The Silence is Deafening
 

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…


.

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

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?

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,





.

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.

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.





.

Puppy
 

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..

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

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.

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.

You can always adopt too

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.

The Nike logo: JUST DO IT!

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

.

What a beauty Dean!

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"





.

Great looking dog!

Setter
 

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:





,

Gracie
 

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????

Dean,

Great looking pup! Hope you decide to get him.

Ken

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

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.

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

[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.

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

Sara

This thread has me wanting a setter.

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.

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!

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

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

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

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.





.