Man's best friend

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Not just a dog. A piece of our hearts goes with every one.

There’s an old Brittany snoring next to me right now. She still gets excited to go hunt, just can’t run as fast as she used to. Her older sister passed last year - even just a few months before she got sick, she’d still drag me out to go run.

Wife says we probably can’t have another dog due to allergies in the family. Don’t know what I’m going to do when we lose the snoring girl.
 
We have had three Brittany's. My old male, Jake was the finest bird dog I ever had the pleasure to hunt behind. He had a knack and desire for finding birds.. he won several local field trials despite the fact that he was reluctant to point tame birds.
This one we lost Sunday was the most obedient dog I ever knew. She was welcome in our house if she was clean , but she would pause at the open door and wait for an invitation. It was the strangest thing...the same with treats, she wouldn't take it unless you told her to go ahead. We don't know how or why she started that, but it was just her way. I go to our shop nearly every morning. The other dummy yellow dog would barge in as soon as the door was open a crack. The brit would pause and wait.
Another thing about all three of our Britts;....They never left the yard. They had their boundaries, and i never saw them off our property. We have atvs and golf carts that we use almost daily. All you had to do was say "no, you stay home" and they would. My mrs is the dog whisperer. I think she taught them that.
 
My Boykin is now 15 and going downhill. She is deaf and crippled up with joint problems. She sleeps about 18 hr./day but I will go nuts when she passes.

I have never run over one of my dogs but I would berate myself for months or longer if I did.

My condolences to you and your wife.
 
Dogs are God's gift to man.
Things happen that we can't control, we leave our guards down for a second and something like this happens.
Armored Farmer, I know it hurts really bad but get another pup and start over.
We lost Arlo, my sons dog, (half Rotti and part Chow and German Shepard) a few years back and no dog will fill his place in our heart but we have room for more.

This little fellow does a good job.
This little dog is part Husky and loves to pull.
Junebug2.jpg Junebug.jpg
She has never hunted but she can maintain 18 mph for miles with my 180lb son on his skate board. We keep her often and have gotten attached to her and I will have my own dog, again, when I retire, and he/she will hunt.
I don't have one know, because it's just not fair to the dog, because of my job.
My point is that they can't be replaced, but there is another puppy out there that needs you to find him.
Don't tear yourself up over what happened. It's hard enough to have to put an old friend down so don't keep reliving it. I've had to do it twice over the years.
 
No matter how close we are to another person, few human relationships are as free from strife, disagreement, and frustration as is the relationship you have with a good dog. Few humans give of themselves to another as a dog gives of itself. I also suspect that we cherish dogs because their unblemished souls make us wish, consciously or unconsciously, that we were as innocent as they are, and make us yearn for a place where innocence is universal and where the meanness, the betrayals, and the cruelties of this world are unknown.

- Dean Koontz
 
Such a tragic event. I would have immediately done what you did as well (end the suffering) but would dread the moment. I have a row of crosses under a huge Oak Tree in our yard where the most faithful friends I've known now lie. Many years have passed since some of them were buried there and I cried mightily at the loss of each. At the same time I remember the good times we had and will always be enriched for having had them in my life, enjoyed our time together and now cherish those memories.

My 'hunting' dogs being chief among those....but ALL very special in their own ways. I only hope that each one of them knew just how much we loved them and I always made it a point to spend time with them and interact with them each day. Their lives are fleeting and it is well of us to remember that each Day that passes for us...is a Week for them, make the most of it.

Know too that each time you elect to bring one of these souls into your life, you are setting yourself up for a heartache. It is inevitable that we outlive them and there will come a day when we lose them. Still....it is worth it I believe. We reap so much more from them than we can ever give back. No words are adequate (or necessary) to express how bad we feel for you and your Wife. You've been there, we've been there, so we understand each other.

When the time is right, get another 'friend' and give them the best life you possibly can for as long as you can. Not a 'replacement', there is no such thing, just a new adventure, with a new face, personality and wagging tail.

