Well, it's finally happened...

Awww cuty! at least you know it's time so its not sudden. I've lost young dogs before and it's a shock :( The Pug, Einstein, was only three and went from perfect health to just...gone...one day when I came home.
I have a shepherd/rotti now that's coming up on 10. he's in remarkably good shape for his age. Just a little stiff from the metal pin in his hind leg but I know he's old. He's actually gotten really sweet in the past few years compared to his grumpy "police" attitude when he was younger. He's never been cuddly but now he'll just come and lay next to you and look so happy and waggle if you talk to him.

I don't know what to say, because I know how [i]you [/i]feel. :oops:
Maybe cook something with a lot of onions for supper, so you can show some tears. (if only during the cutting process) I know though, that seeing your husband sad over this loss, must hurt you regardless of the relationship you had with the dog.
Bye Gizmo. The end of a aera You will be remembered..........

Oh I am so sorry for your loss :sad he looked a real cutie and I am sure he had the most wonderful life with you.

HUGS.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[quote]I don't know what to say, because I know how you feel.[/quote]

Well, let's just say *I* haven't cried at all... :oops:

Most people who met Gizmo said that he was "so ugly, he's cute." He kind of had the corner on that market. But yes, he did have a good life with us, apart from my eyeing him like he was the spawn of the devil. He was a rescue who'd been abused in his former life, so he always had some issues, but he's always been happy with us and he's been really good with Keira. And given how much longer he's lived than the average Boston...he's beaten the odds, and he's been remarkably (even annoyingly) healthy for most of that. It's only been the last few months that he's struggled. So he's had a good life.

Awwww, I'm so glad you didn't have to get rid of the husband to get rid of the dog!

(This must sound terrible to those who don't know the history! ;) )

RIP Giz :cry:

I just realized that this is happening [b]exactly one year to the day[/b] after I got rid of the terrible little dog in my house (by breaking up with the Blonde Thing). Wow, horsegen, I feel bad for your husband and all but this is all rather cosmic. Anyone else living with an animal they'd rather live without? Wait until June 26, next year...

[quote="Sara"]I just realized that this is happening [b]exactly one year to the day[/b] after I got rid of the terrible little dog in my house (by breaking up with the Blonde Thing). Wow, horsegen, I feel bad for your husband and all but this is all rather cosmic. Anyone else living with an animal they'd rather live without? Wait until June 26, next year...[/quote]

But that's still a year awayll!!! :shock: :sad

:rofl Vneer

Patience, Vneer...it's all about patience... :twisted:

I will say that between Giz and losing my cat Kamikaze last September, it's weird suddenly having a two-pet household. It seems so quiet! I'd love to get another dog, but man, we do NOT have the time for a puppy right now. I will be finishing my Ph.D. next September, which means I need to work my tail off between now and then. Apparently we need the time to decide what kind of dog we'll get anyway...Ben suggested another Boston Terrier, which of course caused me to threaten to set myself on fire. I suggested another Siberian (naturally), but he nixed it and said the fur would be exponential. Then he suggested a French Bulldog (what IS it with this man and small ugly dogs??) and I suggested an Anatolian Shepherd...

Stay tuned.

awe, that is sad. but at least you KNOW the time had come. Our last dog was slowly deteriorating and we had to make the decision with out obvious evidence he was suffering. He had lost use of his pancreas 2 years prior and had almost been put down then because of it until we googled and found a clue, tried the pancreatic enzyme and it gave him a whole new lease on life! we paid through our teeth for 2 years, but this spring he stopped playing, was totally deaf and mostly blind. He had also lost almost all of his personality and just lay around all the time (sometimes without control of his bowels) he was no longer the dog we knew, so we made the decision. some days i wonder if it was the right decision, but he was a 12 year old collie/shepard and lived a good LONG life with days full of beaches and parks all over the country. I didn't think it was fair to let him fade away any further.

HUmph...i am a bit jealous sitting here with a 15 yr old senile JRT that pee's at will ...i wish I knew the 26th was a monumental date...*sigh* please tell me I dont have to wait for the next Jun 26th..argh..I spent 8 hours yesterday with a carpet cleaner doing the whole house and and now watching for the slightest movment from helen keller(100% blind and deaf) that she might awaken and need to relieve herself... its driving me nuts.

