What to look for/preparing for your dog’s death

[DrumMonkeyRobot]

A gaping void is the beast way to describe the feeling. They take up so much space in our lives.

I know it feels impossible, but over time you’ll notice all those things you listed less and less. Eventually, you’ll realize it’s been a full week since you last thought about him. And that will make you sad too. But then, over time, you’ll stop thinking about him all the time, and on the rare occasions he does come across your mind, it will only be happiness that you feel. All the hurt will be gone. You’ll get there. It just takes time.

 

[Pipe Line]

A gaping void is the beast way to describe the feeling. They take up so much space in our lives.

I know it feels impossible, but over time you’ll notice all those things you listed less and less. Eventually, you’ll realize it’s been a full week since you last thought about him. And that will make you sad too. But then, over time, you’ll stop thinking about him all the time, and on the rare occasions he does come across your mind, it will only be happiness that you feel. All the hurt will be gone. You’ll get there. It just takes time.

That’s what my wife said last night. You just go have to get through it. You’ll get there. It’ll hit at different times, but some day it’ll be okay because he’s okay now.

 

[dom91932]

He’s going to be cremated, and I’ll pick that up in two weeks. They’re doing a paw print thing for him too. My wife ordered a few things as well for memorial.

I’m finding that my immediate reaction to cope is to jump back into daily routine. What I’m also realizing is that there’s a shit load of things I do daily that I never realized how much I appreciated until right now. His bowl is full of water. His food container is empty. His harness and leash are back on the hook. I didn’t have to wipe off his paws when our other dog came in from our back earlier. I don’t hear his foot steps. I don’t hear his heavy breathing. I opened the fridge and he wasn’t head first trying to see what was in there. I just walked our other dog and only had to deal with one leash. We took a towel and rubbed it all over him for our other dog and I put it on the bed next to the window. I only saw his face in my head when we pulled back in from running a quick errand after the vet. His giant kennel in the basement that’ll never have him in it again. Our other dog is laying at my feet now instead of him as I type this.

I just feel him everywhere still but I don’t hear or see anything and I’m just completely numb and in shock. High school was the last time this was reality. And high school was a long time ago.

there’s just a giant void that I just don’t 100% know how to handle or deal with yet. I simply froze for a few minutes after he was gone, at the vet, cause I couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing and putting my hand on his physical body again.

So sorry brother. Hang in there as best you can. As @DrumMonkeyRobot said, it will eventually get better and the feelings of loss will be replaced by all of the happiness you shared.

 

[Pipe Line]

So sorry brother. Hang in there as best you can. As @DrumMonkeyRobot said, it will eventually get better and the feelings of loss will be replaced by all of the happiness you shared.

Been one of the longest days I can remember in a long time. Our other dog is starting to suspect some things

 

[RedSavage]

Well this threads depressing. My first dog just turned 12. He’s wearing diapers and struggling to shit on the regular. Vet says there’s a blockage and at this point can’t really be removed. Plus his back legs are giving out as well. I know the day is coming sooner than I care for it to.

Well..he decided today was the day. It fucking sucks.

 

[Pipe Line]

Well..he decided today was the day. It fucking sucks.

I’m sorry man. Sadness is obvious. Biggest thing I’ve personally learned in the last week is just how big of a void there is. So many little things you end up noticing and missing as the days go by. Hang in there

 

[Pipe Line]

My dog's ashes are back, picking them up here shortly. Very excited. The house has felt so empty, just without his presence there, even with a second dog. In a weird way, it just feels like closure finally and I'm just so excited to hold that box and to just feel like I'm holding his face in my hands again. Just want him home so bad. Can't take my eyes off the clock.

 

[Juro]

My dog's ashes are back, picking them up here shortly. Very excited. The house has felt so empty, just without his presence there, even with a second dog. In a weird way, it just feels like closure finally and I'm just so excited to hold that box and to just feel like I'm holding his face in my hands again. Just want him home so bad. Can't take my eyes off the clock.

