The Silence is Deafening

[Dean Romig]

How I long to hear Gracie ring her “Out” bell.
She would often ring it too when it was getting close to 5 PM when I would feed her the evening cup of kibble.

Though I have lots of “stuff” my house is quite empty…


.

[Garry L Gordon]

You need a puppy to help you as you deal with the loss of your Grace.

[Daniel Carter]

How I long to hear Gracie ring her “Out” bell.
She would often ring it too when it was getting close to 5 PM when I would feed her the evening cup of kibble.

Though I have lots of “stuff” my house is quite empty…


.

I am pretty sure it is full of great memories. Time goes so slowly as we wait for it to dull those terrible losses. This is the cost of love, the price is high but where would we be without it? What would life be without them?

[Dean Romig]

I've been offered one of Gracie's grandpuppies born in late November but I just don't seem to be able to commit, knowing I'm 76 and will likely pass before he will. I had always thought Gracie and I would fade out of the hunting picture together, but cancer just seems to take take take...

I don't know - there's still time I guess.
Thanks my Friends,





.

[edgarspencer]

Dean, I struggled with that for a couple months, after Finn died, but went ahead because life without a dog was more than I could deal with. I have a theory, that few argue against, that a dog in your life makes you live longer.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I'd take one of the puppies Dean, a female if I had the choice. She'd be ready to hunt with you by October.
Our little Huck dog jumps up and hits the bell by our back door when he wants out or wants fed.

[Dean Romig]

I'd take one of the puppies Dean, a female if I had the choice. She'd be ready to hunt with you by October.
Our little Huck dog jumps up and hits the bell by our back door when he wants out or wants fed.


Same as Gracie always did… Kathy taught her that.





.

[Marty Kohler]

Dean …Although I understand your sentiment….Don’t over think it….Do it…!

Seems you have many friends here…If you go before him her they will place her in a loving upland hunting home I am quite sure…

Pick a good one.

Good luck..

[Ken Hill]

Dean,

Hang in there! If you don’t mind caring for one Gracie’s pups you should get one. I’m sure you can find a good home for it if you need to.

Ken

[Samuel Gross]

New member here...Just my thoughts. I would not hesitate in your situation. Get the dog. Make friends with a neighbor with kids, and allow the dog to repeatedly get "lost" in that direction so the kids get attached. It won't take long to arrange for the pup if something happens to you. Let them take the pup foraging from time to time to seal it.

My wife has never relished having the responsibility of an animal. So when my kids were breaking out of being toddlers, my in-laws and I were forced to conspire, lest their grandkids go through life not knowing how wonderful it is with a dog by your side. At an agreed upon time, the in-laws were in "desperate" need for someone to watch their 1yr old pup for a few months while they moved. We had to help family. Within a couple of weeks everyone agreed the dog had to stay. Grandma took care of house-breaking and the basics when they got the pup months in advance to make sure it would be a done deal. The timing was also planned (conspired) so the pup would hopefully be sunsetting just after our youngest left for college. I plan to get a pup (or two) then so our sweet old girl can train them.
If you ask anyone, excluding the army of robot vacuums to keep up with the hair in my house, life is far better with a dog by your side.

[Donald F. Mills]

Dean,
Dad at 85 thought he didn’t want another puppy. Teddy is almost two now and Dad is keeping active at 87. We are heading to Gamecreek in NJ in about a month for four days of hunting. That’s Dad last year with my nephew. Get the pup, it’s like a fountain of youth.

[Mills Morrison]

You can always adopt too

[Stan Hillis]

Dean, from one septuagenarian to another, don't think in terms of dying before a new pup does. Think of outliving the dog, and humbly laying it to rest. Our thoughts shape our actions, and our actions influence our lives. My goal is to kill a limit of doves on my 100th birthday, October 13, 2051. In the end it really doesn't matter if I succeed in fulfilling that goal, I will likely live longer, and more fully, because I tried to.

Get the pup, brother. You will both be better because you do.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

The Nike logo: JUST DO IT!

[Daryl Corona]

Dean;
I lost Parker in Nov last year and knew it was coming as he was 14. Fox is around 14 and she is showing her age too. So am, I but at 74 I won't hesitate to get another dog. Got one in the works now and hope to have him ready this fall. My good buddy and I made an agreement that if either one of us precedes our dogs in this life we will take care of each others dogs.

Stan;
Great goal to be shooting doves at 100. My Dad did it until he was 96. My grandson's bday is also on Oct. 13th,:) just a few years later than yours

[Garth Gustafson]

Dean, no one should be alone. You know in your heart that having dog is an antidote for loneliness and is good for the body and soul. You deserve to put some of that joy back in your life. Do it.