BTW ...tell hubby Im sorry for his loss 8-)

I am seriously considering adding two Shih Tzus to my household...
[img]http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:Ql…]

[quote="horsegen"]

Stay tuned.[/quote]

Sounds like our home...and we're still dogless since we lost the rottie. But yes, my condolences to the hubby for his loss.

Diane

[quote="Heather"]HUmph...i am a bit jealous sitting here with a 15 yr old senile JRT that pee's at will ...i wish I knew the 26th was a monumental date...*sigh* please tell me I dont have to wait for the next Jun 26th..argh..I spent 8 hours yesterday with a carpet cleaner doing the whole house and and now watching for the slightest movment from helen keller(100% blind and deaf) that she might awaken and need to relieve herself... its driving me nuts. [/quote]

'Littermate' to my old lady, I assume? She is pretty much off her rocker these days, but she was my titled K9 and worked until she was 12 (because she enjoyed it so much) Now I wake up in the middle of the night because when she starts to travel through the house, panting loudly. I am getting good at hitting the ground running while still asleep, trying to make it to the door before she reverts to her puppy behavior *splash*. I don't always make it in time and I now own the company that makes pet stain remover. :oops: Locking her up in a crate to prevent accidents is counterproductive. Try to get a demented dog to stop pawing at the door. She is almost deaf and will not hear or care about the warnings and getting wound up means?.... that she will pee. In her crate. :roll: Despite all that, I do not wish for her demise. I have put another one on my 6-26 wish list. :twisted:

[quote="rabbitsfizz"]I am seriously considering adding two Shih Tzus to my household...[/quote]

Local slang pronounces that as 's h i t zoo's' :lol: [size=85](decency filter on this list too!)[/size]
I personally cannot fathom yet that I would end up falling for companion dogs.
How does one move from Dobes to them?

[quote="horsegen"]Ben suggested another Boston Terrier, which of course caused me to threaten to set myself on fire. I suggested another Siberian (naturally), but he nixed it and said the fur would be exponential. Then he suggested a French Bulldog (what IS it with this man and small ugly dogs??) and I suggested an Anatolian Shepherd...[/quote]

If he wants small and you want prick ears or shepherd type, would a schipperke fit the mutual bill? I used to have some for boarding. Big personalities caught in small body. Fur, but not horrible and not a constant 'trips to the groomer' dog. I used to tell my working dog crowd that they were stunted Groenendaelers (called Belgian sheepdog in the USA) Most would believe that, if you disregard the lack of tail. :lol: Active but no bounce off the wall types.

[img]http://thm-a03.yimg.com/image/ee4658274…] [img]http://thm-a04.yimg.com/image/ca620edc3…]

LOL veen... hubby is sooo fed up with her potty at will I can hit the ground running and have cleaning material and spot cleaned up AND DRY LOL before anyone catches wind ...but he still knows its happening...we have agree'd no more house dogs after our 2 old timers pass on...just farm/hunting dogs. :flower Im over it really to and Im a dog show person at heart still.

Those are pretty cute, Vneer...I was actually reading a book last weekend and one of the characters traveled around with a Canaan Dog. I didn't know what those looked like, so I googled them after I finished the book. They actually look like pretty nice dogs...I mentioned them to my husband, but as soon as I said they were a herding breed, he got the Border-Collie-esque idea in his head and said no. They're not like those herding breeds at all, so I think I'll have to work on this idea with him a little more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaan_Dog" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[quote="horsegen"]Those are pretty cute, Vneer...I was actually reading a book last weekend and one of the characters traveled around with a Canaan Dog. I didn't know what those looked like, so I googled them after I finished the book. They actually look like pretty nice dogs...I mentioned them to my husband, but as soon as I said they were a herding breed, he got the Border-Collie-esque idea in his head and said no. They're not like those herding breeds at all, so I think I'll have to work on this idea with him a little more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaan_Dog" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;[/quote]

I used to fancy Canaan's, but must admit that, in hindsights, they do look a bit generic to me. :oops: Not all herders are high energy, BTW. ;) I don't know enough about Canaans and I could assure you that Schippers were ratters, not herders (dogs that traveled on barges to keep those rat-free) They just have a 'herder' look, IMHO.