I feel you. I still call my current Golden by my last Golden’s name. Life is cruel because a dog’s love is everlasting.

 

[Pipe Line]

I feel you. I still call my current Golden by my last Golden’s name. Life is cruel because a dog’s love is everlasting.

I talk to my big dog everyday in the sky. I know it sounds crazy but it helps me. Just getting through each day. He’s home now and I feel better about it

 

[DrumMonkeyRobot]

I talk to my big dog everyday in the sky. I know it sounds crazy but it helps me. Just getting through each day. He’s home now and I feel better about it

According to some native traditions, talking to the dead helps them cross to the other side. So no, it isn’t crazy. People have been doing it for thousands of years.

It’s been 10 years since I lost my dad and I still talk to him sometimes.

 

[Pipe Line]

Just felt the need to put this "down on paper", my wife and I have "lightly" discussed the idea of another dog. If I'm being honest, I'd be okay with it to an extent. I, however, am pushing back because I would feel extremely guilty about it. I understand it's not "replacing your dog" but that's how it seems and feels to me. In my mind, there will never be another "my dog" than what I had. I know how that sounds, but that's how my brain works. I don't know, I'm open to it, kind of.


My wife's dog has been surprisingly fantastic since my dog passed. Some of it is probably sensing my sadness and trying to help me, but it's also been obvious that she's been sad as well. No doubt se enjoys the new attention. For the last few months of my dog's life, if she didn't get enough attention or exercise during the day, very high likelihood she was going to cause some sort of trouble. Zero issue over the last month. Wild, IMO. She's even done some things the last couple weeks that my dog used to do, and it's interesting to me. Almost like she learned over the years and is trying to carry on the things he did, because she's able to now. It's almost like we're both helping each other to get through this time.

 

[Dr.DrakeRamoray]

This article is a good read for those in this thread

Sports Guy: One final toss for The Dooze - ESPN Page 2

For the past six years, Bill Simmons has played "catch" with The Dooze, his companion during sporting events and family outings. This weekend, Bill had to say a painful farewell.

www.espn.com

 

[Pipe Line]

This article is a good read for those in this thread

Sports Guy: One final toss for The Dooze - ESPN Page 2

For the past six years, Bill Simmons has played "catch" with The Dooze, his companion during sporting events and family outings. This weekend, Bill had to say a painful farewell.

www.espn.com

Fuck man the back legs failing got me. I was alright until then. My guy sat in his shit twice before I finally accepted it was okay. Damn

 

[DrumMonkeyRobot]

Just felt the need to put this "down on paper", my wife and I have "lightly" discussed the idea of another dog. If I'm being honest, I'd be okay with it to an extent. I, however, am pushing back because I would feel extremely guilty about it. I understand it's not "replacing your dog" but that's how it seems and feels to me. In my mind, there will never be another "my dog" than what I had. I know how that sounds, but that's how my brain works. I don't know, I'm open to it, kind of.


My wife's dog has been surprisingly fantastic since my dog passed. Some of it is probably sensing my sadness and trying to help me, but it's also been obvious that she's been sad as well. No doubt se enjoys the new attention. For the last few months of my dog's life, if she didn't get enough attention or exercise during the day, very high likelihood she was going to cause some sort of trouble. Zero issue over the last month. Wild, IMO. She's even done some things the last couple weeks that my dog used to do, and it's interesting to me. Almost like she learned over the years and is trying to carry on the things he did, because she's able to now. It's almost like we're both helping each other to get through this time.

Our dog, Auggie, had his big brother, Sully, with him since he was 6 months old. They were best buddies and loved the ever living shit out of one another. When we had to put Sully down a couple of months ago, Auggie didn't leave Sully's bed, except to eat and do his business, for 3 days. Your wife's dog definitely misses your dog.

Sully was always the family guardian. He barked when people were at the door, which Auggie never did. Now that Sully isn't around, Auggie has started to take over those duties.

