the past week, they have been approved to adopt a rescue pup. So my story has a happy ending (or a chapter anyway) for one lucky puppy. They have promised to bring the puppy over to meet us and to meet Bear, and if that meeting goes well, my husband and I may puppysit for them when they take vacation this summer. Yes, I'm going to insist on a crate for the puppy if he does stay for an extended period and will follow the other advice on this website regarding introducing their puppy to Bear. I know that all dogs and puppies are different, but I think that interaction will further help my husband and I make up our minds. As I said earlier, there is no urgency. I'm just happy that at least one puppy has been rescued and will have a good, loving home.
Thanks again everyone.