Man, am I sorry for what you're going through! She reminds me of my old friend that I lost this year. He was 12, one year older than my oldest son. Similar spine issue/tumor. He never stopped eating, but when he couldn't walk and it seemed I couldn't keep him comfortable, there were no real options....

Good stuff! Congrats Bill.

DC, I hope it doesnt take 10 years to get you back in. I remember the trip we took to the Lardy seminar several years ago. You were a good sport sticking by us when we were without a doubt the WORST dog/handler team there. When Stinger ran the first set up and his head spun around 3 times like the ...

Lets use a more direct approach. How do you get a dog to quit "Shopping" the pile??? I guess there are a lot bigger issues that I could be dealing with than this but it just kind of gets to me. I recall him immediately after he gets to pile, but dude is like a kid in a candy shop. Maybe h...

Bill, I can relate to that first post. Those were good times. I guess we were fortunate to have a good group that was at a similar stage back then. Have my son's dog that I work with when time allows, which isn't much. Good on ya for getting some discussion going around here. You and others have a l...

Looks like I did pm instead of reply. Should be info there.

Good story and deer. Congrats!

Great deer! Nice pics, and glad you found him.

Ol Buck don't play, is right! You've done a jam-up job with him and should be proud. My boy is 11, and I remember them killing their first close to the same time. Blake was 6. May have been earlier for Buck. If I remember right, Buck was shooting a 7 mag.. He has always been a stout youngun. Got Bla...

Wow! Congratulations Bill!!! That's a BIG one off the bucket list brother. "hanging on for the ride" my foot... :) Credit to Moody, Smitty-dawg for being bad to the bone, and to you for putting the team together and supporting it. Look forward to hearing about you handling him to that AFC.

Glass raised to a great one! Well said Bill.

So sorry to hear this Chip. You did a great job with her, and she took you places... Here's to hoping the good memories heal that broken heart brother. Talk to you soon.

Steve

As said, many of us can relate, and the shop/yard buddies are no less missed by their families. R.I.P. Kasey

Thank you for all the kind words! An attempt to put something halfway-worthy together, rushed, and without sounding the way I felt. Randy recommended some pics, so... In the process we found pics/albums that I didn't remember having. It did us good to go through them. Had some "pile pics",...

In case you didn't know him, he was the best dog, ever. That opinion may be a little subjective, but, he was a fine dog by any standard. He had much more potential in the field than I had ability as a trainer/handler, but I did the best I could. That said, nobody and no family could've cared for him...

As Randy said, we went the TPLO route, with Dr. James Milton. He is in Birmingham, retired from Auburn.. The other surgeon in his clinic, Ballagas, is apparently very qualified/experienced as well. Dr. Milton came highly recommended from retriever folk as far away as TX. I have no regrets. Rusty was...