The Dog Lover Thread

[YOhio]

I'm sorry your dog died, LAU.

[Northwestcoug]

Sad day at the LA Ute house. We finally said good-bye to our 16 and 1/2 year-old dog. I had never been through that before, except with one of our cats, and this was the dog our kids grew up with, who was my running/walking companion for 8-10 years (before she got too old), and was pretty much a member of our family and the sweetest, most beloved dog in our neighborhood. We did it at home, so I got to hold her as she went to sleep. A tough-tender moment. We'll miss her.

Sorry to hear about this, LAU. My dog is only 6, but she's become such a part of our lives that I'm already worried about when she dies.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Condolences, LAU. Several years ago, I wouldn't have been much moved by this, as we weren't dog people. But then we got our first dog, mainly for our youngest as the older kids had left or were soon leaving the nest. Louie was a great dog and his death 18 months ago was extremely sad for us. But we continue to share countless great memories of him, and we're grateful we had so many wonderful times together. No doubt you're experiencing the same thing. Dogs are great friends.

[The_Douger]

Has anyone owned a Rhodesian Ridgeback? My wife loves the breed, but I've always felt they're kind of aloof.

I'd be just as happy with a German Shephard or lab or something like that, plus the Ridgeback dogs seem to be pretty pricey.

[LA Ute]

Condolences, LAU. Several years ago, I wouldn't have been much moved by this, as we weren't dog people. But then we got our first dog, mainly for our youngest as the older kids had left or were soon leaving the nest. Louie was a great dog and his death 18 months ago was extremely sad for us. But we continue to share countless great memories of him, and we're grateful we had so many wonderful times together. No doubt you're experiencing the same thing. Dogs are great friends.

Sorry to hear about this, LAU. My dog is only 6, but she's become such a part of our lives that I'm already worried about when she dies.

Thanks, guys. The family is trying to enjoy the memories. We have an e-mail string among the 5 of us and we are using it to share our fond and often funny memories of our dog. That has turned into a nice, sweet way to mourn her. Highly recommended!

We've even had gospel discussions. I don't think we really know much about the state of animals in the hereafter, but there have been plenty of statements by Joseph Smith and subsequent presidents of the church that are comforting. My personal view is that dogs will definitely be there, chasing celestial tennis balls.

[LA Ute]

Has anyone owned a Rhodesian Ridgeback? My wife loves the breed, but I've always felt they're kind of aloof.

I'd be just as happy with a German Shephard or lab or something like that, plus the Ridgeback dogs seem to be pretty pricey.

I friend of mine is actually from Zimbabwe - the former Rhodesia - and loves the breed. He's always had two. It is a "tough breed," he says (they are bred to hunt lions) but very sweet with the family. His two daughters grew up with Ridgebacks. The kay seems to be knowing the breeder well and getting a chance to be around the mother to see what she is like. So that's one perspective, FWIW.

[Commando]

Sorry, LAU. My sister's little runt maltese that she's had for about 9 years died last week and I've really been out of sorts- I was her favorite. That little thing was amazing. So much personality and intelligence. It really added a lot to the home. I found this video that really reminds me of her.

[youtube]URWB7_kIO6k[/youtube]




On a brighter note, I went with a friend to a local dog shelter Saturday and helped her pick out and adopt a Flat-coated Retriever. I had never heard of this breed before, but it's basically a black golden retriever. I went and hung out with it yesterday and took it for a walk. Such a lovely dog. Its disposition couldn't be better, and I haven't heard it bark yet- not even at other dogs. Here's kind of what she looks like.

[Ruprick]

Sad day at the LA Ute house. We finally said good-bye to our 16 and 1/2 year-old dog. I had never been through that before, except with one of our cats, and this was the dog our kids grew up with, who was my running/walking companion for 8-10 years (before she got too old), and was pretty much a member of our family and the sweetest, most beloved dog in our neighborhood. We did it at home, so I got to hold her as she went to sleep. A tough-tender moment. We'll miss her.

Sorry for your loss. We lost our 10-year old yellow lab in 2010 and I still miss her. She died suddenly at night of a suspected hemangioma. Before she passed, and while I was holding her, she turned her head back and stared into my eyes as if to say goodbye. Either that or "WTF?" She was our first baby and we brought both of our kids home from the hospital to her so they knew nothing different. They are still affected but it was an important life lesson.