[chris dawe]

I agree with everyone else Dean,you've had a rough go ...you don't need to make yourself feel any worse ,a new pup will occupy your mind and give you something to look forward to

[Chris Pope]

We lost 9 1/2 year old "Gunny" on July 1, 2022. Worst loss I had ever experienced. I told my wife that I didn't have another pup in me. Let's face it. A pup is hard work especially that first year.
So...a few months later I made the huge mistake of "checking in" with our favorite Griff breeder in Wisconsin. All of his 2023 pups were spoken for (phew). I told him I wanted to put a deposit on a 2024 litter just in case I changed my mind. He called two weeks later and said someone had backed out of a commitment on a pup in 2023.
So here's a picture of "Fish" waiting at the bell by our front door along with 6 year old "Arcas". Today is "Fish's" birthday- 1 year old today...and he's the class clown. We love him! He even pointed his first few woodcock last October.
But follow your heart...we, on this discussion thread, are all hopeless hunting dog lovers. I will say those pups keep us moving which helps us live longer!

[Daryl Corona]

You can always adopt too

I'm a huge fan of adoption/rescue. Both of my last 6 dogs have been rescues and the next one will be too. My late, great, Parker was one of the best bird dogs I ever had. If I had a farm and was wealthy I would have dozens of rescues. I'm not saying don't buy from a breeder but there are so many hunting dogs that need a home and have been abandoned.

[Mills Morrison]

Our first dog was a rescue and was an excellent hunting dog and family dog.

If Dean gets a Brittany, we'll volunteer to rehome it if it outlives Dean.

[Dean Romig]

I've had two Britts...

IF I get another dog it will be a Twombly English Setter from Coronation Kennels and hopefully one of Gracie's grandpups.

And this is the boy they’re holding for me.

.

[Reggie Bishop]

What a beauty Dean!

[Dean Romig]

Indeed he is! He's truly the image of Grace... in fact, that's what I'll name him - IF I get him...
"Image of Grace"





.

[Mills Morrison]

Great looking dog!

[Marty Kohler]

No brainer... He's gorgeous... Yeah I know but you won't be sorry.... Unless maybe you want to travel extensively?

[Dean Romig]

No brainer... He's gorgeous... Yeah I know but you won't be sorry.... Unless maybe you want to travel extensively?


Yep, that's the only reason we're holding back...

I could leave him with my daughters if we travel but they both said "No thanks." They each have territorial dogs,

But there's more than one way to accomplish the feat.:whistle:





,

[davidboyles]

I always felt like I knew Gracie and enjoyed your stories. I hope you go for it.Do you have a shooting friend for the 16 I heard you talking about few months ago with a lake house. Hope you do and you could raise that beauty of a dog together. Hope you are well Drue and I plug along missed my Mearns hunt in Jan Drues mom at98 too much risk for us to go very far. But my Raven is locked and loaded and keeping us on our toes! Turkey almost here and you and I shared some of my hunts with the Parker Pages articles you published for me. Take care and stay well> Do I hear the food bell ringing????

[Ken Hill]

Dean,

Great looking pup! Hope you decide to get him.

Ken

[John Dallas]

I'd sure go with the granddaughter. Well bred dogs cost more at the beginning, but the probability that he/she will work out is higher than a rescue dog, In our family, once a dog come thru the front door, it's ours for a lifetime. I want to improve my odds of not living with a loser for a long time

[Craig Larter]

I turned 74 and just bought a Lab pup, Miss Mollie. She came from South Carolina both parents are UKC champions and both are AKC master hunters. Good genes are cheap in the long run in my opinion. I agonized about getting a pup at my age but so glad i did. I enjoy training and handling in hunt tests. I plan on duck hunting into my 80's god willing. I lost my wife in Dec 2022 and my dogs and my son keep me going.

[Garry L Gordon]

Dean, what a handsome setter. It would be hard to turn that beauty down.

[Garry L Gordon]

[QUOTE=Stan Hillis;406255. My goal is to kill a limit of doves on my 100th birthday, October 13, 2051. In the end it really doesn't matter if I succeed in fulfilling that goal, I will likely live longer, and more fully, because I tried to.

QUOTE]

Farmer Stan, I won’t bet against you (and am rooting for you), but I’ll bet you’ll shoot that limit with a .410. I hope I’m around to read your post on that day.

[Sara LeFever]

What an adorable pup! I love the name idea too! :)

Sara

[Mills Morrison]

This thread has me wanting a setter.

[John Taddeo]

That pup is absolutely beautiful Dean.. (can you picture that little guy playing in the fall leaves).. Teach the little fella to ring the bell and remember Grace every time he does it, because a happy hello will always dry the tears of a hard goodbye.

[William Woods]

Mr. Dean,

I just saw the picture of "Speck", the pup they are holding for you. The sooner you get him the more time you will have together and the sooner he will be ready to go with you. Go pick "Speck" up!

