Just finished burying my 12 year old chocolate lab, Suzie. What a great dog, was my golf and fishing buddy for a long time. My Mom and sister got her for me and said "Here, go walk her around the park. Even you could attract a woman with her". They were wrong. A few years later they got me a yellow lab, Sophie, same story, ex-wife fell in love with her so we got married. Got to hold her while they gave her the injection. Tough. Great memories. Go hug your pet's(and your kid's, spouses, folk's, all of 'em)

Sorry to hear that Rick -

Go do some catching to take your mind off of it......

Sorry for your loss. I am contemplating the same situation right now with my 12 year old black lab, Oprah, sucks seeing her like this. Only a mater of time, won't be long.

we were just talking about this. Though my pup is just 2 and of course we have many good years ahead, I can't even imagine now not having him sniff fish that come over.

Truly sorry for you loss.

THanks Gilly.

Thoughts are with you Prof. About 8 years ago, I she used to fish with me all the time where I caught the fish in the other thread. One morning, there were so many bass out there that she was swimming around chasing them, trying to grab them as she splashed around her. Back when we used to fish the run, she would eat the heads off the dead herring. She also new when you were "On" by the arc in the rod and she would get excited waiting for the fish to come in. It used to bum me out that she would ofetn go sit next to someone else at the canal, as if to say "This guy has a better vhance of getting one than you!". She was usually right, too.

My condolences Rick. I don't know you but, believe me, I feel your pain. I have put down 3 dogs. All were good friends.
I pride myself on being a tough old bastard but I cried all 3 times. It's loosing a member of your family.

hang in. it will get better. Just keep the memories.

cherish the memories, sorry for your loss.
my 8 yr. lab maybe developing arthritis, don't know for sure, as noted by her walk and lack of jumping on me my Dino.

sorry to hear that Rick, don't know what I'm gonna do when my "Buddy" goes, your dogs are great dogs from what I saw, Katie sends her condolences too
Ryan

My condolences, it's not an easy thing to do but afterwards you realize that it really is for the best.
I just put down my 13 year old yellow in June, best duck dog I ever had and she was a fixture in the yard keeping an eye on my 3 boys. I still get a little choked up when I think about it.

Condolences to you, Rick. Went through the same thing with my black lab about 12 years ago. It was much harder than I expected. I haven't been able to get another dog since, and now my son wants one. It's hard when it't time for them to go because they really become part of your family.

Rick - very sorry to hear this.

Hang on to the great memories forever Rick.

sorry for yer LOSS, rick!

it will get better,,,,,,,,,,,with time and cherishing
the memories. this part of Life is the worst,,,,,

Hey Rick,
Very sorry for the loss of you dog.
I went through it 6 years ago with one of my boxers.
Brought her to the vet to put down, carried her body home and buried her in the hole I had a guy did with his backhoe.
Probably the toughest thing I've had to do in my life !

Buried her in my backyard. My 4 year old son and I just planted flowers over the spot. 4 is a great age, very accepting and optimistic.

Thank you all for your suport. Amazing how many of you have dealt with the same thing. Thanks for sharing, makes it easier.

Rick, sorry for your loss. We put our dog Bailey down last year.

people get closer to pets than people many times
without really realizing it.... because they are always
there no matter what being your best friend with no reservations.... so it's a tough time to be sure

Sorry for you loss Rick..

Sorry about your loss rick. I had to put down my lab but couldn't bring myself to stay in the room. My wife was with him , I sat in the waiting room and cried like a baby. There is nothing like the love and companionship of a good dog. I still think about him. Just take comfort in knowing that your family gave her a good life and lots of love.

Very sorry to hear that.Dogs are family and it's very sad to lose a pet.

So sorry for you, it must be so difficult. I have a black pup right now and it makes me upset just thinking of that day. Hudson is such a pain in the @ss right now, but I know its just building character and our friendship.
Hang on to the memories, it sounds like you had a great dog.

Haven't put down a dog since I was 17. Was the first and possibly only dog I ever owned. I can still remember the day I got him. He was a german shepherd and would tag along no mattr where I would go. We lived about a 1/4 mile in the woods with a bunch of sandbanks behind our house. He would walk out to the school bus with me and wait next to me until I got on the bus. Then he would walk home and meet me in my front yard when I walked in the driveway. He eventually got arthritis and we had to put him down.

I also had my cat die in my arms when I got home from work one night. It's amazing how attached we get to pets, but they do provide us with comraderie, loyalty, and a lot of fun memories. It's the memories that make it easier as we go on, but we never forget.

That is tough. I feel lousy thinking about it. I dread the same thing with my 8 year old chocolate, Baxter. I know that the kids (7 and 5), wife and I will be overwhelmed as well. Remember the good.

we tried this...and it helped ease our sorrow..

but maybe others on this board might give it a
some consideration...

the first time it was VERY devastating to say the least...
when we suddenly lost our best PAL
~
so when our second dog was nearing her time we said that we'd get a replacement puppy to learn all of the older dogs attributes...from many years of training

and when we lost our old girl we'd still have a dog
to love and care for (hug) and help fill the void with instead of going totally without... let one generation teach the next generation...was the plan... and it definitely helped.

Raven me and my wife thought the same thing when we had to put our boxer down this spring.what a great dog he was our vet loved him so much he took his case on pro bono he was a great dog,still tear up thinking about him.Hang in their as hard as it is it will ease up.Everyone is different but we had to get another boxer soon after. It didn't take away the pain but it helped out some.

So sorry. I have a 12 year old lab who still fishes with me and hunts mushrooms with me. After reading these posts she's getting spoiled even more than usual. Better than 99% of the people I know. I great friend.

Sorry to hear about that. My condolences. I have a 2.5 yr old boxer. I will give her a hug

Rick, you have my sympathy. Few years back my family had to put our golden down. We all cried, It was a tough day.

A dog's love is truly unconditional, my condolences.

That sucks Rick, sorry to hear that

sorry to hear it... losing pets is definately much tougher than some people realize.