Monday 15 February 2010

R.I.P.


PIPER 23.3.96 - 15.2.10

Goodbye, old boy. You were a prince of a dog. You had a wonderful temperament; as good a housedog as it is possible to imagine. Brilliant in the rough, though occasionally a bit impatient at the peg, but I'll forgive you that. Gallant old lad that you were, you staggered on until your girls got back for half term. Happy hunting. We're going to miss you.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sad news indeed Idle. Comiserations and love from the Farqs tribe.

Elby the Beserk said...

Sorry to hear that, Idle, and glad we got to meet him, even if Pig had to exercise his inalienable right to attempt to shag every Labrador, male and female, he meets.

Happy retrieving, Piper, in the great hunting grounds above

Electro-Kevin said...

Sad news.

What a handsome fella.

lilith said...

Oh Idle. I am so sorry for your loss. Welling up as I write. He was a beautiful, gentle and dignified pup. What a gaping hole he leaves in your household.

Plato said...

Always awful to lose an old friend - and what a handsome chap too.

Bet he never expected to get his own blog post.

All the best
Platox

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

So sorry to read of such a big loss Iders.

What a great boy he was...

"Say goodbye sugar; aaaah, say goodbye..."

The Byrds - 'Bugler'.

Wild Highlander said...

Very sad news - I had been looking forward to him giving Cromarty a firm set down. Poor chap.

A beautiful farewell.

Calfy said...

Oh how sad! I remember his equable dignity and I am sure he would have retained it to the last. He made it to a good age, isn't 14 a human 100? I am happy for the girls to have been at home; I was never about when my beloved dogs died and it was terribly sad. Commiserations. I wonder if you are still considering a sporran.

Anonymous said...

Sincere condolences.

Only another pet owner will know the grief that the loss of a furry loved one can bring to a home.

Eighteen months ago, we grieved the loss of our little Westie, Robbie, who, just before his fourteenth birthday, climbed into his basket one afternoon and never woke up.

Having convinced ourselves that we would not go through all this again, four weeks later we picked up the phone to the breeder we had got Robbie from and.....

......we got Rosie.

I guess if you're a dog lover, you're always a dog lover.

And the best way of honoring their memory is to have another.

apricotfox said...

Very sorry to read your sad news. Profound sympathies. x

Tuscan Tony said...

I am sorry to hear this idle, a magnificent beast. He has gone to a place where pheasants are infinite and flightless, and rabbits all have gammmy legs and are hard of hearing.

Philipa said...

So sorry to hear of your loss, Idle. Always v.sad to lose a much loved pet, one of the family. Glad your girls got to say goodbye. Condolences from Pip and the Poppets. x

idle said...

Thank you, all.

It's tough, this outliving of dogs. Keeping his collar on my bedside table for now. Perhaps someone else may be awarded it in due course.

We have a busy summer ahead with a reassuring amount of time abroad, so the baton will not be passed until the autumn, and only then if we find a litter where we are confident of looks and character from the sire and dam.

Calfy, trust your sharp mind to remember my quip about turning that handsome head into a sporran.

I didn't.

idle said...

ps

Six of you met him. Who said that blogging was an impersonal medium for saddoes and no-mates?

Alceste said...

He was a fine dog, Idle. And your touching tribute is a really impressive piece of writing.

Vinogirl said...

Oh my God, I am so sorry.
I don't know if you have noticed on my blog, but I am obsessed with dogs...and it's not just my two, all dogs. Canines are truly a gift from God.
It's the first few days that are the hardest, looking around and finding that they are no longer by your side. It gets easier of course, you eventually just smile when you remember their little quirks and the softness of their muzzle against your hand.
Sorry Idle.

Lilas Conuts said...

Hello from Nouméa,love labradors , thanks for sharing

Trubes said...

I'm so sorry about the loss of Piper, Idle.
My commiserations with you all at this sad time.

Di.x