I Cried Today

[d2dave]

The day all pet owners dread, for us, came today. Our twelve and a half year old German Sheppard had to be put down.

She was still fine mentally, the body was no longer any good. She was really starting to have trouble walking and had become incontinent.

How fast they age. Pic was taken only 18 months ago.

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/1527/htl1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/htl1.jpg/)

RIP Girl[bigsad]:dbcry:

[SPROVER]

Yeah its one of those things all us dog owners have to go through unfortunately:( I have a 12 yo Rotty x Lab and love her to bits.I don't know how i'll be when she leaves us.
At least you would have a lot of good times together:).She was a beautiful looking dog.

[MLD]

I have ageing Labradors and dread the day I have to make such a decision. My deepest sympathy to you and the family.

chin up, MLD

[Disco Muppet]

Sad to hear it mate, I've always had a soft spot for German Shepherds. :(

[Signal1]

Sorry to hear Dave.

[digger]

Dave,
I am really sorry to hear that - she was brilliant with myself, nay and the kids when we visited... very patient!

Its always a hard time but I think you have done the right thing, too many times we hang on too long and leave loyal great mates in pain that they cannot recover from...

I hope that the quiet nature of your dog somehow makes its way to your cats!! :twisted:

Remember the good times, it was obviously a well loved dog that loved you guys too.

[Smokaharma]

Sorry for your loss Dave I know ill be a blubbering mess and totally inconsolable when my shepard goes.
You will always have your memories.

[Cobber]

Never had a German Shepherd but always liked them. Regardless of breed its always hard to say goodbye :(

[trobbo]

I feel your pain. We had to have our rotti X heeler put down just before christmas. He was a similiar age to your girl. Worse thing was I was interstate at the time. He was a nutty adolescent and chased everything but really matured with age and was wonderful to have around.

[MacMan]

No words beyond "I understand". :(

[jimr1]

Sorry to hear of your loss mate . she looked like a lovely dog ..

[Yorkie]

Sorry to hear, I have 2 dogs approaching that time and not looking forward to it. :(

[snowbound]

We have 2 beautiful Jack Russels who we adore. Our sympathy goes out to you Dave. "Dog" is too small a word for our loyal best friends. On the Island of Misima (Coral sea) the name for a dog is "Wanuka" seems to me a more important sounding word befitting their standing in our world.

[d3syd]

My sincere condolences. I loss my beloved Border Collie a year ago and it ripped my heart out and I bawled my eyes out:(.

We were fortunate in a way that she died in her sleep in hospital, and that we didn't have to make the decision to put her down. That would have been unbearable.

It is so unfair that dogs have 1/7 the life expectancy of humans.

In time you will heal, but you will never forget her.

Watch this, it will make you cry but also comfort you at this difficult time:

The Rainbow Bridge - YouTube

(embedded link might not work, but you can click and watch it on YouTube)

[loanrangie]

Its never easy is it, i went thru this a few months ago. Sometimes its worse than losing a distant family member.

[Sidewinder76]

I just went and hugged my border collie. He's my best mate and I know I'll miss him like a member of the family has left us when he's gone.

[Chops]

Sorry to hear of this Dave, as all have said, it hits hard, but you'll have good memories.

Cheers

[d2dave]

My sincere condolences. I loss my beloved Border Collie a year ago and it ripped my heart out and I bawled my eyes out:(.

We were fortunate in a way that she died in her sleep in hospital, and that we didn't have to make the decision to put her down. That would have been unbearable.

It is so unfair that dogs have 1/7 the life expectancy of humans.

In time you will heal, but you will never forget her.

Watch this, it will make you cry but also comfort you at this difficult time:

The Rainbow Bridge - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcQvYh_3Atw)

(embedded link might not work, but you can click and watch it on YouTube)

I have just finished watching this and was bawling my eyes out by the end. SWMBO had to leave three quarters of the way through it.

As much as I loved my dog, I did not expect her passing to affect me as much as it has.

Thanks everyone for your support, it is much appreciated. As they say, time heals many wounds, and I know with time I will get over it, just a bit tough at present.

[Davo]

Many of us know how you feel and have been there ourselves. It's so hard to make that decision because you wonder if you can have just another day - or week - or longer, but you know that really the time has come. Personally, I like the idea that we get to see them again when it's our turn to go.

[d3syd]

I still tear up everytime I watch it.:dbcry:

[Sitec]

Our thoughts are with you too.. Just watched that vid and looked across at our two with a massive lump in my throat... A Lab x Mastiff and a Kelpie x Lab. Both rescued and now both a huge part of our family. I too dread that day.... Just know that the life she spent with you was a great one in a warm caring home where she was loved. Simon, Hills, Roxy (Left) and Chappy (Right).

