Am I trying to fill up the hole in my heart!?!?

no your just tring to fill up the empty place where chico left off you fell very alone with how ever many dogs you have now and not seeing chico around when you get a new puppy it makes you heppy ,but you still are sad about chico ,but the puppy just brings more warmth and helps cope thats why many people get puppies after thier dogs die ....not to fill their space or ever take their place ,but to help cope and will then become a great member of the famliy and will be loved as much or very closly