Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs The hardest part is letting go...

We're putting down our 11 year old choc lab tonight after a freak accident colliding with our 1 year old choc lab chasing the ball. They hit head on in full run. The young lab was fine, the old girl, Outta be an Alibi Naughty Nellie, or Nellie for short...didn't fare so well. The old girl broke her back.
2 days later, no recovery options.
Heading down tonight with my oldest son and wife to pay our last respects at the doggie hospital.
My god this girl could hunt. Didn't even have pointing lab in her yet she pointed out many pheasants!
Please enjoy the photos of our family pet. I hunted ducks and upland birds with her for 8 years before retiring her.

https://sportsdad60.smugmug.com/Outta-Be-an-Alibi-Naughty-Nellie-2006-2017/i-Gcr3cz3

I'm so sorry. There's nothing I can say to make this any easier, but you're in my thoughts. I'm so very sorry.

So sorry to hear this... We never get over the loss of our dogs, we only adjust.. She will be your friend forever, and waiting for the birds across the divide!!

Thanks fellas.
Ya know, I don't trust anyone that doesn't like dogs.
My dad, now 87, kept saying his last dog was his last, yet he keeps a companion to this day (Springer Spaniel). It never gets easier. Dad says that Dog is God backwards, and that God only allows us humans a short time with Dogs because they are so special that humans don't deserve to have that much time with dogs. Only God does.

It was my 4th, and the toughest by far. I'm blessed to have my wife and son with me this time. I did it alone with the last 3 hunting dogs.

Final moments tonight

I'm very sorry to hear of this news. Payers for your family from N.C.

Heavenly Father maker of all living creatures, we ask you to bless Nellie who brought so much joy into our lives.

By the power of Your love, you enabled Nellie to live according to Your plan.

Amen

No words I can type make it better. Thanks for sharing and keep reliving her good times.

What a shame

I had to put down my 12 year old vizsla

Not easy

Post up some old hunting family pics of dog

Agree re not trusting people who don't like dogs

Damn, keyboard got a little blurry. I've had to do that a few times, one of the worst days. Sorry for your and your family's loss.

I'm so sorry for your families loss. Dogs are truly a gift.

A good friend once explained to me that the reason a dog's life is so short is because they love so much. My heart goes out to you.

Sorry to hear.

Thank you all for the words that can only be spoken by those who love canines!

Caliber has been adjusting, slowly. The first week she spent running outside to see where her Great Sister was, and then sniffing all of Nellie's 'drop spots' where she'd sit down.
I washed all 4 dog beds (they each had two) and put 2 away.
She's alittle more bashful going outside at O'dark-Thirty when the sun hasn't risen yet, probably due to the fact that Nellie would barrel right out into the backyard with Caliber in tow.
Caliber is the queen now, and she's not used to it.
She's been quite "Sticky" lately, following the wife and I like glue wherever we go around the house and property....

Time will heal, and Caliber isn't healed yet. Neither are we. We picked up Nellie's ashes last week so she is home again. I put a dog cookie on top of her cedar urn box.

It's very hard loosing a dog. After loosing Joe I was a mess. Now we've got Dot. We just got back from her first Grouse hunt.

Sorry for your loss.

Good girl Nellie, good girl.....

I am sorry for your loss and I see it is not your first. Your pictures are very special. I lost the last of my four Labs almost three years ago and I still have dreams where they are with me. It does get better but only a little because our dogs are so much a part of us. The loss is very real. God bless you and your family.

I have heard it said that the grief of losing one is the cost of ownership. My condolensces on your loss. Been there too many times myself and am shying away from getting another dog primarily because of it.

I feel your pain, they leave an empty spot, love them all. So sorry

Good girl Nellie.

We never get over them, we only adjust.. Sorry!!!

Its one of the toughest things we have to do... seems to get harder each time. My lab is turning 9 this winter and he is in great shape, but a strong 2 hours in the field hunting pheasants leaves him pretty wiped out the rest of the day. I have put off getting a second because of my attachment to Pitch and knowing how difficult it will be when his time comes... my thoughts are with you and your family. I hope time helps.

I have the ashes of Ingwedog on my bookshelf, and instructions in my will that they be scattered with mine...

Ingwe, that is cool!!!

I've always had a hard time with the loss of a bird dog. For me I think it's because my dog go's with me everyday, unconditionally loves me, never talks back, brings me joy - could go the whole day not speaking hardly a word but communicating in perfect harmony. Hard pressed for a man like me to find that in a person.
I don't know how to deal with your loss, I don't envy you the task, just take care of yourself.
Sorry for your loss, Jeff

Thanks all for your kind words and shared memories. Nellie has taught the younger pup an awful lot in 10 months time.

Our younger pup, Caliber is 1 year and 2 months, this video below is her retrieving on one of our sessions.

I've not worked her over decoys yet, that will be the 25th when she goes hunting for real birds for the first time. Hopeful she goes after the splashers.

We're going to miss Nellie's expertise but Caliber will do fine with more experience.

https://vimeo.com/242828730

Just damn.

A bad deal, The pain will eventually subside, but the memories will live forever.