When I got Shaianne, she was the first dog I could actually call all mine. She was my beloved first born child. I too, missed her when I was gone, couldn't wait to get home to see her, thought of and worried about her when I wasn't with her.
Everyone that knows me said "What would Staci do if something happens to that dog? She will go nuts." Then one dreadful day, the worst thing happened. Circumstances beyond my control, took my baby girl from me. There was no way I could have saved her. She had an anuerysm, that was causing seizures that we thought was epilepsy. God called her to help him at the Rainbow Bridge. He needed her more than I, if that was possible.
I didn't think I would ever stop crying, ever smile again, ever laugh again. I wanted to be with her, and I kept praying over and over that by some miracle when my dad took her home, to lay her to rest she would rise up and it was all a mistake, I waited for that phone to ring, that it would be my dad, saying " She's ok". Now remember, I was 25 years old when she died. I knew better but grief does awful things to you. But its like when a person dies, you move on, you love again, you miss them everyday, but you become a better and stronger person for what they taught you. Shaianne made me the person I am today. She wasn't the perfect dog, but she was my baby.
Closure is a very important thing. Shaianne died on a Thursday, and on Sat I went and visited her grave, a week or so later I took her bandana and tied it to the cross. Thinking it would probably blow away with the first big wind we had, it hasn't, It is still there on her cross. I think that is her way of saying she is still with me. I miss her everyday, and think of her everyday. Tho I love Keegan and Kylie with all my heart, I still miss and love my Shai baby.
And many of you may remember that when I took Keegan to my parents house the first time I took her out to the grave and "introduced" her to her big sister. Keegan laid down by the grave and rested her head on her paws, like she was listening for just a brief moment.
Then not too long ago, Keegan and I were playing Frisbee outside at my parents and she ran over by Shai's grave and for a brief instant, she did the same thing, laid down with her head on her paws. It was a precious moment.
Sorry for the book, to answer the question.
Yes, I believe you can love your pet too much, but how can you not? You will love your spouse too much, your child too much, your parents too much, etc. If love kept us alive, we would never die.