Missing my dog

[mtnwrunner]

Taz along with Beans and Frank.

 

[Macintosh]

Sorry man. It hurts, they give unconditionally in a way people generally dont.

My last guy Mac. Macintosh was my dogs name, after all. Lost him in march 2024. I still miss him.

 

[johnnycake]

We've been dealing with recovery from pyothorax for our 2.5yr old pudelpointer, Karma, since 10/31. She's pretty much in the clear now but it was crazy close to losing her for about a week. We definitely weren't ready to lose her yet, but oof, that vet bill (even with insurance) took a big chunk out of the fun budget.

Thank goodness for trazadone, one month strict kennel rest and still needing to keep down is a huge ask for this nutjob

 

[TreeDog]

My best bud. Spent more time with this sweet girl in the last 5.5 years than with any human. She’s been a part of, or by my side, for tons of adventures, big game hunts, upland hunts, waterfowl hunts, sheds antlers, work hours, heart break, and happiness. She’s in her prime and I’m dreading the days she starts to slow down. Best dog I’ve ever had.

 

[MD97756]

 

[rclouse79]

Sorry for your loss, I have often wished dogs lived longer than they do. I have been lucky to have great dogs in my life, and the current one might take the cake. He is the most popular member of the family and I don’t think second place is close. I take him on a bike ride around the park every day. He stays right by my side until I yell SQUIRREL! The heat seeking fur missile has run down more than one that got caught in no mans land. Squirrel is the S-word in our house, and you are sure to get a stink eye from my wife if you say it. My best buddy is only 4, but I have to remind myself to enjoy these years because they go fast.

 

[MountainTracker]

Our first lab we had before our children and we babied him ha, when we did have kids he was next to them constantly. My daughter loved him the most. He traveled all over the US with us.






We picked up our new puppy this year, three years to the day we lost our first. He reminds me a lot of our first, but he may be a bit smarter.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mahonsr]

That’s tough man. But you need a dog. It’s like my sister told me after we lost my last one and I said “no more”. She said - you’re a dog person - dog people do dogs. Get you another dog man. It’s good for the dog and good for you. Here’s a feel good cool story - picked up Ruger and there was one pup left in the litter. We drove off and that lone pup was howling! Told my back neighbor and about a week later he’s holding what I thought was my dog over the fence but it was his brother (that lone pup). Couldn’t keep those 2 brothers apart. They ate a hole right through the fence! I turned it into a gate and those two are at it together everyday . Basically have 1.5 dogs now

 

[Blueman75]

Sweetest pup I’ve ever had!

 

[KurtR]

My first Lab got him will sitting around having beers with my friends in my early 20's told me about a litter and drove down the next morning and got Winston if he could tell stories about living with a single 20 some year old I would be in trouble he was with me getting married and having a kid. He guided pheasants with me 60 plus days a year and for me knowing nothing on training was a pretty damn good dog and every ones buddy. Thanksgiving day 2015 he would not eat and would barley move took him in at 12 years old luckily i had Cedar then and we went out the next morning a got some pheasants for Winston.

We got Cedar when my wife seen a litter of yellow puppies out of two dogs i guided with. He was a stubborn crazy drive wild man and I loved it he got to guide with me for all 10 years he spent with us never sat a walk out and never slowed down. He would have been a fun dog to run in tests and what not like I do now he had no fear and was all heart and smart would pick up on stuff fast and didnt get his feelings hurt if he got in trouble. Opening weekend of 2019 pheasant season guiding with my friend who had two of cedars brothers told me he looks skinny as he always was since he never stopped moving but i took him into the vet that monday he was full of cancer from his lungs into his throat vet said soon he wont even be able to swallow food but never slowed down a bit those dogs are so damn tough. We went and guided that day till noon them me and him went and hunted that afternoon just us and that afternoon i took him in surprised i could hit a pheasant through the tears. Stills gets me he looked so healthy from the outside and had alot go left.



Feb 14 2020 Banks was born got him in April that year. That spring met one of my best friends now and he got me into running hunt tests and as my wife tells me when i decide to do something i become obsessed. We pretty much train all night I decided i was dont guiding for pheasants and we chased ducks and geese and ribbons all over. This dog has made friends for me from all over the country ran the hrc Grand in Tennessee this fall and has taught me so much about dogs and how much i love the training process. He is with me always when im not at work and is such a happy fun dog who loves to get pets from everyone. I have a whole wall in my reloading room with all his ribbons and tittles. Now just about to turn six and in his prime I dont even want to think about the years ahead. HRCH Banks MH

 

[Timplant]

Meet Ruckus my new English. He’s got a lot of antlers and a ton of geese and ducks in his future.

 

[BishBeCool]

sorry for your loss brother. A good dog is more than just a “good dog”. My uncle once said to me “we don’t deserve them”, and I tend to agree but feel blessed to have him. Been through a lot with my boy. Thanks for sharing about your girl. She was a beautiful lab. 12 years, I’m sure you went through a lot together as well.

 

[IronNoggin]

Letting them go is one of the hardest things we will ever do.

This is Boogs (short for The BoogyMan - real name Amaruq). He was a 145 lb 50 % Timber Wolf (Yukon North Slope ) and 50 % Alaskan Husky (Inuvik, NWT) cross.