God Bless you my friend.

Flint.
 
Very sorry to hear about your loss. It is very sad when we loose a trusted companion. I lost my Siamese Cat a few weeks ago. I got him as a stray in 2003 a week after I got back from Iraqi Freedom. He had been with me for these last 17 years. He was 19. He always was a good Watch Cat, even when old would sometimes run full speed through the house. When my wife died in 2005, for the first month or so he wouldn't leave me alone, like he sensed it. More like a dog than a cat.

P1000498.JPG
 
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dh1633pm said:
Very sorry to hear about your loss. It is very sad when we loose a trusted companion. I lost my Siamese Cat a few weeks ago. I got him as a stray in 2003 a week after I got back from Iraqi Freedom. He had been with me for this 17 years. He was 19. He always was a good Watch Cat, even when old would sometimes run full speed through the house. When my wife died in 2005, for the first month or so he wouldn't leave me alone, like he sensed it. More like a dog than a cat.

View attachment 956578
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That story brings back so many memories of my parents cats growing up, and of my 2 current cats. After my wife's chihuahua passed back in January both cats and the dog were afraid to go near her bed, and were very clingy to to my wife for several weeks.

They do know when something is wrong and want to help make it better.
 
Armored farmer said:
One of the ten things every man should teach his sons, is to pat your dog every day.
Thanks everyone for the kind responses.
I think this thread was a bad idea. It isn't helping me or anyone else.
Why don't you shut this one down @bikerdoc .
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Don't feel like that. I appreciate your sharing. I have been an avid bird hunter and have had some great dogs. It is always sad to lose one. AT least your dog did not suffer a long painful death. Right now my Labadoodle is curled up beside me.
 
Armored farmer said:
This site has been more interested in deer hunting, or big-game than any other type of hunting. That is fine, I enjoy deer hunting too.
Some of my best memories are of hunting quail and ducks with a dog. I have been blessed to have had a couple exceptional bird dogs. We live on a farm where our dogs can and do run loose. We have had Brittany's for the last 34 years.
I have assumed a security responsibility at church. Little did I know that when I chambered a round, and holstered my 1911 commander that a few hours later I would have to use that round to end the suffering of our beloved family pet of 13 years.
I will spare the details, but I had ridden home from church with our son while mrs attended to her treasurer duties at church. When she arrived at home, she stopped short of the garage in order to finish her phone conversation. Apparently our dog had laid down in front of the truck to wait for her to get out. Instead of getting out, mrs pulled the truck forward to park in the shed.

One look told me that she was mortally wounded without a doubt. Her eyes were calm despite her broken body. I gently kissed her on the head, and sent her on her way.View attachment 955624
Here is a pic mrs took a few years back of her riding in the tractor for the day.

These days of covid have created much more tragedy than a 13 yo dog. I know that, and I feel for all those that have lost loved ones.
Hunting dogs have a special place in hunter's hearts. This one wasn't a big hunter like most I have had. Maybe it's just because I am older now, and not driven as hard as I once was. She was however, a big fan of shooting. If i got a gun out, she was there shaking with excitement and stiffening up at the target like she was on point. It was comical to see. I attribute her hearing loss to her desire to be near my shooting. Ironically I suppose it contributed to her demise, as she didn't hear the truck moving.

I am going to miss the late night barks that warned us of something that was amiss.

If you have a huntin' dog...or any dog for that matter, give them a pat on the head every day.
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Sorry to hear of your loss farmer. While Cletus isn't a hunting dog, he's my companion, I'll give him a pat anyway.
Best wishes friend
 
I feel your pain. I have had to perform. That sad duty myself. I am not ashamed to admit I cried like a baby afterwards. I have always owned hunting dogs mostly labs and beagles. I loved every one. Nothing makes you feel better after a crappy day than a wagging tail and a cold wet nose shoved under your hand. I remember and miss each one and every memory of them when I am hunting is treasured. I am truly sorry for your loss.
 
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