[Eddie]

We are approaching the 1 year anniversary of our 14 year-old lab passing. When we got him we only had two kids at home. We had two more while he was part of the family and all of them grew up with him. It was rough on the kids and wife. It was rough on me. We knew we wouldn't have him for much more time, but that didn't lessen the hurt.

We actually had another puppy picked out before he died, hoping that they would have some time together. But he died before the new dog came home.

I think our new dog, also a lab, is really a cat. She likes to wrap herself around our legs and sleep on our feet. She finds rocks in the yard and plays with them, batting them around like a cat would a ball of yarn. She stretches like a cat. She pounces like a cat. She is a catdog.

[Northwestcoug]

Sorry for your loss. We lost our 10-year old yellow lab in 2010 and I still miss her. She died suddenly at night of a suspected hemangioma. Before she passed, and while I was holding her, she turned her head back and stared into my eyes as if to say goodbye. Either that or "WTF?" She was our first baby and we brought both of our kids home from the hospital to her so they knew nothing different. They are still affected but it was an important life lesson.

Choolie was a good dog...

[Parrot Head]

Condolences all around. These last few posts are a big reason I don't want a dog right now. I've had them in the past and the bond seems to come to a sad end. We got 6 fish for my 6-year old at Christmas and 5 were dead within 2 weeks. She is still asking when we can go pick them up from the fish doctor. I guess that also speaks to our inability to share bad news.

[Utah ma'am am I]

Sad day at the LA Ute house. We finally said good-bye to our 16 and 1/2 year-old dog. I had never been through that before, except with one of our cats, and this was the dog our kids grew up with, who was my running/walking companion for 8-10 years (before she got too old), and was pretty much a member of our family and the sweetest, most beloved dog in our neighborhood. We did it at home, so I got to hold her as she went to sleep. A tough-tender moment. We'll miss her.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Dogs are wonderful members of the family and it's a painful loss when they die. I'm sure you have many memories of when she made you smile.

[Portland Ute]

On a brighter note, I went with a friend to a local dog shelter Saturday and helped her pick out and adopt a Flat-coated Retriever. I had never heard of this breed before, but it's basically a black golden retriever. I went and hung out with it yesterday and took it for a walk. Such a lovely dog. Its disposition couldn't be better, and I haven't heard it bark yet- not even at other dogs. Here's kind of what she looks like.

What a find at a dog shelter! Wow. Of course, it's possible, and probably more likely, that the dog is a golden retriever mixed with a black lab.

I've pegged two breeds that I'd look at if my wife would let us have a dog: Flat-Coated retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog.

I love dogs. My boys love dogs. My wife wants nothing to do with them. She says we can have one but they must never come in the house. That, to me, seems cruel in Utah in the heat of summer and the dead of winter. Not to mention that we would want a friendly breed and it would seem cruel to leave it alone so much.

[Commando]

What a find at a dog shelter! Wow. Of course, it's possible, and probably more likely, that the dog is a golden retriever mixed with a black lab.

She was quite a diamond in the sad, rough sea of Pit Bull hybrids. She is such a sweetheart. She has that long, slinky, panther-like build and saunter typical of the flat coated retrievers, along with that baby-soft wavy fur, so I tend to think she's pretty pure, or at least only cross bred w a golden retriever if anything (since she reportedly has a subtle reddish glow in sunlight indicative of a golden mix as opposed to the blueish hue typical of purebred flat coats).

She is extremely well-mannered, housebroken, and obedient. However, she does exhibit signs of having been abused or at least beaten some, which is sad. I'm glad the pound picked her up.

[LA Ute]

Condolences all around. These last few posts are a big reason I don't want a dog right now. I've had them in the past and the bond seems to come to a sad end. We got 6 fish for my 6-year old at Christmas and 5 were dead within 2 weeks. She is still asking when we can go pick them up from the fish doctor. I guess that also speaks to our inability to share bad news.

I hear you. After the passage of a day, I've become philosophical. The old saw is that the only way to take the sorrow out of death is to take the love out of life. My family and I are so glad to have had a dog we loved so much that we think the pain of losing her is worth it. At least I am going to try that one on for a while -- it does make me feel better. Maybe it'll work for others too.