[John Taddeo]

Its very hard to look at that gorgeous setter puppy and not smile.... aint it..

[Greg Baylander]

Dean I have alot of respect for you saying at 76 you are not sure about getting a pup, because your not sure how many years of hunting you have left. I don't know you except for your post which are breaking my heart by the way, but in my opinion the unselfishness that you show in not wanting to get a pup and the respect that I see you have for dogs I say get that pup and hunt till you are 90

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Dean, I know what you mean silence is deafning Miss Jolie was supposed to be put down last week but just could not do it, she still runs to greet us when we come home, but she is failing fast I think the drugs the Vet gave her gave us a couple weeks with her giving her lots of love in the mean time not looking forward to the time, Gary

[Dean Romig]

I’m truly sorry Gary. It is such a dreadful experience to take our pups for that last ride.
The poor things don’t even suspect… But their love and trust in us that we’ll never harm them…

Rest easy Gary in the knowledge that you are the only one who can do this deed out of a true love.





.

[Garry L Gordon]

Rest easy Gary in the knowledge that you are the only one who can do this deed out of a true love.

.

Amen to that.

[Dan Steingraber]

To paraphrase "Our sporting dogs have no fear of death. They joyfully hold it in their mouth daily"
We love them for as long as we can and then we let them go, taking a piece of our heart with them and leaving years of immeasurable joy with us. I cannot imagine my life without a dog to curl up next to me on the couch and to pursue God's bounty with.

[John Taddeo]

I was watching a video of a WW2 Vet skydiving at the age of 90 and I saw this thread and it gave me thought. If someone could get a surrogate for their best buddy in the event the inevitable comes earlier than expected, then go for it... This life we have here is a one-time go and we should truly enjoy every moment with emphasis on what makes one happy.. I have never heard someone complain that their only regret is "I wish I could have worked more" so I say ride your life hard all the way to the end and enjoy.. Just like that Vet was doing with a big smile, jumping from a perfectly good aircraft..

[Tom Jay]

Get the puppy Dean...get the puppy???

[Daryl Corona]

I'm 74 and have lost 2 dogs in the last 6 months. I will be getting another dog within a month and I don't care if I couldn't walk 20 feet to hunt but I will have another dog because I need one in my life. Yes the silence is deafening.

[Dean Romig]

Get the puppy Dean...get the puppy???


It’s too late for that Tom. Puppy was sold back in May because I had passed on the offer.





.

[CraigThompson]

I'll be 63 in a couple weeks and for my first birthday I was given a Border Terrier puppy and since that time we always had one in the house . When my pop was about 80 we had to have the one we had then put to sleep because of a tumor . Anyway within two weeks of her passing I'd found another puppy that was almost ready to go out to new owners . My father was all for it even though as I now know he only had five years left but I truely believe that dog was a comfort to him in his last years at home . She's now 12ish I believe so her life is close to the end as well . I'd like to get another when she leaves me but I'm apprehensive about what needs to be done and how to do it to get her to the Philippines when I go . Anyway back to your situation , if I were you i'd say damn the torpedos full speed ahead :cool:

[Mills Morrison]

We recently tried a second Brittany, but the family decided after a day to stick with one. I was sad to have to return our new dog

[John Taddeo]

The local funeral parlor director called the old man on a late summer day and kindly asked the man if he had considered the making of his final arrangements. There was a slight pause and the old man replied that he had just finalized his plans last week after some hard decision making. The director then asked if he would mind sharing his thoughts, and the man happily agreed....... I will be starting in Stratton Maine for 2 weeks with the mighty Partridge then a week in Michigan's U.P followed by a stint in South Dakota for Pheasant and Whitetail deer... The director was then awe struck and asked, "what of your final wishes"??? Cool weather and steady dog work would be just fine said he... Just fine...

[Garry L Gordon]

The local funeral parlor director called the old man on a late summer day and kindly asked the man if he had considered the making of his final arrangements. There was a slight pause and the old man replied that he had just finalized his plans last week after some hard decision making. The director then asked he would mind sharing his thoughts, and the man happily agreed....... I will be starting in Stratton Maine for 2 weeks with the mighty Partridge then a week in Michigan's U.P followed by a stint in South Dakota for Pheasant and Whitetail deer... The director was then awe struck and asked, "what of your final wishes"??? Cool weather and steady dog work would be just fine said he... Just fine...

Amen.

[Garry L Gordon]

I feel like I’m in “The Church of the Dog.” Was baptized many years ago.

[William Woods]

My late friend Raymond Jones of Salem, IL once told me that he was looking for that perfect dog and he hoped he never found it because then he would have to stop looking.

I have the ashes of two of my dogs that will go in the ground with me and the memories I had with them.