Each day gets a little less painful. Talking about it helps. How do you guys beat the blues? So many of my daily activities revolved around my little “Jootz”, so every single thing makes me think of her. I don’t want to go to the mountains or Sheepskin Trail or step into my living room. Basically we have to start our lives over and find new purpose.
It sure is tough!

Hang in there Kid. It will get better each day but it never goes away. Hopefully you find comfort knowing that you gave that dog the best life it could have hoped for.

Try going to the mountains again. It'll be painful. But the little bugger wouldn't want you to stop doing what you love just because they are gone.

Get yourself another pup, it won’t take the pain away but I will give yourself something else to focus on, and a new trap line partner. Eric

A nice walk in a shallow flowing creek looking for areas to set for mink is something else! Nothing really matters in that short period of time.

We've always had multiple dogs, so there's always dog stuff going on and that helps, with that said I really miss my old Border Collie, "super dog" , she was with me 24/7 and was the best I ever had. She's been gone over 10 years and I still get sad thinking about her....So, it will get better, but you won't forget the good ones.

Jordy helps. He must be watching the “learning channel”. He makes me laugh

One day at a time. Slowly it evolves to happy memories and potentially creating new ones with a new companion

ran over my right hand fella on the trapline this season....whole family devastated. got a 9.5 wk old pup 2 weeks after we lost him an that's the only fix I know of other than time.

I had to out two down last year. Let me tell you, you better start looking now. There are some opportunities out there but the amount of fruitcakes "rehoming" dogs and their "requirements" is nothing short of baffling.

$300 for a mutt.

Want to come look at your house first.

Will not sell/give away if they are gonna be kept outside.

Utter stupidity.

But in reference to your grief, nothing helps better than puppy breath. Joots had a royal life. Give another dog that life. There is another one out there that needs it.

And you do too.

x2

When Ive lost a love one I find solace in God's good earth. OUTSIDE. No matter the weather. Out in the woods, down at the crick or out in the fields. Looking at all of mother nature. I like to do this alone with nothing but the wind and animals making their sounds. This is how I've always found peace and soothed my aching heart.

But......

For years there was no doing that with two jobs. So it was head down and straight to work. I would get immersed in it and try not to let my mind wander to the pain.

- having this happy goofy year old pup jump up and just as happy and pure love looking back at me with what are we doing and pet me
and lets play sure hepls make you smile and redirect thoughts to positive . Fortunately my old dogs health decline was seen comming so we got the pup before hoping he would learn from her some .



So when the opportunity come up and it's a good fit get another dog. It's not a replacement that is impossible it's starting a new book.

It is a difficult time. I have friends that never replace their pet because they say they don't want to go through losing one again. My wife and I are not from that school of thought. After we grieve for a month or so we always go get a new puppy. We still remember the dogs we've lost, but having another dog brings a lot of joy to us.

My family's favorite deer hunting spot is a place my Grandad first hunted in 1949. The first time I went there without Grandad I just stood in the parking lot and cried. You never forget those who are gone (and I include good dogs in that also) but the hurt does make way for all the great memories to stick around.

There are steps to grieving and moving on with your life. It sounds like you are making progress. When you're ready, go to those special places and picture her and laugh and cry and mourn. Next go to other spots you haven't been with her, scout for sign, look for beauty in God's creation, breath, run, take steps forward, face to the wind. One day at a time it will slowly get better. There will always be an empty spot in your heart for Jez. But your heart has plenty of room to give another puppy love and happiness when your ready. A joyful puppy makes a lot of things better.

Remember the times they make you laugh. Stay busy.