Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Putting your dog down

One of my best dogs got too old and sick to move or even to be moved. She was laying on my garage floor, messing herself where she laid. She couldn't get up and I couldn't move her without hurting her. No vet was on call within driving distance to come and do the job. I couldn't use a firearm because it was in my shop, and I wouldn't have anyways because she was afraid of guns.

I set a large plywood box over the top of her, the box didn't touch her, she was simply sleeping. I had used a hole saw prior to setting the box over her to cut a 2" round hole. I used a long piece of 2" flex pipe to route exhaust fumes from the SUV we had at the time which had nice quiet exhaust. Made sure to use a good length of tubing also to shed exhaust temps. I let the truck idle and went inside the house with my head down, had a cup of coffee, gave a good 45 minutes or so then I buried my dog at the edge of the yard.

Many years ago I had a very well bred pointer gyp that was looking o be a world beater at 2 YO. Then she was struck with some ailment and didn't respond to the treatment by my Vet. She was wasting away by the hour and shortly couldn't get up.

I hauled her to the Vet in the back of my pickup. You could tell she thought we were going hunting. He came outside with the needle and stuck it a vein in her leg.

I can still se the terror in her eyes when the meds reached her heart.

Since then, I've put down a bunch.

I take 'em out in the pasture, tie their leash to a tree, which they are accustomed to when I feed 'em at a camp to avoid dog fights.

I drop a weinie in front of them while standing behind them and to one side. As they eat the treat, I put a 38 bullet downward thru the brain

I've never trusted a 22 for the job.

I lost my dear Bebe early this year. Crying reading all this. Still have not gotten another dog although we talk about it.

A dying dog will pass quickly if its on the lap of thier owner, but they seem to fight passing until they feel safe.

Mine passed on my lap, with me telling her it was ok.

I've done this job both ways.......via .22 and vet. To me, it was more painful emotionally to take my dog to the vet. Very sad either way.

I've done other folks pets, but I couldn't do my own.

When our lab/boxer got too old, I think she knew it was time.

While we were at church on a Wednesday night, she went the half mile down the driveway to the highway and took one.

Dog never left the yard except to walk to my Dad's. Never even been on the driveway out except to go to the vet's, and that was in a car or truck.

Chokes me up visioning the old girl with bad hips making that walk.

My wife and I went to the vet to be with our last two as they went under. I had heard lots of bad things about the euthanasia process, but it was really peaceful. I was glad I was there for both of them, and really glad that they didn't have to hurt anymore. We have 3 right now, all getting on in years so I know what is coming. I certainly don't look forward to it, but I am glad it is an option.

I do, with tears. My dog, My job...

THIS.!

The last dog I had went downhill overnight. He was fine one day, the next he had lost a lot of his faculties, like he had a stroke or something..

Called the vet and tried to get him to come out and do the quick and painless thing, but he was already booked up out on somebodies ranch taking care of a few hundred head of cattle.

He couldn't make it and we couldn't let him suffer thru the night. I'm ashamed to say I couldn't do it, so my dad put one in the back of the head.

Instant death, but not in the way we would have liked.

To this day, I just can't use that rifle. It pretty much just sits in the safe...

So yes,..plan ahead with the vet if possible.

The worst for me was when I had to put my son's horse down.
We live out on a large ranch and my kids 10 and 6 have seen a lot of life and death. They help me calve out heifers see the miracle of life and see a few die. They see quite a few critters shot.

I called my kids out to say goodbye to that horse, just before I took her for a walk out over the hill. After goodbyes my daughter ran back into the house crying "Daddy I hate it when you have to shoot things." That was tough.

My dog is 9 and aging fast. Too many miles and wrecks. The vet is a good friend and when it is time he'll come to the house.

Geez

You can have the vet come over and do what's needed while your dog is home and in his/her bed. Best to let a professional do it to avoid mishaps. The last thing you want is for your dog's last memory to be you shooting him a second time.

Had to put our 13-year old lab down earlier this year.
Took her the vet.
I placed her on the table and made sure she was comfortable and relaxed.
I held her head in my arms very close to me as the vet placed the needle in her front leg.
She was peacefully gone in 5 seconds.

When it has to be done, I do it. To quickly and painlessly end a pets suffering is an act of kindness. I wouldn't shirk that responsibility onto another. They might mess it up.

Doc does it, I can't. Probably never could or never will. But they come to the house and we are there.

Sucks regardless.

A buddy just dug a hole, put his lab in and shot her in the head and buried her. Some can.

I can't. I do know every one we've had put down just "went to sleep"

+1

TOUGH and somewhat morbid thread this,......gets one thinking back, remembering.

I've always handled it myself, so far.

GTC

I had to have my Golden put down a few years back. The vet come right out to the pickup and did it. He loved to go for rides in his old truck and he just fell asleep with his head in my lap.

Yep it can be done but what kind of a POS would you feel like if it didn't go down as planned and you had to do the job again two or three more times. No I'll take my dogs to the vet and they will just go to sleep painlessly. Machco don't count when it comes to one of your best friends in life unless you're an A-holer.

When we had our Casey put down we had the vet come too our place. Before he got there we spent some quality time with her in the yard and it helped a little. Once he arrived he explained how everything would go and that once the shot was administered, it would only take a few seconds before she was peacefully sleeping.

It was still one of the hardest things we've ever had to do and I hope to never have to do it again. There is no way I could put one of my dogs down myself, especially using a firearm.

at the vet ...the dog is on a doge bed on the floor...your talking to/petting your dog when the vet/helper puts the drug in...and "old red" is gone ....I can't save/cure the dog cause I ain't god.....same reason I can't end its life... my 2$