For the last 12 years, I have been truly blessed. I experienced what most will never understand. True unconditional love. Not what some jackass singing pop country calls love, but an unspoken truism that few know. For the first time in 12 years, I tried to sleep w/o my boy. A futile effort.
A wise person once told me 'If things go like they are supposed to, you will outlive the dog'. I thought I understood. But then again, I did not.
I have been blessed in many ways, but true unconditional love has to be experienced to gain true understanding. I have had that experience and now suffer it's loss. It's an empty place that very few understand, much less experience. The journey is beyond incredible, but the loss is understood by few. For those that have been fortunate enough, you understand. For those that have not, I pity you. As I write, I am comforted by the thought that I can reach down and stroke my little girl and had the foresight to collect my boy before he left this world. Maybe, if I 'm lucky, an offspring will fill his paws.i have hope, and that's all I can hope for now.
Having been there I can say, time is very limited! Spend it wisely. Once gone, you cannot get it back. I will always marvel at the gift I was given and hope that you will experience what I have. The blood, sweat and tears have to be spent to enjoy what few will. Your time, patience and labor of love will be rewarded exponentially. Your loss will be great, but you will always have the memories!
That is what keeps me going.
And now, we'll have a cup of kindness and revel in the memories.

You have to lose one to feel the emotions it sets loose. Condolences.

My condolences. I had to do the same thing a few months ago and it still hurts. I'm on my fourth Lab now and often think of past hunts when I come upon a place I hunted in years past with one of my prior dogs. They give us so much and ask for so little in return.

My sympathy. I've lost 3 and it does not get any easier. My Bella( a 9 yr old Border Collie),is my shadow. If I'm in my truck she is on the seat beside me. I keep saying I won't get that attached with each one by it's impossible.

Nick

my condolences i lost many hunting dogs -never lost one hunting -,always helps to mitigate pain ,the arriving of a new puppie .

Thank you all for your understanding and sympathies. I would say the loss is too great to experience again, but what would I be without sweet black sugar. ? Lost! I have lived,loved and lost. The joy overrides the loss,but I still find myself in a place I cannot fully understand.
You either get it or do not. For those that do and some that one day will. Best.

Just having had the same thing happen to me you have my most heart felt condolences. The memories are sweet.

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936).  Verse: 1885–1918.  1922.
 
“The Power of the Dog”
 
THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware         5
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
 
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.         10
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.
 
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs         15
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.
 
When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).         20
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.
 
We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,         25
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:         30
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
 

Thank you.
I get teary eyed every time I read it.
Two other great reads are
The road to Tinkamtown by Corey Ford and
One by Gene Hill

Just watched two videos, one about
a dog crying at his owners grave
and one about dogs welcoming soldiers
home.
Can't find them now though. Must be
something in my eye. Computer is all
blurry.

I feel your loss. Went thru the same thing my self a little over a year ago.
Didn't want another dog which was some thing that didn't last much over a month.
I got my Lily almost a year ago as I just couldn't go it alone. I needed that in your face licking love and companionship.

Al

He was a once in a lifetime dog. I don't know that I will ever come across another one like him again!

Here is the dog video at the grave site.
My condolences. I just lost my 13 and a half year old Weimeraner. He was a great dog.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1_GmHphulE

I lost Pepper my chocolate lab about two years ago and I was hurting, but very stoic about it until my Mother called and asked how I was doing. I lost all composure, but she made me feel better. Who says a grown man doesn't need his mom? Pepper and I hunted together for twelve years and she lived for fifteen. Now I have a yellow lab named Roux and she has filled a void, but Pepper will still be missed.

"You either get it or do not. For those that do and some that one day will."

I get it. Sorry.

Karl

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Killartist:
Thank you all for your understanding and sympathies. I would say the loss is too great to experience again, but what would I be without sweet black sugar. ? Lost! I have lived,loved and lost. The joy overrides the loss,but I still find myself in a place I cannot fully understand.
You either get it or do not. For those that do and some that one day will. Best.

those of us who are real ''Dog People''get it...at my age I have felt that deep pain many times,but the great memories and joy of that most loyal of companions will make you get another short lived true buddy to make some more great memories, never as a replacement,but as additional joy that they give you....

Our canine companions are never with us long enough.

Tom

I get it. Even though he was black, (the kids watched old yeller right when we got him)our lab Yeller was with us for eighteen years, I had to help him in and out of the truck in his later years.
Now I have a German shorthair, she's 13 now, and I'm boosting her in and out of the vehicle. She's real close.

My old dog Sparky died about a year after I got home from Vietnam for good.

That was 1971, and I have not been able to find his replacement yet. I look, but haven't yet found one that grabbed me by the soul...

Sometimes, I think one good one is all I deserved.

I'm new here and just surfing threw the post but this one caught my attention because I'm close to loosing my companion that I rescued from an animal shelter 13 years ago. He had been jailed because his owners didn't understand him and was on death row because he growled at a LEO who was looking for dogs to train for the department and reported that he was a bad dog since he growled at him while he was pinned up in a cage.
He was a beautiful pure bred Chocolate Lab of 14 months of age and full of life.
When I approached his kennel as he sat looking unhappy I stopped to say hello to him and got a low grumble of a growl. I stuck my fingers threw the chain link and wiggled them saying if your a bad boy chew on these. He looked at me as I wiggled my fingers and eased over to sniff and took a lick. I said gotcha. and had a handler get him out of the kennel and proceed to make friends with him. I went to the adoption desk and inquired about him and was told he was scheduled to be put down and I asked why and wanted to speak to the Vet. I was told he was considered a bad and a untrainable dog and had to be put down because he had growled at a LEO. I threatened to have Lab Rescue intervene and was asked if I wanted to take him home right then and I said I wanted him but needed a day or two to get things ready for him they agreed and that has been 12yrs ago. He's in the winter of his life now and has been my companion since I brought him home.
This guy has laid with me will I waited for EMS to arrive to take care of my broken ankle.
This story could go on and on but it is long enough.
When his time comes which is near and one that I dread there will be lots of tears for sure since he is loved deeply.

I lost my chocolate lab "Duke" 10 years ago this coming summer to throat cancer. I still grieve him & am holding back tears right now.
I definitely get it.

When you loose a beloved pet, the best thing you can do, IMHO, is to find another.