 

[Pipe Line]

Our dog, Auggie, had his big brother, Sully, with him since he was 6 months old. They were best buddies and loved the ever living shit out of one another. When we had to put Sully down a couple of months ago, Auggie didn't leave Sully's bed, except to eat and do his business, for 3 days. Your wife's dog definitely misses your dog.

Sully was always the family guardian. He barked when people were at the door, which Auggie never did. Now that Sully isn't around, Auggie has started to take over those duties.

God damn, someone's cutting onions here at work. I appreciate your words.

 

[Pipe Line]

A little memorial for my big dog that I found on Amazon

 

[SlumpBuster]

Always tough. We had to put down our lab a couple years ago. He was getting so wobbly and blind he was going to really hurt himself. We have a retaining wall in our backyard he almost fell off of and that would have broken a lot of bones. He couldn't control his bladder at all and we think he had kidney failure so we had to put giant diapers on him in the house.

He was just such a dang good dog. Followed you everywhere, never wanted anything more than to just be with his people.

RIP to your companion Pipe. Sorry you had to go say goodbye.

 

[Pipe Line]

Always tough. We had to put down our lab a couple years ago. He was getting so wobbly and blind he was going to really hurt himself. We have a retaining wall in our backyard he almost fell off of and that would have broken a lot of bones. He couldn't control his bladder at all and we think he had kidney failure so we had to put giant diapers on him in the house.

He was just such a dang good dog. Followed you everywhere, never wanted anything more than to just be with his people.

RIP to your companion Pipe. Sorry you had to go say goodbye.

Labs are simply the best. Doing absolutely everything I can to honor and remember him as each day passes.

 

[djw004]

I got Bandit when she was 4 months back when Craigslist was a thing and you never knew if you were responding to a prostitute or a real ad for what you searched…drove almost 2 hours to get her with 2 of my buddies. Pulled up to a tiny trailer where I’m quite certain they stole all of the 12+ pets that were living there to fund their meth addiction. The parents smoked cigs at the table while the 12 year old handled opening the door and overseeing the impending business transaction. One of the strangest experiences of my life…but we felt like we actually rescued her from that shit hole

She lived with me and my 4 buddies right after we graduated college and moved to a house together. We all trained her all day long as our schedules made for us all being home at different times throughout the day. She’s so smart and so obedient because of it.

She would run figure 8s through the living room, then around the dining table, and continue that path as long as none of us moved a single muscle. So we’d sit there for 10 minutes straight when it started, everyone like a statue stifling our laughter as she went insane sprinting through our house. Sometimes the path would be between one of our legs over and over and over. Someone would just move their foot and she’d stop on a dime and be done. It was hilarious. She’d go everywhere with us. We believed in football she’d play cornerback because her coverage was insanely tight when we’d throw a ball around. She was the center of attention at our house parties. She was part of the gang

Then I bought my own place and it was just me and her for a while. I met my now wife, and she would snuggle Bandit and take her on walks/runs while I worked. She’d put her long snout (the dog not my wife), into our neck and and just sit there hugging us. She’d be by our side as we decorated the Christmas tree, as we watched movies, and she’d lay with us in bed and annoy the hell out of my wife

Then each of our 3 kids came home from the hospital one by one over the years - and each time Bandit would go right up to their car seat as we brought them in, she’d sniff them, walk a circle around their car seat, and later lay at the foot of their baby swing once we put them in it.

We moved to our “forever home” and she had her first fenced back yard, but everyone thought we had an electric fence because she preferred being out in the front yard and she’d just lay there and politely watch people walk by. She’s been a great pup.

Tomorrow she’s being put down. She’s a shell of herself and it’s the right thing to do. My kids drew her pictures tonight so she knows they love her as I take her in. Tonight we took her to the dog park that I took her to on the first day I got her and ran around as a whole family. She signed off on every single member of my family and loved them as if they’d been there with the two of us from day 1 so we all wanted to share the dog park with her on day 5,200.

