Sorry to hear your little buddy passed away Rich. Dogs really do become a part of your family; loyal, loving companions to the end. I haven't figured it out yet
but it starts at the puppy stage. They're cute and funny and do goofy things but they're fragile and totally dependent on you for everything.
Those puppy eyes seem to trigger the nurturing trait in our inner self. We're transformed from dog owner to Alpha Dog, protector of the pack, even if the "pack"
is only one little pup who wangs his (or her) tail whenever you appear. Then they become young dogs who want to go where you go, eat everything on your plate while ignoring their own chow and curl up somewhere close so they can keep an eye on you just in case you head for where you keep their favorite treats.
Maturity arrives and they now have you pretty much trained. One look tells you "I'm hungry", a paw tap on the leg says "I need to go outside" and then there's
the head on the lap while you're watching TV that says "I need you to pay attention to me." That's when you wonder who trained who?
I know how you feel about losing Pip. We had to put down our two Springers within a couple of years of each other and it was very hard.
We actually had our two lads cremated and have kept their ashes, favorite toy and collars with us and each of their pictures are still in a frame on the bookcase.
Attached is their picture. George is the black and white, Mugsy is the liver and white.
We have a little white Cockapoo named Luc who was supposed to be my daughter's dog but since she was in school all day he became attached to me.
He's quite the character with a very distinct personality. Deep down I know that some day in the not too distant future he'll be gone too
so I try to enjoy his company as much as I can now.
When my dad was a kid he had a small Terrier named Corky. He never talked about him much but he kept a picture of him in his wallet until the day he died.
At my dad's funeral I took Corky's picture and placed it in his shirt pocket. I think he would have wanted it that way.
I just walked through the family room and looked at Mugsy's picture and read the poem that's printed on the frame. Here it is...
"When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
And I'm not there to see,
The sun will rise and find your eyes,
All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
The way you did today,
Remembering how my tail would wag,
Before I went away.
Now free from pain and suffering,
In sunlit fields I play.
And I will wait there patiently,
'Till we meet again someday."