Did you notice

[Skyvalhunter]

Sorry to hear about the loss to your family. Gone but never forgotten. Looks like you were able to give her a quality life.

[Jonathan_S]

What a beautiful dog and what a painful time to go through.  I am sorry for you and your surviving dogs but am happy they lived such a complete life together.

Seeing the grief and sadness in a dog that lives on is the hardest part about it.  Thank you so much for sharing with us even though it's hard.

  Here's to Skagit

[RadSav]

Saw Sandy making some progress today.  She took all of her toys and placed them in Skagit's beds.  Laid in each bed for a half hour or so.  Then followed Dad around asking for the treats she could smell in my pocket.  No whimpers that I heard today.  She is still afraid to go out to the front yards by the cars with us.  I still find that odd.  Favorite Aunt Toni arrives tomorrow and that should make her day!  Not all that worried about her, but sure do hate to see her sad and scared of everything.  Just so far removed from her daily life it's shocking.

[MLBowhunting]

Glad to hear some small signs of improvement. 

[Romulus1297]

Wow. We still have a dog food bowl from Nov 19 2013 that hasnt been touched since setting by another dogs bowl and I havent asked my wife why it is still there and won't.

[lokidog]

Brian, sorry for your loss, it looks like she set a pretty high bar for any pups following her.

[RadSav]

Looks like our little one is just about back to normal.  Wednesday was doing all the things she normally does.  About the only new thing is that she carries Skagit's toys with her wherever she goes.  Which is odd since she has never been a toy fan other than when we are throwing them.  But, if that is the security blanket she wants to make her feel better and not so scared - She can have all of Skagit's toys.  Maybe some new ones too!

I'm sure the neighbors will appreciate the fact I am no longer needing to pee in the yard so she knows everything is ok.    The things we do for our little ones happiness 

[JJB11B]

Glad to hear sir,

[JJB11B]

Rad, reading your thread and the poems posted here brought me to tears missing my baby girl. The only dog that was ever really mine. She has been gone two years now. Sometimes I stare at these two pictures for hours, I see her in every black lab I ever see. Someday I will have another dog when I can devote the time to her she deserves

[JJD]

I have been there when several of my dogs have been put down due their body giving out in old age, each time I haved begged my dogs forgiveness for the times I was impatient or put too much pressure on them.  When I do both the DVM and myself have tears in our eyes.

Take a breath, take a few months and go find another pal.  The misery of living without a dog is far greater then that of knowing you will lose them all too soon even if they have a long happy life.

Sorry so late with this.

[bowtechian]

Glad to hear your sandy dog is coming around!  Is she still hunting or has she been retired.  My fear is how I'm gonna go about doing the retirement bit for my chessy-lab he thinks he is still 5 but his body says otherwise at times. I feel bad when I have given a rest day & I come home fr hunting after hunting with some friends & get the look asking why he got left behind     

[bearhunter99]

Losing a dog is one of the toughest things a person can go through.  Sorry to hear about your loss.  I found this excerpt of a longer story. I think it is a great explanation of dogs.