The Last Years for our Canine Companions
 

I was tempted to put this discussion about "bird dogs and retrievers in their final years" in the Off Topic subforum, but decided that it is not off topic at all. Our friend Rich Anderson is going through this bad time as we speak, according to his comments on the February at Drakes Landing thread. This morning, Linda's daughter and son in law, our neighbors of four country miles, couldn't wake their great old black Labrador. She finally came alive, but is finding standing almost impossible. They have the problem that Rich has, dogs without a human companion for certain hours of the day. I'm afraid that this is near the end for my friend, Saydee. I will spend time with her as needed because they both work day jobs, but the end is near. The Lovely Linda and I have gone through this in the past few years with a delightful female Springer and her just as wonderful son, who we put down at fourteen. It's just something we have to do when the time has come. We shouldn't stretch it out too much. If we need moral support, we have to ask for it.

You're right Bill. When their time is near we need to give them as much comfort as we can... for as long as it can be and still allow them some painless (dignified) quality of life.... and then we force ourselves to make that dreadful decision.

Kathy and I have 'been there' several times - most recently about six years ago with our beloved Tobie, a female chocolate lab of thirteen years who seemed more human than canine at times. And now our daughter's fabulous 'blockhead' black lab Dunkin' who is showing signs of senility. It's almost too much to bear and I think that's probably a big part of why we haven't had a dog since we lost Tobie.

Unfortunately, we have to do this too many times . I still miss Speck, the mother of my current female Betty, but Betty is a clone of Speck. Shiner is now 12 years old, and seems to show no signs of aging other than hunting a little closer now.
I would rather hunt with a Mossberg and my dogs, than a high grade Parker and without them. I bet most of you feel the same.

That is the big price of dog ownership, unfortunately. Our black lab, Gator, is 8 and is starting to show his age. He is laying right behind my desk chair right now.

l have been lucky in the fact that my dogs have made the decision for me- its not been a question of when. But that doesn't make the trip easier.

When my last setter passed, it was obviously the time, My daughter drove me to the vets, by the time it was over, as I walked out towards the desk, my daughter took my arm and said "it's all taken care off, lets go home" She knew I couldn't hold up for long.

my older setter now is 10 and showing signs of aging, not going to be a good day when it comes. Having an understudy helps keep you busy, but the hole is still there.

many of you know i am a book-aholic - there is a book entitled "Empty Collars" I cannot bring myself to get that one.

Or furry friends are short lived, Make haste to encourage them for they live to please Gary

After Mattie passed this little thing stole our hearts, Gary

Amen to that Harold.
I'm convinced Tara lives in total darkness as the diabetes has taken her sight. I see her bumping her way through the house but she has remarkable instincts and still gets around pretty well. this is my wifes Gunner and she will have to make that "decision of love" and all I can do is support her the best I can. If it were up to me Tara would be in a better place now. Willie another 14+ aged companion is haveing difficulty getting up the stairs now. I'm sure the time will come when he goes out through the garage on a leash to do his business. I think we will say goodbye to two of our beloved friends and companions in 2014.

We do the right thing by our companion because it's the right thing to do, not the easy thing and it shouldn't ever be easy:nono:

Rick I don't think I could read that one either. The collars of Sturm my first GSP, Ilsa, Gunner's mom and Gunner hang on the wall of the gunroom. Sometimes I just hold them and remember.

Bill this is a great thread. If for only a minute, quietly to ourselves, we can think back on better days in the field or family room with our buddies.

My experience says replace that four legged friend of yours. The sooner, the better. And further, mourn deeply, but do not bury your heart with your pet. Surely something to think about. Often easier said than done.

"mourn deeply, but do not bury your heart with your pet"
I love that statement, and have remembered Jess, a Brittany, and setters Thicket, Clipper, and Speck this afternoon.

About 10 years ago ,I lost three in a row over a matter of a year ...the first was a huge 230 lb St .Bernard,the most lovable guy you could ever meet,he died painfully with his head in my lap from a what seemed to be some sort of intestinal blockage, it came on fast and there was no time to even seek medical attention ,I was on the phone with the vet when he went .

The second ,a couple months later was my 12 year old "rusty color water dog " his time just ran out ,although he did make it to the vet and I guess it was easy on him ,watching him fall asleep was no easier on me .

The third that year was a beautiful little Gordon I had picked up after old Chess went...He got brutally ill and him ,I had to put down myself ...something I found very difficult but there was no choice .

But the bottom line is I can't live with out one (or two ) the joy out weighs the pain a hundred fold.

Here are pics of Willie and Tara in healthier times.

Rich, thanks for reminding me of the "collar thing". I have collars with tags hanging in the gun room and in the living room on the decoy shelf. I even have some collars from pups that didn't live here but were dear to us because we knew them. I can't even throw away a leash. I have not spent a lot of time with more than one bird dog in the house at one time, so my list is shorter than other near seventy year old dog people. When I was three years old, there was Penny, then her son Rusty, then Ranger, then Feather, then Jake, whose death caused me to go through a bit of a dogless period until Linda brought in her Springers, mother Kelly and son Doser. Now there is our Wirehair, Eva, maybe the most beloved of them all. I can't imagine what it would have been like without them.