I don't think there is a right or wrong here. I won't ever forget an older woman who came into our shelter the week she lost her small dog. We happened to have a small dog of similar breed. She immediately adopted him and named him after her deceased dog. I think she quite literally "replaced" her lost dog with this new one. But there was no harm in it and for that woman, it was the right decision.
Any guilt you might feel from looking at other dogs, sending in applications, etc. are your own. No one is judging you, and as you mentioned it is a deeply personal decision.
My story is, I intentionally got a puppy when Soro was 11 years old. Still healthy enough, but slowing down for sure. I wanted a 'project' and I wanted to have a dog who could be outside with me when Soro couldn't anymore. I know that there was the possibility that things didn't pan out exactly as I wanted. But for me, it did. It did not make Sor's death any easier. But having Brae helped me keep my day to day structure (going outside, engaging with a dog, eating, etc.) even when it felt like my world was collapsing. Personally, I find new dogs and puppies to be stressful. Joyous, but stressful. Like who is this dog? what work do I need to put in? I could not see myself go through the stress of discovering a new dog while experiencing grief. It helped that I was able to raise Brae when Sor was okay. The inevitable comparing of dogs, shift in routines, training, and ultimately being comfortable with BOTH dogs in my life... All happened when things were good. I needed it to be that way. However, I cannot see myself without a dog. So as it is with most things in life I think there could have been many agreeable outcomes.
Best of luck to you on your journey.
Any guilt you might feel from looking at other dogs, sending in applications, etc. are your own. No one is judging you, and as you mentioned it is a deeply personal decision.
My story is, I intentionally got a puppy when Soro was 11 years old. Still healthy enough, but slowing down for sure. I wanted a 'project' and I wanted to have a dog who could be outside with me when Soro couldn't anymore. I know that there was the possibility that things didn't pan out exactly as I wanted. But for me, it did. It did not make Sor's death any easier. But having Brae helped me keep my day to day structure (going outside, engaging with a dog, eating, etc.) even when it felt like my world was collapsing. Personally, I find new dogs and puppies to be stressful. Joyous, but stressful. Like who is this dog? what work do I need to put in? I could not see myself go through the stress of discovering a new dog while experiencing grief. It helped that I was able to raise Brae when Sor was okay. The inevitable comparing of dogs, shift in routines, training, and ultimately being comfortable with BOTH dogs in my life... All happened when things were good. I needed it to be that way. However, I cannot see myself without a dog. So as it is with most things in life I think there could have been many agreeable outcomes.
Best of luck to you on your journey.
