My Yellow Lab

Just saw this thread. So sorry to hear this, Jill. Dogs truly are our best friends. They have so much love to give and give it until the very end. I wish you the best and hope you're doin' ok.

I know that I'll be a wreck when the dog that used to be that little ball of fur in my sig line reaches the end of the line. I don't even like to think about it.:(
 
Pete1977 said:
sorry about your friend jill. take some comfort that he does not feel any more pain and that his suffering has been eased. rest in peace Bigwig.

you don't happen to have some photos you can post of him do you?

pete
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Thanks much, (everybody) I will be OK, I've went through it before and it's always sad. But, that's life a mixture of sad and sweet. One balances the other and thankfully most of us seem to get a lot more sweet than sad.
The only pictures I have of him are not digital, (he's been around since I was 9 years old) So I took a digital of his picture. It's not the best I'm afraid, but it's the best I can do.
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Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend :(

He sure was a fine looking animal though :):thumbup:
 
That dog was scary smart.
While he'd run off at home and stay out all night (worried me to death, but he always seemed to think he knew best) Once I took him and another dog of mine hiking in a State Park. Afterwards I stopped at a gas station to get a pop and Bigwig had went through the sliding window of the truck (from the bed with a topper) and out my rolled down window. He was sitting by the gas station door waiting for me. (surprised me the way he loved to roam)
When my pit bull was around 7 months old I'd take her hiking in the remote woods and turn her loose. She'd stay around with the other dogs and me. Then when we got back close to a stretch of road to walk home on, I'd catch her and lead her the rest of the way. After While she got wise to this and wouldn't let me catch her. Bigwig came to the rescue and would catch her and hold her behind the head in his jaws softly until I ran up and grabbed her. I didn't even have to tell him to he just sensed I wanted her and helped me out.
While he was super smart and very good for the country, he had the fault of running off and roaming and was very good about getting away from me. He worried me a lot when he'd do this, but the dog had brains and seemed able to roam in our rather remote area and always come home to his warm basement and meal of high-grade dog food, without injury time after time.
I never had a Lab before and always thought they was just a big rather uninteresting duck/goose retriever. But, I was very wrong he was much more and was undoubtly one of the smartest dogs we have ever had.
 
He sounds like a wonderful dog.
I had a black Lab as a boy. Although he had a wonderful nature he did not have the brains that G-d gave a pineapple.:foot:
He would wonder of looking for girlfriends and come back all munched up from fights. Cost my folks a packet in vet bills......:o But he was a awesome dog and I loved him. I was in my 20's when he passed and I cried like a baby.....

It sounds like Bigwig had a wonderful life....A owner who loved and cared for him, a great home with lots of space to live, and lots of friends....What more could a Lab want? (ok maybe a few ducks to retrieve:D)

Did you name after the Watership Down character?
 
Bigwig's final resting spot. Over from my house about 50 yards. It made me feel better to go out today and cover it with some old bricks. It also made me feel better and blessed to be able to share my grief here. Thank you all (and the Pm's I received as well) from the bottom of my heart!:)
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Jill...I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. At the very least, he knew that he was well cared for and loved, and he didn't die a horrible death.
 
I know I'm biased, but Labs are my favorite dog....

As you mentioned, they are very smart. Although for some reason mine didn't like water :confused:. That was o.k though because I didn't have the time to teach her to hunt.

When my son was born, my lab didn't want anything to do with him for a couple days. Then after that, when he was in his crib, she would lay down right in front of it and watch him. Then when it was time to go to bed, she would come in and check on him before she went to sleep. She did that every night up until a few months before we put her down even though my son was 12 years old...
 
338375 said:
I know I'm biased, but Labs are my favorite dog....

As you mentioned, they are very smart. Although for some reason mine didn't like water :confused:. That was o.k though because I didn't have the time to teach her to hunt.

When my son was born, my lab didn't want anything to do with him for a couple days. Then after that, when he was in his crib, she would lay down right in front of it and watch him. Then when it was time to go to bed, she would come in and check on him before she went to sleep. She did that every night up until a few months before we put her down even though my son was 12 years old...
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That's the way mine was. He didn't care to swim. (his feet was even webbed) He didn't mind going out in the rain, but a body of water I never saw him go out in to swim.
What he liked to do is hunt. Any kind of furry varmint. He was possessed to go after and kill. He'd tree too and stay there forever. No barking just sitting looking up. He had a knack for running squirrels up the nut trees behind our house and waiting until they lost their nerve and jumped to try to make it to the bigger trees on down. He caught many of them like that.
They are great dogs, but he was certainly a handful. He was a decent fighter too. He would fight another male dog and it surprised me just how fast he was in a fight.
I don't know if I want anymore Labs, he was one of the worst dogs I ever owned to roam. That's a trait I understand of the breed. Out here where I live, there's no leash law and it's nice to have a dog you can turn loose and not have it disappear. Oh well he certainly covered a lot of miles in his lifetime. Many out with me and even more on his own. He was a rugged dog, strong and smart. I know he enjoyed his life with me and I'm glad I was able to give him 13 years of good care.
 
Sorry to hear of your loss Jill. You have my condolences.

It is hard to lose a cherished pet, but at least he went on his terms, and was with you till the end.

Peter
 
Hang in there. Parting with such a good friend is tough. Brining my Chocolate Lab to the vet about 5 years ago was probably the toughest thing I've ever done. Just remember the good times.
 
Sorry to hear about your loss Jill. I had a dog once that was near her end due to cancer and I know she knew that the decision was killing me and she laid down and took the decision out of my hands. Sounds like Bigwig loved you to the end and did his best to lessen your pain. Spend some time with your other pooches, they'll know how to cheer you up.
 
I'm really sorry to hear about your Lab Jill. I've had to go through it too many times and it never gets easier. Some may not understand this but to me it's no different from losind human family members.

All you can do is think about how loved and well cared for he was. How lucky he was to have you leading the pack, and taking care of him. You gave him a good life.

Everyone grieves differently. Do whatever you have to and don't worry about wether other people approve or not. Also rember his brothers and sisters are grieving in their own way, and a strong, reliable and even tempered leader is what they need. Enjoy the time you have with the family you still have left. Good luck, regards, Joe
 
Our animal friends really are true loyal comrades,the loss of them is keenly felt as they love us enormously.

When you think how many animals suffer because of lazy owners neglect,it's shameful.

Your dog had a fine life and a fine mistress and his grave by the woods and coppice looks both beautiful and right.
 
Yes he had a nice doggy life in the country. He was treated like the king he was and ruled over his domain and pack of canine buddies with a rare intelligence and kind humour a Lab seems to possess in abundance.
I feel a lot better now. It was sad his passing out of my life, after being in it so long. I've stopped crying now and I look back on all the things we did with a fond remembrance. Bigwig was truly one of those special dogs that only comes along a few times in a person's life. I'm very glad I was his "person" and he gave me his wonderful friendship until the end.
 
So sorry to hear about your loss, Jill. It sounds like you are handling your loss with dignity and grace - very tough thing to deal with - again, condolences offered.
 
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