RIP Gator
 

Well, we said goodbye to a loyal member of our family today. Some of you may remember Gator from some of my articles and posts. In addition to being a good hunting dog, he was a patient big brother to my sons. He will be missed. The good news is he died relatively peacefully at my parents place and will be buried in the woods he loved

Mills, I am sorry for this loss to you and your family. It is always hard but always remember all of the good moments that you guys spent together. Eric

So very sorry to hear of Gator's passing. I feel for your boys in this difficult time.

Sorry about your loss, Mills. A little bit of us goes with every loyal dog we lose. Remember the good times.

Dave

It is always hard to hear of dogs passing. It is a tough lesson for young boys to learn.
Best wishes in your family's time of sorrow.

Mills, my condolences on the loss of a cherished member of your family. I’ve done this many times over the years and it doesn’t get any easier. Remember the good times as he does in heaven

Mills,
I am so sorry. I know it is double barrel tough on the whole family. Maybe more so on the boys. I remember being 12 when we lost our black lab. Reflecting on that, Gator, and your boys makes me weep. Julia and you should pull a fresh cork, throw it away, and toast all the fun and wizardry that was Gators.
Thoughts and prayers,
Harry

Thanks for all the kind words and thoughts

Mills,

Robin and I were never blessed with children. So a procession of bird dogs, (1 gsp, 6 setters, and 3 Vizslas have filled out our immediate family for the past 29 years. Every one of those “tough ‘ol bird dogs” were and are true family members.......

Hope there is a pup in the near future for you and your boys!!!

God Bless

Mills, I am sorry to hear of your loss and as others have said I know it is so hard. I don't presume to know your faith, but I believe you and your family will some day see Gator again and with his tail wagging.

frank

Sorry for your loss. I think the loss of a dog really hits us because they are much better at being friends than we are. I know I wish I could always be as good a friend as my boys are to me.

Mills my deepest condolences to you, Julia and the boys. Our dogs are family and the loss is always painful but as the pain fades the memories will live on.

Sorry to hear of your lose Mills. Having lost one of ours recently, Sandy and I know your feeling of sadness. The pain will linger for a time, but the memories of happy times will remain forever.

I am sure you have fond memories of Gator and so will your boys. Gator lives on with you, them and everyone he touched that much is certain. I sometimes forget my own name seems like but I can still vividly remember each and every dog that came through my life and some the great and bad events plus a whole bunch of other horses and interesting cats since grew up on a gentlemen's farm. As many bird dogs, retrievers and yard dogs we had its amazing what you remember about the animals that touch you.

There will never be another dog like Gator for you but I'll bet there will be some more good ones to come. It is not right the good ones can't last longer than you want them too.

I still remember my first dog or at least the one that I called mine. It was an old Brittany named Ranger that my dad had retired to the yard. I was bad rambunctious 3 and 4 year old and that dog thought I was its pup or something. He had nice spot in the garage with an old piece of tent canvas tied around an old sofa cushion. He stayed there every chance he got and would not move a muscle for hardly anyone else unless it was time to eat. But if I came out he pulled himself up and where I went he tirelessly hobbled behind me. We also had a big dinner bell that you could hear ring along way off. Rule was when bell rang it was time to come running home, original text messaging. I would race Ranger home and I always won but he was right behind me going as hard as he could. Fond memories and I'm sure your boys will have their Gator memories.

Have begun the search for another dog. Hoping for a bird dog this time so I can use those small bores more often

Another Lab Mills? With a little extra work they make wonderful all purpose dogs. I've had 4 now that are equally at home in the uplands as well as the marsh. Your boys are at the perfect age to help train it.

Yeah, I want a Brittany and Julia wants a lab. My son said let's vote and he votes both. He may just win

Can't go wrong with either. I prefer labs for retrieving since it just comes so naturally to them but have seen some decent pointing labs. Only problem with labs in Southeast is that they genetically carry more subcutaneous fat for insulation for cold water and climates and it really works them over if trying hunt them as a quail or upland type dog in high heat and humidity aka SE. Its just really rough on them and especially for black labs on sunny warm day hunting quail or busting brush, which deep south gets alot of during hunting season. Yellow and chocolates can fair maybe a little better. It really puts alot of strain on them and it is dangerous for them to hit the cover very hard for very long.

If you only get one dog a good researched brittany line is just about the best all round dog but I think teaching them to sit and stay for hunting in a duck blind can be challenging and counter productive to upland hunting. It takes mostly and older steady brittany to handle both.

By all means if you handle it get one of each. Besides maybe will wrestle with each other gnaw on each other as opposed to maybe gnawing on you. Actually that maybe the perfect solution. The Brittany will hunt a little further out and cover more ground and lab can hunt close and get some retrieves. Brittany with some work can maybe compartmentalize the training for blind work that the lab will excel at on long water retrieves and Brittany can get close retrieves. Win Win

It's hard to lose a member of the family like Gator was to you all. We think we own them but in reality, they own us... or at least, our hearts.

Get a happy puppy!




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Mills, gator will be waiting at the rainbow bridge, for you and your family when the time comes a joyful reunion, Gary

Well, I am sending a deposit in on a Brittany puppy. Very excited! Picking him up in late July.

Congrats on the pup Mills. I'm having so much fun with Ike. We are having our first "boys" weekend as I'm heading to the cabin tomorrow for a long weekend.

Here is a photo of the litter. Going to be an adventure for sure

Are they French Brittany's or American?





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American

“:whistle:

“Back in the saddle again........”

Mills, I think you will be really happy with your Brittany. They have been good dogs and good friends for me and my family. Congratulations! The two most diverse days in a dog owners life are getting a new puppy and burying a great friend. The new puppy is many times more fun.