Is there PTSD when getting a dog after losing a beloved dog to cancer and amputation? And how does one recover? 

I think I have used this analogy before - that getting Jasper feels akin to driving a brand new car off the lot - it starts depreciating in value the first mile you put on it. One of my friends told me that after my devastating loss of Shelby, that the rational me always knew I would outlive her, the shock was so severe that you don't expect it. But since you survive that, you always remember that when you get a new dog and perhaps are better prepared, knowing that, once again, you will most likely outlive your pooch. I know (God willing) I will outlive Jasper Lily. 

I struggle - daily - with letting her be a dog and have fun. I am THANKFUL I don't have to see her rumble and play at daycare as I cringe every time she plays w/my best friend's dog (who I might add at his young life has had 2 hip surgeries already and plays rougher than Jasper and is half her size). 

So I take Jasper to the dog park - where she LOVES to run, jump, fetch and with every step she takes, a part of me panics. The great man was playing with his dog yesterday, about Jasper's size, and Jasper included herself in the game. He would throw the ball, hard and fast for them and they would dash for it. Jasper is faster so she won every time. Then he was having them jump in the air and catch the ball. I seriously thought I was going to have a coronary watching this - and yet nothing bad happened. But regardless, I  came home and had a beer!  

So does this take time for me to ease up on myself? Do I need Xanax to take Jasper to the dog park? I know I can't keep her in a bubble - and looking back, I did keep Shelby in a bubble after she lost her leg (carrying her more than she needed, doing things for her that she should have done on her own, etc). I never let Jasper jump in or out of my car, never let her jump on the bed, limit our rumble/tumble time in the apt ... but at what point does one let it go... if ever.

She looks fine, as you can see here, but any guidance, help, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Because as much as I thought I was healing fine, my stress level with Jasper is through the roof - I worry WAY more about her and have WAY more panic attacks then I did when Shelby was a youthful pup and did the same stuff! 

(she's kind of a bully as she body-slammed the little white dog) 

And this ... little brat - ate a pillow this a.m. while I was working out. She's Shelby2.0 - I swear!