This weekend we lost our beloved Rottwieler, Sugar Bear. Mr. Graywolf turned her out the door at 7am and when noon came we knew something was wrong, she hadn't returned. She was 12, 86 in people years, ate up with arthritis ( Mr. Graywolf was giving her his arthritis medication) going blind and had a tumor on one breast. She did just like her mate did 5 years ago, loved on all of us like it was the last time she'd see us and just disappearred into the woods. I searched on foot for her , in all favorite haunts on Sunday, but in my heart, I know she is gone.

Her 10 year old son, the only pup she had that ever survived, lay in bed with us last night and would wake up and whine; we are all grieving. He too is old and had a stroke in May and has made a remarkable comeback. He couldn't even raise his head off the ground in May and he can walk about 50 feet at once now. We know we will probably loose him too in a year or two.

But the Gods have a way of playing the most wonderful tricks on you; I picked up my barn cat today and she is pregnant, if she has a black and tan kitten, we will of coarse name it Sugar Bear.

Life has alot of pain, but the joys that our friends bring us are worth the pain!

Sorry to hear. At least you all had many good years together. Dogs know when it is there time.

Sounds exactly like my 13 year old Catahoula. She went totally deaf about a year earlier. She had mastitis and a few cancer tumors. The arthritis also slowed her down. Last July I was out working in the shop and she wouldn't leave my side. She went to lay down in her favorite spot and then went to sleep. I took a horse out for a few miles and when I cam e back I went to the shop. She was laying in her favorite spot, she had died in her sleep.

Oct 4th, I got a new Catahoula pup. I really like dogs but don't have much liking for pups. Hope he turns out as good as the other two that I have owned. I wish I was at the age where I could say that he will be my last pup but I am sure I will have at least one more in my life. I really like dogs, I just don't like pups too much.

I am very sorry to hear about Sugar Bear. I always rely on the poem "Rainbow Bridge" when I loose one of my "four legged" family members. It helps with the pain of loosing a beloved animal. Just like loosing a family member, well heck, they are family members.

Our "little kids" are getting up in years too and we are now seeing the signs of age when we let them run on our acreage. I hurts to just think of it.

NW, I love puppies, but hate their breath. We don't talk about it, but I know when the time comes, we won't live without dogs just because they help make a house a home. I am thinking the next one we get will certainly be past the puppy stage. My only concern is that the only dog we've ever gotten who was past the puppy stage didn't like the loving as much. I believe there must be some form of dog imprinting as well, and you have a chance to imprint the pup from the beginning.

My Rott has been gone a couple of years. Chase thought that the horses belonged to him. If they got out he'd follow'm. I could call him and he'd come get me and lead me to the ponies. I never worried about horse thieves. Chase loved me and my family but was an A#1 watch dog. He was buried with honor back in the horse lot.

Graywolf, We just had to put our five year old dog down in November. He had degenerative disc disease. We have been on a wait-list for a pup for a year. We just picked him up last week. He is nine weeks old. The pup has put some spark into our ten year old female's life! It is quite wonderful to see her playing again!