He was my constant companion, hunting, fishing and more. Was an excellent blood tracker and never failed to locate (and sometimes dispatch) wounded deer. Hated bears with a passion, and literally ripped many to pieces.

I was devastated by his loss, and it took three years before I could settle down enough to get another.

This was Asuilu - Another Wolf Hybrid & Boogs' mate:

My Lady's constant companion and home defense unit extraordinaire. Lost her to cancer just before Boogs wandered on.

We still had Kimmiq after those two departed - she was a product of the two of them - family portrait:

Never had a Wolf Hybrid make it to 12 years until her. Still with us today at 14 years 9 months, although slowing down some now. Dreading the inevitable.

Part of the reason Kimmiq lasted so long was the introduction of a new pup into our lives. Ila (Inuvialuktun for Companion - Eye La). She is a bit of a mix. Her pa was 1/2 Aussie Shepherd, 1/2 Island Wolf. Ma 1/2 Timber Wolf, 1/2 Alaskan Husky.

80 pounds of incredibly intelligent and hyperactivity.
She has added lots to our lives, and makes me wish I had not waited to long to do so.

These Fur Companions certainly enrich our lives greatly.
And yes, we grieve when the leave us, but I am more than willing to endure that for all of the warm and awesome memories...

 

[Beagle1]

We had to put Cannoli, one of our family’s three dogs, down last Friday. He was a shelter dog that our daughter picked out and was just a total joy. A routine heart scan for a heart murmur found an aggressive tumor on his heart and he was given two to four months to live. We were told eventually the tumor would rupture unexpectedly and bleed badly. Cannoli would then be in severe pain and fear until he was put down if he didn’t die before then. It would be a very horrific death. Everything was fine until last Friday afternoon when he had a minor bleed. By evening at the vet’s he had mostly recovered but we chose to put him down. I have put dogs down before but this is the first time I ever had to put one down that appeared healthy and was happy, wagging his tail and eating his favorite treats. He had a good death and was held by us until he died. It was a hard decision but the right one.

We took him home that night. I buried him the next morning in one of his favorite spots in our yard.

We are a dog family. We will have dogs until we are no longer able to care for them.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

We've been dealing with recovery from pyothorax for our 2.5yr old pudelpointer, Karma, since 10/31. She's pretty much in the clear now but it was crazy close to losing her for about a week. We definitely weren't ready to lose her yet, but oof, that vet bill (even with insurance) took a big chunk out of the fun budget.

Thank goodness for trazadone, one month strict kennel rest and still needing to keep down is a huge ask for this nutjob
View attachment 976568 View attachment 976567

If it makes you feel any better back ~ 20 years ago now when I was fresh out of college, maybe it’s been longer 2007 or so. I had just started working I was living in a condo that I was planning to buy (I did buy it) and I had almost no fun money. I had a cat named Gus who got an upper respiratory infection and declined quickly. I ended up selling my car and my mountain bike to pay the bills for him.

I had him for several lore good years after that. At the time it seemed ridiculous to spend the money but in retrospect I would have spent twice the money for him.

Gus the cat is long gone now but I’d give anything I own or pay any bill that came my way for my animals now. Might not make sense to some people but I’d do anything for my boys.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

My wife had to work today so I was on my own for the holiday, i took my dogs out for a walk and couldn’t help but to remember and feel sentimental while watching the dogs run and remembering all my other dogs.

The walk went through thick timber to an opening on the tundra, open tundra patch about 2 football fields in size.

The dogs had ran ahead of me as they do and I just sort of followed our trail. When I walked out into the tundra, both dogs were playing about 100yds away. When they saw me they just stopped playing and hauled ass towards me full speed, not a care in the world except going to meet dad.

I realized that someday, I’ll walk into a similar opening and all my animals will just coming running full speed at me like that.

At least in hope that’s what happens and I’ll continue to tell myself that’s what’s going to happen. The life of a well loved dog must be great, like being a king or something for your whole life.

 

[BCDJR]

Here’s my 16th bird dog. All the others are in their final resting place on my property. I visit them often.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I realized that someday, I’ll walk into a similar opening and all my animals will just coming running full speed at me like that.

At least in hope that’s what happens and I’ll continue to tell myself that’s what’s going to happen. The life of a well loved dog must be great, like being a king or something for your whole life.

Same my friend, same... The thought is beautiful.

 

[theavgjoe]

Seeing everybody's experiences makes all of us appreciate our fur babies even more, Thank you all. One thing I have learned is that my dogs have taught me more about life than I could have ever imagined. To love unconditionally and always be there when you need them. I can never repay my dogs for all that they have done for me. 9.5 yrs old 3 knee surgeries, one dog got bloat and we almost lost her, those are the times that shows us that every day is important. I don't even remember what life was like without dogs. Thanks everybody for sharing.

 

[7mm-08]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - dogs are the best people ever! The family and I are still recovering from euthanizing our dear little 15-year-old canine companion last January. The sad times are, however, overshadowed by the fantastic qualities dogs bring to our lives. Their lives are just too short for our desired timeline. We'll emerge from the dark tunnel and have another one at some point in the future.

The responses to this thread tell me I'm not the only one in this boat.