Did you notice

[RadSav]

We have never owned bird dogs.  We have always adopted puppy children that are exceptional bird hunters.  I think that makes the family stronger, but in doing so we accept the horrible reality that our adopted family has a 10-15 year life expectancy.  The wife and I wouldn't have it any other way as we have been blessed with wonderful girls that make our lives ten fold better.  It also makes the loss ten fold worse.  But the term of the felt loss pales in comparison to the duration of joy.

Our little Upland Sandy dog is starting to react today.  Picking up on the grief of mom and dad plus noticing the sister has not returned.  She has never been a bed layer.  But she has been going from Skagit bed to Skagit bed laying down and watching.  She keeps asking to be let out, but when we open the door she just looks out at the yard hoping to find her best friend and companion.  For 13 years they have done everything together.  Slowly starting to see the sadness in her as well.

Lots of photo surfing and story telling today.  Hoping to get all the tears out before the work week starts again.  Life doesn't stop for anyone.  Not even for special gifts that warm the soul.  So we move on feeling richer, exceptionally blessed and very very sad.  Not sure how long it will take for the house to feel like home again.  Hoping soon, but not expecting the dissipation of sorrow to come rapidly.  Time will heal, but the scares of such a beautiful life lost will remain forever.  Cherished and well deserved.

[MLBowhunting]

Beautiful dog sir.  Looks like she put in some serious work.  .

[RadSav]

Beautiful dog sir.  Looks like she put in some serious work.  .

Man!  Don't get me started on how good she was in the field. 

Teamed up with Sandy they were queens of the pheasant fields and a quails worst nightmare   For ten years we never ate chicken other than a rotisserie the evening of a Costco run.  You wanted chicken at our house you were out of luck!  We have three freezers - one for elk, one for deer, bear, elk, antelope, exotic of the year and one exclusively for birds.  We ate pretty dang good around here!  I didn't get this big on cookies alone

[scudmaster]

Beautiful dog. I am not looking forward to that inevitable day. Mine is almost 12. Sorry you had to say goodbye.

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[Happy Gilmore]

Sorry to hear. It never gets easier does it? Memories are priceless.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Sorry Buddy .... Looks like many fine years of bird hunting with her .. She was a beautiful Springer !

[quadrafire]

Sorry for your loss

[Blackjaw]

Sorry for your loss, cherish the memories...

[Fl0und3rz]

RIP, Skagit. 

Sorry for your loss.

[Rainier10]

Have heard it said that a dog's only fault is they don't live long enough.

Very true.

Sorry for your loss.

[RadSav]

Our little girl is really having a hard time today.  Mom and Dad back at work and loneliness and confusion is really taking it's toll.  We've been trying to take plenty of breaks to spend time with her...spoil her   But, she seems lethargic and not the happy girl she usually is.  Even pancakes aren't helping-WTF!  Keeps laying at the door waiting for her sister.  Sure hope this passes soon.  Each time I hear her cry it's like ripping a bit more of my heart from my chest.   The silence of the place is terrible.  Who would have thought I'd miss the sound of dogs drinking from a toilet

[quadrafire]

That is sad Rad. Some dogs don't even break stride and appear to notice the missing. Some may even thrive as an only pet, but you are seeing the other side of it. I'll be it is painful to watch. Sorry

[Wacenturion]

Also sorry to hear of your loss, but always remember she is forever with you through your memories.  Not a fun thing to go through for sure......thanks for sharing some of the wonderful memories with all of us.  Beautiful dogs for sure.

[RadSav]

Cut out of work early.  All attention and excitement toward Sandy.  All was slow, but getting better.  Lorraine broke out the peanut butter.  Guess Sandy is a little like dad...a peanut butter cookie makes everything better

Not sure how long it will last, but we'll take whatever progress we can get!

[bowtechian]

We seem to connect more with our dogs than ppl they show true unconditional love sorry for loss brother