Scully Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Walter, the old boy, has gone. He was a huge Drakes head black lab’ belonging to my partner, and despite being from working stock had never been out shooting when I first met him when he was six. When he galloped past you at full pelt he made a sound like a horse race, and would sometimes forget how many legs he had when turning at speed and end up in a tangled crash! He loved water to the extent it was hard to get him out, and loved peeling laminated roadkill and sheep cleansings off the tarmac! The first shot I fired on his first time syndicate day he ran off and tried to dig his way out of the field, and I thought ‘Oh well, that’s that then’, especially as he then got zapped by an electric fence! I persevered however, and the next time I took him I looked round for him on my peg, to see him laid down just behind me, totally relaxed. His training, if you can call it that, was very much on the job, as away from the shoot he just wanted to play, but he turned into a wonderful gun dog. I once shot five birds on a peg, all of which landed in the woods behind me. When the horn sounded at the drives end I sleeved my gun, picked up my empties and said to him ‘Right big lad, let’s go and find them birds,’ only to find all five of them no more than two yards away behind me. Another memorable time our team were waiting to beat when a shot rang out and a cock pheasant bounced on the tarmac road and bounced out of sight into the gutter/hedgerow, maybe 50 yards away. Walt turned to look at me, I looked at him and then said, ‘Go on Walt. Fetch’. And off he went, disappeared into the undergrowth, picked it and brought it straight back to hand. He’s swum in most of the Lakeland lakes, the sea off Allenby, Bamburgh, Carrick Bay and Silloth, and generally had a good life. Three years ago we acquired Belle, a much smaller framed black lab’, and at ten years old she became his nemesis, pestering the life out of him at every opportunity. We saw in him however, a renewed vigour he seemed to have lost, and they played and tormented each other for all of those three years in which he became very protective of her, despite her trying to pinch his food relentlessly. He had the patience and temperament of a saint, and on our trips out we installed a ramp so he could get in and out of the Landrover. Up until yesterday he was having two walks per day, albeit very short ones as his back end was getting weaker. I took them both to the paddock this morning, but even before then I knew something was wrong; he just stood there staring into space. I managed to get him back to the house but he wasn’t interested in his breakfast, and I watched his back end slowly go down, and there it stayed. His breath was laboured and we put his bed underneath him and called the vet. He wasn’t a noisy dog but the house seems so quiet nonetheless. He’s buried in the paddock with a deflated football… his favourite type of football. He punctured them about two minutes after getting them, and even though they didn’t bounce he still expected us to kick them for him to retrieve. 🤷♂️ He would have been fourteen in May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miserableolgit Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 I know how hard it is. You have my sympathies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 sorry for your loss, think of the good times with him, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Thanks for the brief story, although obviously his life was a nice long one which he thoroughly enjoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 It’s terrible thing been 4 years this February since we lost our ruby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob85 Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Sorry for your loss, sounds like the old boy had a great life, full of love and sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Fourteen is good age for a Labrador and he have had a very good life , we have all been through the dogs final days and it never get any easier , if anything it get harder , my dogs have been a huge part of my life and I often walk past where every one of mine is buried , I now dread the thought in making that decision when my ole dog who is now well past his peak and is now sound asleep on our leather settee , sadly making the final decision is all part of the package of owning the dog and you know when the time is right and is also the right decision . R I P Walt . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Sorry for your loss Scully, 13 months ago I had my lab put to sleep, still miss him when I remember the good times we had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Fantastic write up Scully. Rest easy old boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Toughest time pal we have all been there and know what you are going through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 So sad to read, but thanks for posting. After many Labs and a couple of Cockers I know how hard it is at the end. And it never gets any easier, no matter how often you have to make the decision. I got quite emotional reading your story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 a hard loss it never gets easier but some comfort in the memories they leave us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 Sounds like he had a great life and you couldn,t wish for anything more. Rip walter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 31 Author Report Share Posted January 31 Thank you very much everyone. He is missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 It's a hard time. Been there twice, and it is the downside for 14 years of (largely) great fun times. You obviously gave him a great life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adzyvilla Posted January 31 Report Share Posted January 31 my two are from drakeshead lines. Great dogs, you have my sympathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 31 Author Report Share Posted January 31 Thanks again. Yes, he had a great life. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted February 1 Report Share Posted February 1 Sorry to read this, Scully. It never gets any easier. Mine turned 9 on New Year's Day, so is on the home leg now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted February 1 Report Share Posted February 1 My condolences, Scully, on the loss of your friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simcgunner Posted February 1 Report Share Posted February 1 Very sorry for your loss. So sad to loose a great pal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 1 Author Report Share Posted February 1 Thanks all. Very kind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12gauge82 Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 It is never easy, but know that he had a life that many dogs could only dream of. I bet if he could have chosen, he wouldn't change a day of his life, his regrets are none, you are the one who feels sad, not him, he got the best life a dog could have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agriv8 Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 Scully what an obituary for your mate it’s plain to se that the two of you had that bond it’s going to hurt for a while. Try and raise a smile about the good times you had over the years . rip walter swim as much as you want in dog heaven I am sure they will have a few balls to puncture! Agriv8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 4 Report Share Posted February 4 RIP Walt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted February 5 Report Share Posted February 5 Sad news indeed. Read the poem, The Last Battle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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