Once again this year I was forced to perform the last act of loyalty to my hunting, competition, and companion buddy of over 15 years. I competed him for close to 12 years and I believe he taught me more than I taught him. He was the easiest dog to train, I called him my robotic dog as when we went to the line he would scan the terrain. He was all business, he lived to retrieve!!!!! He put up with my mistakes, never lost drive and still was retrieving duck dummies as of last week, although very short distances due to being blind in one eye and a cataract in the other. He was doing fine 3 weeks ago with a perfect health workup but something pulled the life out of him and as I said with his friend that died several months ago life became too much for him.
15 years ago when we looked at his litter sired by the 2000 National Field Champ Maxx's Surprise, he ran up to my wife and he looked up and said "you'll do", my wife picked him up and he immediately hugged her, the look was over and home he came. He continued the hugging until the very end.
Both my wife and I will miss him, God speed and we meet will again. [URL= ]

I recognize the certificate and ribbon.
The great ones are more than a gift!
I've felt your amazement and joy (oh soo sweet) only to then experience the loss.
My condolences.
Best.

A very well written tribute to a good friend. My condolences. I went through the same thing a few times myself.

Sorry to hear about your loss, always hard to lose a good dog.

Looks like you gave him a great life & that's about all we can do.

Good looking dog. Sounds like he made his dad and Grand Pa
proud also.
15 is one hell of a run.
Sorry for your loss.

The replies are very helpful they ease the pain , The astounding thing about Drake was how sound he was and one should learn from what I experienced. I am a firm believer that you buy the best dog, cat horse car or whatever, it may cost a little more up front but if he carries a bad gene and your are a responsible dog owner and love the human-dog relationship that I share as does my wife what you saved will cost alot more without considering the emotional pain of tending to a sick animal. Drake had perfect hips, elbow clear of any gene defects causing collapse eye elbow and whatever else they can check, so was his parents. He never showed any weakness or arthritis until his 13th year and that was only minimal after training sessions, that is why I retired him so not to expedite the digression, what really sidelined him was a viral infection that he contracted in his eye, which eventually caused about 90% loss of vision, a cataract eventually took hold of his good eye and do to his age surgery was not a good option, he eventually learned how to deal with the eye problems however age was his biggest enemy so love them and enjoy them as you can

i'm always amazed when picking out a pup - they pick you - you just accept their suggestion to go home with you

You may get 1 maybe 2 in life time.. Hope Lighting Strikes Twice for you....

Sorry to hear of your loss.
It looks like a good run in your 15 years together.