We noticed something funny tonight as we went through old pictures of her. You can click a subject in iPhone photos and it will compile all of the photos of that subject. We expected to see some of the photos of Bandit as the central character, we knew they would be less and less as the focus pivoted more and more to the kids - but a funny thing happened. It really did pull all of the photos that she was in - even unintentionally. And we noticed something - we didn’t take photos of Bandit. We took photos of our family living our lives and having fun, and she was always there. Behind the girls while they danced around the room, on the porch while we cooked/ate dinner, in the yard while the kids learned to catch a ball. She just has always been there, living life with us.

TLDR: Dogs are the fucking best.

 

[Pipe Line]

I got Bandit when she was 4 months back when Craigslist was a thing and you never knew if you were responding to a prostitute or a real ad for what you searched…drove almost 2 hours to get her with 2 of my buddies. Pulled up to a tiny trailer where I’m quite certain they stole all of the 12+ pets that were living there to fund their meth addiction. The parents smoked cigs at the table while the 12 year old handled opening the door and overseeing the impending business transaction. One of the strangest experiences of my life…but we felt like we actually rescued her from that shit hole

She lived with me and my 4 buddies right after we graduated college and moved to a house together. We all trained her all day long as our schedules made for us all being home at different times throughout the day. She’s so smart and so obedient because of it.

She would run figure 8s through the living room, then around the dining table, and continue that path as long as none of us moved a single muscle. So we’d sit there for 10 minutes straight when it started, everyone like a statue stifling our laughter as she went insane sprinting through our house. Sometimes the path would be between one of our legs over and over and over. Someone would just move their foot and she’d stop on a dime and be done. It was hilarious. She’d go everywhere with us. We believed in football she’d play cornerback because her coverage was insanely tight when we’d throw a ball around. She was the center of attention at our house parties. She was part of the gang

Then I bought my own place and it was just me and her for a while. I met my now wife, and she would snuggle Bandit and take her on walks/runs while I worked. She’d put her long snout (the dog not my wife), into our neck and and just sit there hugging us. She’d be by our side as we decorated the Christmas tree, as we watched movies, and she’d lay with us in bed and annoy the hell out of my wife

Then each of our 3 kids came home from the hospital one by one over the years - and each time Bandit would go right up to their car seat as we brought them in, she’d sniff them, walk a circle around their car seat, and later lay at the foot of their baby swing once we put them in it.

We moved to our “forever home” and she had her first fenced back yard, but everyone thought we had an electric fence because she preferred being out in the front yard and she’d just lay there and politely watch people walk by. She’s been a great pup.

Tomorrow she’s being put down. She’s a shell of herself and it’s the right thing to do. My kids drew her pictures tonight so she knows they love her as I take her in. Tonight we took her to the dog park that I took her to on the first day I got her and ran around as a whole family. She signed off on every single member of my family and loved them as if they’d been there with the two of us from day 1 so we all wanted to share the dog park with her on day 5,200.

We noticed something funny tonight as we went through old pictures of her. You can click a subject in iPhone photos and it will compile all of the photos of that subject. We expected to see some of the photos of Bandit as the central character, we knew they would be less and less as the focus pivoted more and more to the kids - but a funny thing happened. It really did pull all of the photos that she was in - even unintentionally. And we noticed something - we didn’t take photos of Bandit. We took photos of our family living our lives and having fun, and she was always there. Behind the girls while they danced around the room, on the porch while we cooked/ate dinner, in the yard while the kids learned to catch a ball. She just has always been there, living life with us.

TLDR: Dogs are the fucking best.

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My heart sank when I saw this thread bumped and it wasn't me. T's and P's brother. My daughter likes to look at photos of my dog before we fall asleep. Not every night, but most nights. Breaks my heart because the scrolling back in time takes an extra second or two with each passing week to get to him anymore.