Losing them - when does it get better?

[Crispaficionado]

Lost my nearly 14 year old flat coated retriever boy on Friday afternoon - he had terrible arthritis & we were getting to the point of a decision on PTS but his heart gave out so the ending was unexpectedly sudden & I didn't cuddle him enough as I didn't realise - was on the phone to the vets when he collapsed and didn't appreciate he was going until he was nearly gone if that makes any sense.

My children, DH etc we're all so sad, the house is too quiet, I can't accept that's it and he's gone now, part of the past. I had him for such a long part of my life, it feels like a huge ending. My children have had him there all of their lives.

thanks viknow it's a good point, my dog needed so much vet expensive vet treatment that it's quite likely he'd have ended up in rescue (although his lovely breeder offered to have him back) if he'd gone to less committed owners. And we were right, he made it to an amazing age despite 3 major operations and pneumonia as a pup!