[Chucaro]

I am very sorry for your lost :( We lost our dog 3 years ago and our biggest mistake was not having a puppy just before we lost her or within the next few weeks.
Now, 3 years later and without the courage to have another dog we still crying for loosing her.
If we have another dog I just wonder if I was going to be strong to go trough the pain again when I will be close to 80 :(

[101RRS]

My pup is now 16 years and 3 months old and requires constant looking after as she is blind and cannot negotiate the stairs to get herself out - unfortunately the countdown is on - not looking forward to the day when hard decisions need to be made.

I feel for you but remember the good times.

Garry

[d2dave]

I shed a few more tears just now after again watching Rainbow Bridge.

Myself and SWMBO after much discussion have decided to get another dog. Every time we go out side the yard just seems so empty. Our yearly holiday camped on the Murray river just would not be the same with out our dog. She loved it just as much as we did.

The breeder whom we got her from is no longer breeding, but she put us on to a couple of good ones.

After some phone calls we have a yet to be born pup reserved for us. Hopefully have it late November or early December.

[Sitec]

That's good news. Sounds like there will always be a place for a dog at your place. It's a bit like here really!! The new pup will also help with moving on, but not forgetting. With that will come the chaos of table legs being chewn, accidents on carpets, plugs being pulled out of sockets etc etc!!!! :)

[UncleHo]

Myself and the "Management" have had to deal with this several times over the last 30+ years,but with our first chocolate Border Collie obedience dog,(CDX) when he got old and caught severe bronchitis at age 14 1/4 we decided to let him go with dignity,it was hard,very hard,but we had him cremated and his ashes boxed and they stand amongst his trophies and plaques.We currently have one of his daughters who has just turned 10 and will probably do similar when the time comes, we had an elderly Cattle Dog bitch that at 13+ was starting get fragile,but having to carry her into the Vet. after a stroke was something we never wish to ever repeat.

[d2dave]

The first picture is of Dad, and the second picture is, who we think will be Mum, parents of our new pup.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/7906/mgbd.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/mgbd.jpg/)

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/7636/72ew.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/72ew.jpg/)

[carlschmid2002]

I know exactly what you are going through. They are our best mates. I lost a beagle at the beginning of the year. My German Shepherd is the most beautiful dog I have ever owned. I mean that as beauty is more than skin deep.

[carlschmid2002]

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[Sidewinder76]

The first picture is of Dad, and the second picture is, who we think will be Mum, parents of our new pup.

[/URL]

[URL="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/72ew.jpg/"] (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/mgbd.jpg/)

When are the pups planned for?

[d2dave]

Not 100% sure as SWMBO has been communicating with the breeder, but from memory we will be going to meet mum, dad and the breeder some time in October, whilst mum is pregnant.

[Sidewinder76]

Not 100% sure as SWMBO has been communicating with the breeder, but from memory we will be going to meet mum, dad and the breeder some time in October, whilst mum is pregnant.

Good luck! I'd love one but you might not be local to northern WA. Lol.

[carlschmid2002]

I might be biased but I think the best German Shepherds come from Victoria. We are living in Townsville now and my girl is in a different league to the local German Shepherds here. My wife and I are still members of the GSD Club of Victoria. Good bunch of people.

[Sidewinder76]

I saw a pup up here the other day and it had been bread with a back so sloped that it could hardly walk properly. I hate that look to be honest and much prefer the straight backed look.

[rijidij]

G'day Dave,
Sorry I've missed this thread until just now.
I'm not too proud to admit I was in tears when we put our 14yo Golden Retreiver down a couple of years ago, so I can imagine how you feel right now.
We actually bought another Golden pup before he got to that inevitable stage at the end of his good years. It certainly made it easier with the new dog already there, but doesn't change the fact it's a very sad day when they have to go.

Cheers, Murray

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1424.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/rijidij/media/Dogs/Cobber_Loc.jpg.html)

He was also a good electric blanket for my Staffy :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1425.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/rijidij/media/Dogs/IMGP1417.jpg.html)

[d2dave]

Thanks Murray. I still get a bit teary every time I visit this thread. As time passes it gets easier, and with the anticipation of getting another fluffy bundle of joy, it is restoring happiness to our house.

SWMBO went shopping today and came home with some puppy stuff, which added a bit of excitement.

What would really perk me up is a trip to Robe in November. Any chance of a trip this year?

PS. Lovely dogs in your pics.

[Tombie]

My girl, Milla - on the right,she is relatively new to the family.
Love the breed, she is the 2nd one, having lost my friend of 10 years earlier this year. She's a cracker!
Abundant energy and cheeky personality.

The other dog, Leeloo is the wife's Japanese Spitz - she's a character too!

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