Edit to add:
The Schippers came to mind because of all the dogs that I have dealt with professionally, the temperament of a good Schip is similar to the temperament of a good Boston. The latter can be a very gentle and loving dog and I personally had not met one that who's personality I did not like [size=80]but I realize that there are oopses in every breed [/size] though I was never a fan of the Bostons look. :oops:

[quote="Heather"]LOL veen... hubby is sooo fed up with her potty at will I can hit the ground running and have cleaning material and spot cleaned up AND DRY LOL before anyone catches wind ...but he still knows its happening...we have agree'd no more house dogs after our 2 old timers pass on...just farm/hunting dogs. :flower Im over it really to and Im a dog show person at heart still.[/quote]

I have agreed to cut down the 'in-house' dogs to maybe two, not six. :laugh1
Other than that, I will say that my OH is pretty tolerant of the oopses my old lady leaves. Probably since I am the fool that is constantly cleaning, not him. :? We keep joking that we could make one good dog out of my old demented girl, and his old man. The bitches body is still amazing for her age (15) and his males mind is still there, but his body at 13 is totally shot.
But we cannot agree who gets what. :rofl

HG, condences to your hubby on his loss. And can I add a few to the 6-26 list (it can include cats right?)? :twisted:

As for a new dog - I am very partial to the Carolina Dog. After reading the article on the Carolina Dog it makes me wonder just how many of these "Shepherd mix" dogs have been through the shelter system and destroyed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_D…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and the New Guinea Singing Dog. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Guinea…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I know, they are primitive, but then as I used to raise wolves, I guess that is "normal" for me - lol.

Ive seen them on the PBS special 2 part series.

[quote="Sara"]I just realized that this is happening [b]exactly one year to the day[/b] after I got rid of the terrible little dog in my house (by breaking up with the Blonde Thing). Wow, horsegen, I feel bad for your husband and all but this is all rather cosmic. Anyone else living with an animal they'd rather live without? Wait until June 26, next year...[/quote]
Hey now... am I supposed to see this as GOOD or BAD things happening on my birthday?! Yeeeesh..

I'm looking at Newfie's now, too...I know they're big and furry and they drool, but you just cannot beat their temperament, especially with small children. Hubby seems interested. He didn't get very excited about the Canaan dog, because he read that they were a herding breed and instantly didn't care for them, but he says I can research them and "educate" him. Perhaps he may become a convert.

[quote="critterkeeper"]
As for a new dog - I am very partial to the Carolina Dog. After reading the article on the Carolina Dog it makes me wonder just how many of these "Shepherd mix" dogs have been through the shelter system and destroyed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_D…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
[/quote]
OMG I think my friend had one of those! I think they were told it was some kind of "dingo mix" cause there was someone down the road that had "dingos". His name was Mike and he looked EXACTLY like one of those dogs. :shock: That was in Florida.
We joke from some book we read once (I have no idea what it was) about "40 pound brown dogs" becuase that's what seems to happen if a variety of dogs breed in the wild long enough. :lol:

[quote="horsegen"]I'm looking at Newfie's now, too...I know they're big and furry and they drool, but you just cannot beat their temperament, especially with small children. Hubby seems interested. [/quote]

Then maybe also check "Berner Sennen", aka Bernese Mountain dog?

Okay, and the tentative dog decision is...

Leonberger!

So far these are our top choice. Excellent temperaments, intelligent, great with children, active without being hyper, and relatively few health issues. There is a very reputable breeder about 20 miles from us, so we are attempting to arrange a visit to see the dogs in person. Hubby has one that comes into his practice and he doesn't have a single bad thing to say about the dog...which is unusual, since the vet's is generally where all the issues come out! Anyone have any personal experience with these guys? We won't be looking at getting a puppy until March/April of next year at the earliest, as possibly as late as late fall of 2010, so we have plenty of time.

[quote="horsegen"]Okay, and the tentative dog decision is...

Leonberger!

So far these are our top choice. Excellent temperaments, intelligent, great with children, active without being hyper, and relatively few health issues. There is a very reputable breeder about 20 miles from us, so we are attempting to arrange a visit to see the dogs in person. Hubby has one that comes into his practice and he doesn't have a single bad thing to say about the dog...which is unusual, since the vet's is generally where all the issues come out! Anyone have any personal experience with these guys? We won't be looking at getting a puppy until March/April of next year at the earliest, as possibly as late as late fall of 2010, so we have plenty of time.[/quote]

Shoot Lipi a PM. I think her mom used to breed those? Expert on board.

Lipi should answer it here. I'm always open to hearing about dog breeds.

Well, I PM'd her, so hopefully she'll decide to answer it here as well.