Yes, I have had to deal with it too. I lost my very first Golden when she was only 5 months old. I took it extremely hard but a couple months later my next Golden came along and helped ease my pain. She lived to be 13 1/2. She has been gone many years now but all the dogs who have touched my life in the past are still with me. They live on in what they taught me about feelings, living and most importantly loving! I'm sure your sweetheart lives on in your life by how she touched you while she was here.