Said goodbye to my 14 year old dog yesterday

It’s shit isn’t it.
Try and remember the good times

Really sorry to hear this. I know how hard it is to lose a dog. But you had him for 14 years & when the grief fades you’ll have all the happy memories to look back on.

Sorry to read this. Dogs are fantastic and it’s so sad when they go.

Lost our Springer 3 months ago. Still feel so low about it. You have my sympathy, really leaves a hole.

Animals are members of your family. You always miss them.

Sorry to hear about this, lost our 12 year old girl last spring.

Funkmasterp summed it up nicely, dogs are brilliant and it’s really tough when they go.

Sorry to hear that it's really tough when you lose your dog, remember all the good times and focus on the joy he bought into your lives, on the positive side he went very quickly, all the more of a shock but at least he didn't have to suffer in pain or go through complicated medical procedures.

Sorry to hear this. Such a tragedy that these wonderful creatures lead such short lives in comparison to our own. I've been through this on a few occasions and it's like losing a family member, because it is.

Through the grief remember the good times and never lose sight of the fact that your dog lived its best life, snug in the bosom of a family that loved him and cared for him. And he gave you everything he had as well.

Mate, i just went through the same thing with my 13 year old Westie, felt like Id lost my right arm. Following advice from folks on here and from the missus, i just picked up a new little mate day before yesterday, an 8 week-old Norfolk terrier pup.
Little lad has really lightened my depression, swore I'd never have another , but here we are. Little Eric is an absolute tonic and is settling in fantastically well.
I was worried that I'd forget my old boy if I had another dog in the house, but its not the case at all. I had reservations but I would say that the only way to fill the dog shaped hole in my life was with another dog.
Grieve, then consider the future, no way would your old mate want you to be sad.

Been through it a few times now, last one was our 14 year old Basset Hound Watson. In mitigation, we’ve always had 2 dogs so it kind of helps soften the blow, but it doesn’t dull the pain of losing a loving companion. The best antidote is getting another dog - it doesn’t replace the one you’ve lost - Mrs DB is yearning for another hound to go with Esther, our 4 year black lab.

We lost our 13.5 year old lab two weeks ago with a similar 24 hour demise. We had her before kids so she’d be a constant and longstanding part of our lives.

Her bowl is still in the kitchen and there’s a massive void in the house………but it is no small comfort to know she had a great long life with us and a mercifully quick and painless end.

We do have another lab which helps.

I’m sorry to read this, I really feel your pain.
We lost our 9year old Beardie last November and there hasn’t a day gone past where I don’t miss him.
Just try to think of all the great times you shared and the memories made.
Big virtual hugs from family Sandboy. X

Heartbreaking 🙁

Sorry to hear your sad news.
We lost our 14 y.o. lurcher last year, the house still feels empty without him. They really do become part of the family.
Once the pain goes get the photos out and cherish the memories.

Feel your pain.
We lost our 13 year old Collie back in May in similar circumstances - took her to the vet on a Friday lunchtime because she seemed off, 3 hours later vet put her to sleep after discovering an inoperable liver tumour.
We still have another, older dog (16) and we’re weighing up whether I’d fair to land a puppy on her, or best to wait until she goes too.
The loss still catches me at times, but I love looking back at the pics of all the cracking times we had together.

We lost our 14 y.o. lurcher last year

Miner's 14 soon, I was kinda hoping lurchers are immortal.

Hope I do the right thing when the time comes like the op did

So so sorry to hear about your loss.

We went through the same thing just over three months ago….

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/dog-down-coping-strategies-for-kids-and-adults/

Only this morning Mrs Rock and I discussed what to do with the lead and harness that is still in its place, hooked over the cellar door handle. We are going to leave it there, just for a little longer.

Sorry.

Lost my patterdale ruby earlier this year and then one of my cats.

It's the crap bit of having pets.

We or should I say her didn't want a dog straight away. However we got a rescue pooch within about 6wks as the house was empty. Not saying this is the right option but Geoffs really helped. Also he needed a home and we'd nor fallen out of the habit of having a dog.

Again sorry

Peace and love brother. I empathise fully. G

My uncle's Yorkie died in similar circumstances lat week. We used to look after her when they went on holiday, she had personality of a small hairy Mariah Carey. I'm far more upset by this than the Queen's demise.

Sorry to hear it gobuchul.

