Every huntin' dog owner knows this day will come, but it still doesn't make it any easier. My best Friend for the last 12 years is not doing so well. The really tough part is her mind and heart are still fairly fresh and strong but those damn hips and her back are not. What memories we made chasing pheasants and chuckars over on the dry side. She road with me to and from work for her first year. Went on lots of scouting trips for deer and elk too. You'd be surprised how many times we were walking a game trail or F.S. road and she'd freeze and raise her nose up winding and I'd start looking around real closely and spot game looking at us that I might have missed without her nose. And I remember a couple of times when SHE should of drove home from a buddies house but my stubborn ass wouldn't let her. It's gonna be a tuff drive to the vet tomorrow but I think and hope it's the right call. I'll never forget all the talks we had, how she listened to all my bitchin' and helped me get through all of lifes ups and downs without ever saying a word. Hope to post a couple of pics of her later. Kind of a memorial for me. Sorry to be such a downer right before Christmas but I had to express my feelings somehow and this way you can't see my allergies acting up, if you know what I mean. I had hoped she could make it through the holidays with the family and all but she was really struggling to get up and around this morning and it pains me to see her like this. I hope it's true, what they say: "All Good Dogs Go To Heaven" R.I.P. "HEIDI" 12/95-12/07

I am sorry.....that's tough. I will be thinking about the 2 of you tomorrow.

TK,

I did the exact same thing two years ago to the day...toughest thing to ever have to do, but that doesn't make it any less right.

Good luck.

Fish on...

Todd

Our family has two shorthairs, ones a pup and the other is going on 12yrs old. I dread the day that we have to let her go as she has been the best upland bird dog we've ever had. I also shot my very first wild rooster over her too when I was super young and that will be a memory that I'll never let go. It would definitly be tough going what you going through but like you said I think you made the right choice, you could only imagine what she gets to do in heaven. Fields after fields with big cackling roosters and NO shock collar.



Jake

Our two Lab's are like our children. I know exactly how you feel....

Regards,
Eddie

My Dad always said while we watched her work, and I quote:

" You can't beat a good Lab"

You are doing the right thing bro! She will be in a better place soon!! I wish your family the best through all of this!!! Peace

That's tough. I feel for ya.

Found this shot, a limit of roosters and chukars.

Good times.

Sorry. Be thankful for the memories, be thankful you were lucky enough to be her owner. If the "Rainbow Bridge" is real, you'll see her again someday.

It's never easy, even if it's for the best.

Sorry man.

Many thanks to all for the support and wonderfull stories. I really appreciate them and the poems were just what I needed to get me through. My wife and I both said goodbye to Heidi yesterday afternoon stroking her gently through the whole process. We almost backed out of doing it but realized we were being sellfish and were forgetting about her pain. It was brutally hard but today I almost feel at peace with something, I don't know what, but I just feel a little better. Although when I woke this morning, took my leak, I headed for the garage to get her scoop of dogfood for breakfast, like I have for years. Again thank you for your thoughts and support. Have a wonderfull Christmas... I know Heidi will. I close my final post with a couple of pics of her taken yesterday. I thought some of you might feel an attachment to her somehow after reading this thread and would also like to say goodbye. The first one is her on the couch yesterday morning watching cartoons with my boy Zack. The second is with me in the front yard getting ready to go for our last drive, she was too gimpy to go on that last walk like I wanted.

Bless all of you!

I know your pain bud........

Maybe it's too soon, but I picked up my current lab a couple of weeks after I put the previous one down......while no substitute, the new puppy sure breathed new life into the situation.

My golden retriver is getting old too. She was no hunting dog but she's definetely a member of the family. Always loved riding around in the car and was a great family dog... She's getting a gray face and has definetely slowed down, and I worry about when her time comes all the time.
Sorry for your losses..

I just gave a cat back to it's owner that I was watching for a while and that was bad enough. I'm sorry for your loss. That's really sad,hang in there

How about a couple happy faces to cheer you up.