u/SoManySoFew

Lost my soul dog at 15 about 2 months ago. I went into a deep depression. I didn't think I could adopt again but here I am with a new floof and my mood has done a 180. I am a caregiver and love having a floof to care for.

The problem is, being near dogs causes me to itch. Physically having their fur touch my skin is what causes it. I don't have any other signs of congestion or sneezing.

My soul dog was not a lover. She would tolerate scritches but wasn't a snuggle dog. The new floof is definitely a snuggler.

I remember having this issue when I originally got the soul dog. I assume that baths and being in the same household eventually made me less reactive to her?

Any suggestions on a way to reduce the irritation until she's been here a while? More baths? Special shampoo? I don't want to discourage her snuggling! I need the snuggle!

I just lost my soul dog a few months ago. I miss the companionship but I've been looking forward to travelling as I retire in my 60's.

So here I am, a few months later, and I can't seem to pull the trigger on a trip. I will be traveling solo, as I've been divorced for a long time and I just have never found solo travel as enjoyable as sharing the experience with someone you love. I also struggle with spending thousands of dollars on something that just leaves me with memories instead of all the things I'd like to do around the house.

So I decided to foster with a rescue. My first foster dog came home this week. Of course she ends up being everything I'd want in a dog and I am very, very picky. So I'm struggling ... Adopt her or no?

Do you have a dog? Would you get another one? Are you worried about your dog outliving you?

UPDATE:

I called the rescue to tell them I was interested in adopting her. The rescue coordinator said 'I knew it!' LOL.

I can't explain it. She is not my soul dog and I don't want her to be. My soul dog was there through so many tough times I can't count. This one is like I'm caring for a sibling, like they are connected somehow but still two different dogs. No, I'm not losing my mind! LOL

She is a 20 lb terrier mix. Wicked smart, very timid but getting more comfortable every day. Genuinely sweet and gentle. Wants to play and gets zoomies but seems to know when that's ok and is super calm, abnormally so, other times. I would describe her as having an old soul.

She enjoyed a bath, let me touch her toe beans (good sign for comfort with toenail clippings), flips on her back for belly rubs and lets me carry her on her back like a baby in my arms but isn't insistent on being carried. Isn't food aggressive, barks at appropriate times (not yippy) and no accidents in the house yet. And she's a snuggler. If I'm on the floor, she'll come up to me and snuggle her head under my chin wanting scritchers. The only issue I'm having is that she eats odd things (leaves and grass - no she's not hungry but yes, may have a slight upset tummy due to the change in food) and rocks (not eating them but she definitely still has puppy chewing behaviors).