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Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 1460 Location: Eagle, Nebraska

I posted on here back in December that my old Small Munsterlander Pointer, Dayzee Von Krieger had passed away.

Today I assembled a shadow box for her. I put in an old Upland ammo box (16ga of course) couple of pheasant tail feathers, her last collar, and the backing has several pictures of her. I took three old 16ga shells and loaded some of her ashes in them and put them in there as well.

Wife not to proud of my artistic abilities, and neither am I, but it will stay where it is.

Looking at some of the old pictures of her made me cry again. Six months and still miss the old girl.

Guest

I know the feeling.

Your post was quite moving. What a wonderful memorial to your beloved companion.

Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 682 Location: MAINE

Real tough Hootch , I feel your pain , they are so much a part of our lives . They will never be forgotten .

Nice tribute to your dear friend. They don't live long enough but we surely do enjoy them while they are with us.

Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 827 Location: N. Shore, mn

nice touch.

Hootch-

I still have pics of my first lab, and the only dog I've had to say goodbye to, in my office, home, and wallet.

Her memory is one of my most treasured posessions.

Ash

Member Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 328

I am pulling 60 and still have a soft place in my heart for my first shorthair Suzie. She passed away when I was 17.

So I can fell your love for the old girl.

My Boykin spaniel, Brownie passed about a month after your dog. One of the responses to my post at that time said the hurt will pass... a bit. And he had lost his hunting pal five years before.

Everybody has to take their own time. Do what you have to do. Obviiously the shadow box was good for you.

We have a spot on the carpet in a no-traffic area of our living room that still has Brownie's scratch marks. We haven't vacuumed there yet and don't know when we will.

In the meantime, we are considering breeders for our next Boykin. And that will be when we are good and ready and we're just not ready yet.

I feel your pain, but on the other hand, both of us shared a special bond between hunting dog and master. We're two of the luckier people in the world. We are to be envied.

Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 9 Location: Massachusetts

I'm very sorry for your loss. I lost my Brittany, Starr in March. I had her creamated and she'll be buried with me. I think if you're really lucky God gives you a once in a lifetime dog. Starr was mine. She came to us as a rescue that no else wanted and she turned out to be the kind of dog people dream of. Now she belongs to the ages. We have three others all Brittanys,one of which is a rescue. I love all three, but some stay with you forever.

Member Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 450 Location: Indiana

Over the years I have had 5 bird dogs and all very good. All special in their own way. Each with is certain ability that you remember. But yes their is one that stands out.
Each time I lost one it was an old pal leaving special times. I just had my 2nd golden retriever leave about a month ago. I have side kick scottie and my wife has a little poodle thats about 15. Stoned blind,diabetiac. Takes a shot twice aday. I've always treated my dogs as part of the complete family.
Now I'm pushing 63 in less than a month. Thought about getting another pup but the dog would probaly out live me by now. I don't think I could be fair to the dog as giving him a full life of hunting. I don't think someone would treat the dog as I would. So in that case I think from here on in I will probably Hunt alone or with somone with their own dog.
Something about a dog that brings out the boy in old men.

Joined: 20 Dec 2009 Posts: 5

This is to Old 16, I am in the same situation as yourself. getting older and a bit harder to get around the field. I just lost my English Pointer Beau to cancer a bit over a month ago. Hurt like heck and still does. Toward the end we could only hunt for a few hours at a time with rest time at the truck, but we both loved it. Thought the same about not getting another dog but tried looking around on places like Petfinder.com. There are a number of bird dogs in Indiana and Illinois that are adult and even senior looking for a home. I have one Im picking up in a couple of weeks. A few years old, hope he can hunt but a risk you take with most hunting dogs. Maybe a way you can get back out to the field with an older dog and both of you can enjoy a few more years in the field. I know hunting with out your dog or under someone elses is not as rewading as your own pup. Just a thought.