Very sorry to hear that, I can still remember very clearly when we had to take that decision for my previous dog 🙁

Lola is only 8 and we've only had her since may and I'm already extremely worried about when the time comes!

1983 (I was 12) my dad let our Heinz 57 terrier out at 05.30 and she never came back. Me and my brother searched all day on our bikes until somebody reported her hit and killed several miles away. The hurt was unbearable. Fast forward to 2005 our G Retriever had a tumour at 10 and was put to sleep. Cue unbearable pain again.
We now have another and I can't even contemplate the day he'll go.
It's the price we pay for the love and enjoyment of having a companion.
The pain will ease. The memories will stay for ever.
I feel your pain, you have my absolute sympathy.

I hate these threads, and its in particularly sharp focus for me right now. But the last duty of the dog owner is to give them the best end you can and you have done that.
I often think of the dogs I've had, and all they have given me, and I've started to measure my remaining years in terms of dogs. I've probably got one more in me, and its going to have big shoes to fill.

I am very sorry for your loss

Dog poetry (by Ogden Nash)
On a Good Dog

O, my little pup ten years ago
was arrogant and spry,
Her backbone was a bended bow
for arrows in her eye.
Her step was proud, her bark was loud,
her nose was in the sky,
But she was ten years younger then,
And so, by God, was I.

Small birds on stilts along the beach
rose up with piping cry.
And as they rose beyond her reach
I thought to see her fly.
If natural law refused her wings,
that law she would defy,
for she could do unheard-of things,
and so, at times, could I.

Ten years ago she split the air
to seize what she could spy;
Tonight she bumps against a chair,
betrayed by milky eye!
She seems to pant, Time up, time up!
My little dog must die,
And lie in dust with Hector's pup;
So, presently, must I.

Heartbreaking, my rescue has just hit 2.5years old and is close to 2 of them with us. It didn't feel like she'd ever see this point when 5 weeks after getting her she fell ill, it's been more money, time at the vets and heartbreak than I ever expected. And yet still I love her unconditionally.

I'm not sure how I'll manage when I'm in your shoes, but I assume I'll find a way. Like the others have said, remember the walks you had together, even the wet dark cold ones, they love them all the same.

Sorry to hear that. It’s terrible when we have to say goodbye, but they leave us with so many great memories. I still talk about all my dogs with found memories.

Sorry.

Thanks for all the messages.

A bunch of messages from strangers on a cycling forum but they do help.

It's still a bit raw and keep doing the little things, like checking for poo bags when going out.

He made up a lot of my routine. House feels empty.

I read the title when first posted and knew this would be me at sometime with a 15yo westie so didn't read or comment but got pretty upset. It happened today, very quickly I think Maddie knew but held on for us to get her home from the vets to drift away peacefully with all of us with her. I have read them now but with me being in your place gobuchal. I hope you and everyone dont mind. RIP and love for all our furry friends we've all said good bye to and those who have lost. To Maddie, we love you, we miss you, we will never forget you.

I burried Willow in the garden, under an oak tree four years ago. I often sit there and remember the wonderful times we had.

Sorry for your loss, heartbreaking when loved pets go.
Bluecross have a pet bereavement help line we used a couple of times.

So sorry 😞 it’s heartbreaking

Bugger. 🙁 So sorry for you.

We have a 13 year old super bright personality BC, she has just had a pacemaker fitted and he the energy levels of a four year old again. I am making the most of ours second-wind 🙂

We put down our 16+yr old (rescue) terrier on Monday, she was blind and deaf and had a degrading quality of life (couldn't go on walk anymore, would get lost in our garden unless escorted etc.

I can't imagine looking a dog suddenly. I lt was bad enough when we had weeks to plan.

It's absolutely heartbreaking loosing a dog. Our other dog, a 7yr old lab/whippet cross, cirtainly is taking it harder as they were together 24/7 and best mates.

I wish that I could talk to you.jpg

It is just a really **** feeling when they go. Sorry to gobuchul, andygreener and monkeyboyjc. It's tough but it does get better. My two are in my thoughts regularly. Luckily for us we had a baby mere days after the 2nd dog was put to sleep and didn't have time to dwell on him going, I think the birth of my son was all the more emotional because of losing our dog though. The younger one went 6 months before and even though he had a fair few ailments for a couple of years and was on borrowed time, it still hit really hard when he was gone, the worry/delight of my other half being pregnant also added to the emotional side.

3 years later we have a cat now. I can't bring myself to get another dog just yet.