Mike Cutler
05-01-2009, 10:12 PM
Today I had to put down my Vizsla. His name was Rush, his AKC papers had him named as Upwind Goldrush, to me he was just Rushey. To Andy Hoyt, he was "Tripod" due to a run in with a Ford Bronco one night chasing foxes when he lost his front right leg.
He was a helluva hunting dog. Deadly on birds, and absolutely no stop button except to put him back in the truck. He'd tear himself to pieces going through the briars after a bird, blood and thorns everywhere. After he lost his leg it was kinda funny to watch a three legged pointer point, but there was no mistaking when he did it.
At the end of his life he could barely make it the 100 feet to the woods in the yard to go to the bathroom, and I had to carry him down the stairs, but in his prime he could keep up with a Norba Pro Mtn. biker through the woods for hours. He was my triathalon training partner for my run workouts.
He never needed a heavy hand. Putting the leash on him was "punishment" in his eyes, and boy could he be stubborn at times. Always willing to please though
He was a good truck dog until a year or so ago when the strength in his one remaining front leg just wasn't enough anymore, but he still got jazzed when he heard the keys jingle, and he loved to sleep in that truck.
I think tomorrow may be a little more difficult when I no longer have to do all of the simple chores of pet ownership, take them out to go to the bathroom, get them food and water, chase him through the woods at 0430 when he caught scent of a rabbit, or was busting woodcock in the swamp behind the house. He made me late to work a few times in his day.
He was alert and bright eyed at the vet's today, but his breathing was very labored and his heart rate was pretty high. Even so he made sure to spend time with both my wife and I at the end so we could pet him and say goodbye. He had a good life and he very much loved.
I'm supposed to make a template for a granite counter top tomorrow, but I think that may just wait a day or so longer.
Thanks for letting me get this out. I know there are a lot of dog and cat folks here that would understand.
He was a helluva hunting dog. Deadly on birds, and absolutely no stop button except to put him back in the truck. He'd tear himself to pieces going through the briars after a bird, blood and thorns everywhere. After he lost his leg it was kinda funny to watch a three legged pointer point, but there was no mistaking when he did it.
At the end of his life he could barely make it the 100 feet to the woods in the yard to go to the bathroom, and I had to carry him down the stairs, but in his prime he could keep up with a Norba Pro Mtn. biker through the woods for hours. He was my triathalon training partner for my run workouts.
He never needed a heavy hand. Putting the leash on him was "punishment" in his eyes, and boy could he be stubborn at times. Always willing to please though
He was a good truck dog until a year or so ago when the strength in his one remaining front leg just wasn't enough anymore, but he still got jazzed when he heard the keys jingle, and he loved to sleep in that truck.
I think tomorrow may be a little more difficult when I no longer have to do all of the simple chores of pet ownership, take them out to go to the bathroom, get them food and water, chase him through the woods at 0430 when he caught scent of a rabbit, or was busting woodcock in the swamp behind the house. He made me late to work a few times in his day.
He was alert and bright eyed at the vet's today, but his breathing was very labored and his heart rate was pretty high. Even so he made sure to spend time with both my wife and I at the end so we could pet him and say goodbye. He had a good life and he very much loved.
I'm supposed to make a template for a granite counter top tomorrow, but I think that may just wait a day or so longer.
Thanks for letting me get this out. I know there are a lot of dog and cat folks here that would understand.