Relatively speaking i am new to working dogs, last night i looked at my old dog and for the first time it really dawned on me that his final chapters are coming, not just yet but sooner rather than later. He is my first working dog, a GSP purchased from an unwanted litter, no papers and no field trial awards but a dog that has warmed my heart, won my heart and taught me much.

I have euthanaised other dogs at the vet but i cannot get my head around putting him in the truck and driving him to the vet practice to spend his last moments surrounded by bright lights and the sterile environment of a vet clinic. Some how after all the adventures and outdoor time we have had it just would not be a fitting end.

As you guys know these dogs that we we work with are more intuitive and in touch than regular dogs. I want to end his time well, as well as such a moment can go. It would be a great blessing if he went quietly in his sleep but unfortunately in my experience that is a rare event

Any advice or input will be appreciatted

It is never an easy thing. I guess it depends on your vet. I have a lab that is getting old and will be facing this myself sooner than later. My vet does both farm animals and companion animals. I haven't asked but I'm sure I can get him to stop by home when the time comes.

It seems like many people are not having their dogs cremated here so I guess they take them to the vets office.

Tom

I would pay extra to have a vet come to my house if at all possible or even a place of the dogs best memories, it would be a small price to pay for years of loyalty, just hope it is even possible where you reside
I do not envy your task at hand but remember you are doing it for him to release him from his misery, and remember we will all meet again

We had our vet come to the house last summer. I don't know if he charged extra or not and I don't care. It was worth it, for our dog and for my family.

He is also a farm vet so he is used to traveling to clients' homes.

My condolences! Having gone thru this in July, I wish you the best! All I can advise is cherish every moment you have together, focus on the wonderful memories and do what you can to make it as comfortable and painless as possible. That is all I can type. Keyboard is getting blurry.

It really sucks every time we have to put a companion down. I would have the vet come to my house. That's what I did when I had to put my Lab down. We had a good day and was in his comfort zone when it happened. I don't know if it mattered to him or not but it sure mattered to me.
my condolences.

I'm in the same boat. My old companion yellow lab just turned 13. Arthritis is starting to get him, he's just starting to get hard of hearing and I can see the cataracts in his eyes. he helped me meet my wife and looked after my daughters as they grew up. I know the day is coming and I dread it.

I have been doing this a long time and have had to put down many of my 4 leg buddies and hunting companions and it never gets easy..we always have the vet come to us to provide the least upset...the vet and all of us cry together...I feel your pain...

''OLD DOGS WILL DIE AND GROWN MEN WILL CRY AS LONG AS THERE ARE OLD DOGS AND GROWN MEN''

Hi Manyathelo

I'm of an age where I have outlived a few of my working dog companions.

Australian Cattle Dogs.

I find it less stressful for the dog to shoot it at home.

It's never easy

Then I bury them and plant a tree over them.

The trees always do well.

Regards
Deafdog

damn depressing thread

If your dog really loves riding in your truck/car then consider what I did.

My lab, Briar, at 13 years of age, had to be put down due to a spinal stenosus. She was sound of mind but could no longer walk or control her urine/stool by Christmas Day of 2013. I knew I had no choice.

I hated the thought of going to the vet but she loved any opportunity to ride in the truck. I had the vet come out to the truck and my girl passed with a smile on her old, gray face in her favorite spot.

I took her home and buried her next to my pond wrapped in my old LL Bean barn coat that was her favorite thing to lay on.

this makes me sad. I had to deal with this many, many years ago. My Grandfather's cow dog and my coon hunting buddy Toby. I took him out for a last visit to the woods. At the end, I think he understood, the way he looked at me.

I haven't had a dog since...

For the same reasons as you have mentioned, bright lights, sterile environment, unfamiliar people and surroundings I have never taken any of my hunting dogs to a vet when it has come time for them. By then they are old, tired and usually in some discomfort from arthritis, or often in old dogs, some degree of congestive heart failure, just plain worn out from a great life of hunting and companionship.
The best I can do for them is take them out to familiar surroundings and administer an instant painless passing with a silenced 22 bullet to the brain.

He or she has been my great companion, why should I expect others to do the job that needs doing.

Hate having emotional feelings towards animals ,grew up on a farm an they were always getting shot ,lost ,stolen ,run over ,dieing of distemper ,Parvo virus, cancer etc, last dog i had was 20 years ago ,i make it a point ,not to get attached to animals anymore ,bad enough getting attached to women ..................

We had a very old dog on the farm that was declining fast. We were talking about taking him into the vet.
Funny thing was, next morning he left the barn across the pasture and never returned. Kind of like, he knew it was his time and he did not want to be a problem.
We never found the remains.

Our lab was 18 years old when we had to put him down.he was getting so he could hardly walk, his hips were going bad,
He always rode with me in the truck, the last few years I had to help him in.When we took him to the vet, he said he wasn't absorbing his food,systems are shutting down.
Vet came out to the truck...........

My dogs have always seen their last minutes with family members at home with the vet there.I wouldn't have it any another way regardless of the expense.

The vet who makes house calls is a great comfort and blessing at such a wretched time.
A friend recently went through this. Charlie, a Boston terrier, was suffering from a brain tumor. He got lots of attention on his last day. They even served him a last meal -- cut up steak -- on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, where he always poked his nose but never got to eat. He passed in hugs wrapped in his favorite blanket.
I'm getting choked all over again ...