Its time to let the old boy go

ian103

Thanks everyone.

OH is finding it harder than me as he was effectively her dog, coming back to an 'empty' home, empty dog bed in her office etc.

zaksmum

ian103 wrote: »

Thanks everyone.

OH is finding it harder than me as he was effectively her dog, coming back to an 'empty' home, empty dog bed in her office etc.

That's one of the hardest things, the emptiness when they've gone. I never thought I'd miss the black dog hair everywhere, but how I did.

tuttifruiti20

Sorry to hear it but you made the right decision.

fannyadams

"People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody all the time and being nice. Dogs already know how to do that, and that's why they don't live as long"

ian103

Just a quick update, it been a week and a half since the old boy went for his big sleep, it was definitely the right decision, but it was great to have had him for nearly 17 years. His quality of life had become very poor, it had started to impact on the other pets and we weren't getting much sleep either. I think OH has found it harder as the dog was really hers and he was very protective of her and they used to spend all day together.

OH had decided that we were only going to have the one dog but is already talking about another towards the end of the summer.

I think the other pets are missing him as our other dog is behaving strangely at night and one of our young cats appears to be looking for him. He had got grumpy over the final couple of months but was always extremely gentle with the cat.

Its still odd to see 2 dinner bowls, a dog bed that was fought over when we went out remains unoccupied. He still gets called in when we call the pets as we haven't quite adjusted but Im sure we will.

I'll update later when we decide on another dog.

zaksmum

ian103 wrote: »

Just a quick update, it been a week and a half since the old boy went for his big sleep, it was definitely the right decision, but it was great to have had him for nearly 17 years. His quality of life had become very poor, it had started to impact on the other pets and we weren't getting much sleep either. I think OH has found it harder as the dog was really hers and he was very protective of her and they used to spend all day together.

OH had decided that we were only going to have the one dog but is already talking about another towards the end of the summer.

I think the other pets are missing him as our other dog is behaving strangely at night and one of our young cats appears to be looking for him. He had got grumpy over the final couple of months but was always extremely gentle with the cat.

Its still odd to see 2 dinner bowls, a dog bed that was fought over when we went out remains unoccupied. He still gets called in when we call the pets as we haven't quite adjusted but Im sure we will.

I'll update later when we decide on another dog.

It's hard to adjust to having one dog when you previously had two.

I still looked for both dogs when I called them in from the garden...it was a happy moment for me when we got our puppy and I called them in and once again saw two doggy faces bounding towards me...a little black face alongside the beloved brown face!:)

Hope you're ok Ian.

bugslet

I missed this when you first posted ian, so sorry for your loss.

I usually find there just comes a time when it just feels right to have another dog, be it three months or a year.

One of mine had to make the journey to the big kennel in the sky at 17, it really is like losing a family member,e ven when it's the right thing to do.

ian103

Struggling now, Scuff the cat joined the old boy in the big sleep. Doesn't appear she got over him.

Edwardia

My rescue black lab is now 14 and appears to be getting a doggie version of Alzheimers. Doesn't ask to go out, will pee while drinking water in the kitchen, doesn't seem to know what to do in garden, looks confused, falls over and I think we should have made The Big Sleep decision earlier when he wasn't as bad. My mother wanted one last Christmas with him. So he's going to vet (no other pets here) as soon as we can book an appt.

I read your posts and cried, especially when I got to Ian's last one. I send hugs and hope younger dog comforts you xx

zaksmum

ian103 wrote: »

Struggling now, Scuff the cat joined the old boy in the big sleep. Doesn't appear she got over him.

Oh Ian. So sorry. Sending you hugs.