Grieving

The Dog Training Place

"Problem Solving & Obedience As A Way of Life"

A most simple, effective way to raise a problem free dog!

We strive for a stress and problem free environment for you and your dog.


Home	About The Trainer	Training Philosophy	Training Programs

Events		Adopt A Dog		Service Dog Training
Testimonials	Housebreaking		Ask Bubby		Business Opportunities

"You needs to goes to Mr. O's"

Grieving

With the passing of my German Shepherd Skiman I grieved more than I grieved for anybody including my parents. I don't know if that was good or bad. I only know that it was. I loved my parents just as much as the next person. I was very close to my mother. The bond I had with my dog was unlike any other. Maybe it was because we were with each other 24 hours a day. We even had the privilege of working together, sometimes 16 hours a day. I was his provider and he was my protector. We were never separated. As he would have laid his life on the line for me, I would have laid down mine for him. I could only imagine that losing a child could be all that is worse.

When you have the companionship of a dog for many years you often think of how innocent they are and how much they really depend on you. When they hurt, you hurt and when there is nothing you can do to help them, you hurt even more.

Everybody is different and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Some people try to fill the void by purchasing a new dog within days of their loss. Most of these people are impulse shopping. I could not do that. I would rather take my time and find the best dog I could. I would want to talk to breeders, not salespersons. Besides, immediately coming home with another dog seems to rob you of the grieving process. With a new pup you simply don't have the time to grieve. I think people do this to escape the grieving process and get their mind off their loss. Like I said, everybody is different and there is no right or wrong way but I would certainly rather do it my way.

I wanted to grieve. I cried like a baby. I canceled all my appointments for a few days and stayed in my office and cried. I cried so much it hurt. I cried until there were no more tears to cry and then just sobbed. Don't hold back. That can't be good. Allow those emotions to flow. Get it all out. Take the phone off the hook and escape with all your memories. I found peace in looking at all the pictures I took of him. For days all I did was listen to the music that would recall special events Ski Man and I shared and browse through pictures. If I had one piece of advice to give you before that miserable day when you lose your best friend it would be to take as many pictures of him now as you can. Thank God I had those pictures of Ski Man. More than anything, they helped the grieving process. You eventually get through the worst of it, although, even weeks later, I could not talk about that saddest of days, when I lost Ski Man, without my eyes welling up with tears.

Someone once said that time heals everything. They must not have had a dog.