Post: #1

My dog died at sixteen Tuesday. A big German Short Haired Pointer, he was a good friend, kept me fit until he couldn't hike any more, total chick magnet -- he was very handsome, loved the girls, put his head right in the snatches --, and now he's dead.

I buried him in my garden, and I find myself incredibly sad. I keep having false moves to give him the bone from the ribs I was eating, or to check to make sure he was comfortable. I look out my window to stare at his grave, remembering this sweet, goofy fuck of a buddy.

Is this normal? Is the bond a man has for a dog this deep, or am I being an incredibly pussy? I've had plenty of death of people I've deeply loved, but this has been the worst. Thoughts please, fellas.

Post: #2

It's incredibly pussy to ask a bunch of internet strangers to validate or deny your feelings for your loyal aide.

Post: #3

(08-31-2018 12:49 AM)Mage Wrote:  It's incredibly pussy to ask a bunch of internet strangers to validate or deny your feelings for your loyal aide.

Ha! Though probably true.

Post: #4

(08-31-2018 12:41 AM)zenbastard Wrote:  My dog died at sixteen Tuesday. A big German Short Haired Pointer, he was a good friend, kept me fit until he couldn't hike any more, total chick magnet -- he was very handsome, loved the girls, put his head right in the snatches --, and now he's dead.

I buried him in my garden, and I find myself incredibly sad. I keep having false moves to give him the bone from the ribs I was eating, or to check to make sure he was comfortable. I look out my window to stare at his grave, remembering this sweet, goofy fuck of a buddy.

Is this normal? Is the bond a man has for a dog this deep, or am I being an incredibly pussy? I've had plenty of death of people I've deeply loved, but this has been the worst. Thoughts please, fellas.

Yeah it's normal. I've cried harder over the death of my dogs then I have for family members. There's something about dogs that makes their death hard to take. I think it's because we forget how short their life spans are and we think that they're going to be around as long as we are. So their deaths always feel sudden and unexpected, even though your dog (and my two dogs) were over 100 years old in dog years and were declining both physically and mentally.

It's also probably due to the fact that you can't tell your dog goodbye the way you can to a human. You can communicate your feelings to a dying loved one, but you can't to a dog. In fact, the dog doesn't understand the concept of death and the passage of time, so it likely hurts us even more because we feel sorry that it can't understand and make peace with it.

Either way sorry for your loss man. Personally, I still get teary eyed thinking of my old dogs. I thought after they died that I would never get another dog. My parents convinced me otherwise and I'm glad they did. I got a new dog 6 months after the last one died, and it was a great decision. But I know it's tough thinking about getting a new dog, but it would help you to move on and honor your old dog's memory at the same time, by showing the same love and care to a new dog that needs it.

Post: #5

RIP dog.

Seems cruel that they live such shorter lives than ours, but their loss hardens us to future losses of people much more important to us.

Give yourself time to grieve and then buy.a worthy successor (not a replacement).

Post: #6

When my ex and I split I got the $25 dog and she took the $2000 bird...

11yrs thru good times and bad....

Still know even at the end of his life I had, no question, easily won out on that decision.

Post: #7

RIP dog. Sorry to hear it bro. Yes it is normal - been there and it took me 8 years before I got my new furry friend.

Post: #8

Relationships with dogs are far less complex than with humans, and far easier to take for granted. A dog's love is unconditional, and while we don't actively think about it, we are subconsciously aware of it. When you look back on your dog's life you'll notice there were never any "bad times." He never got in a fight with you, stole money, had an addiction that ruined his relationships, lied, cheated, etc. Dogs are forever-friends that are always there no matter what, until they aren't. They are simple animals that are affectionate, loving, comforting, and reliable. Something that we can't have with other humans, and it's compounded by the fact that they rely on us - they aren't loving their life independently from us.

Losing a dog is like losing a young child and an old friend at the same time.

Post: #9

Sorry for the loss of your dog man. Mine died recently and it’s still not easy.

However, we have a thread already for this. Look up ‘dealing with the death of your pets’

Post: #10

(08-31-2018 12:41 AM)zenbastard Wrote:  My dog died at sixteen Tuesday. A big German Short Haired Pointer, he was a good friend, kept me fit until he couldn't hike any more, total chick magnet -- he was very handsome, loved the girls, put his head right in the snatches --, and now he's dead.

I buried him in my garden, and I find myself incredibly sad. I keep having false moves to give him the bone from the ribs I was eating, or to check to make sure he was comfortable. I look out my window to stare at his grave, remembering this sweet, goofy fuck of a buddy.

Is this normal? Is the bond a man has for a dog this deep, or am I being an incredibly pussy? I've had plenty of death of people I've deeply loved, but this has been the worst. Thoughts please, fellas.

sorry for your loss brother. Just lost my Doxie Tuesday as well, 17 yrs 4 months old. Cremated him. Chicks totally dig puppies and OLD dogs. Total chick magnet and he knew it LOL. They are tough to lose.

Post: #11

(08-31-2018 12:41 AM)zenbastard Wrote:  My dog died at sixteen Tuesday. A big German Short Haired Pointer, he was a good friend, kept me fit until he couldn't hike any more, total chick magnet -- he was very handsome, loved the girls, put his head right in the snatches --, and now he's dead.

I buried him in my garden, and I find myself incredibly sad. I keep having false moves to give him the bone from the ribs I was eating, or to check to make sure he was comfortable. I look out my window to stare at his grave, remembering this sweet, goofy fuck of a buddy.

Is this normal? Is the bond a man has for a dog this deep, or am I being an incredibly pussy? I've had plenty of death of people I've deeply loved, but this has been the worst. Thoughts please, fellas.

Sorry for your loss, Buddy.

Guts have been spilled and men cry-groups formed in the thread that ski pro linked you to.

Losing dogs, especially ones you've had that long, is horrible. Rally back!

Post: #12

It's strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a man's mind for so many years. Yet those memories can be awakened and brought forth fresh and new, just by something you've seen, or something you've heard, or the sight of an old familiar face.

That’s my favorite quote from “ Where the red fern grows.”

Sorry about your dog.

Post: #13

(08-31-2018 12:49 AM)Mage Wrote:  It's incredibly pussy to ask a bunch of internet strangers to validate or deny your feelings for your loyal aide.

Mage, have you ever thought of becoming a bereavement counselor?