Thank you @Helplessandheartbroke. It is such a pity we all find ourselves in similar situations, but it also great to speak to people who are feeling similar.
My girl, she was 9, didn't quite make it to her birthday in April. She was sleek and fit, was the quickest dog I have ever had. Super rodent catcher. She made it her mission to find that rodent whenever she sensed one. She would also tell me there was one about, and if she did catch it, she would never maim it, just did what she needed to, then always left it by the door for me to see.
We have some very big birds that come into our garden, this was her next mission, to see them off daily. This was her turf and they were seemingly not welcome to look for worms here.
She was also a little bit grumpy at times. If she was not happy with me for any reason, she would sure let me know. Things that would not make her happy was if I had gone somewhere else and they had a dog, I would get the sniff down when I got home, and depending on what news she got, she may not talk to me for the rest of the day. She would make it very clear she did not approve as she would come near me, but sit with her back to me. She was a Ridgeback so she would just show off her ridge. She didn't like thunder or lightning at all, would go and bark at it, and then be all cross with me for allowing the thunder. We get some super storms here, so I saw the ridge a fair few times for that reason. She really disliked going to the kennels too, when we got back from holidays, she would not talk to me for a good few days. Then when it was all okay again, she would just put her head on me so that I could tickle and stroke her, and we all knew things were okay again after that.
She was also the most gentle girl. Everyone who met her who say this. Never in 9 years did she once snatch anything, never ever showed any form of aggression ever. Except she didn't like the bin lorry. She would starting barking before we knew it was on the way. So we knew to get bins out if we had been behind schedule, and that we had some advance notice.
In hindsight now, I see that she had become a lot quieter in the past few months. She had not given me the cold shoulder in a while, and would lie with me every minute she got the chance to. So, perhaps she knew. She become grey quite fast, but we didn't think too much of it, seeing as she was getting a bit older anyway. We spent her last day together for the entire day. I was due to go out and do some errands, but I chose not to and that I would do them this week instead. How I now look back at that decision and see that I went with my gut. I just didn't want to leave her, and now I see how its good to go with what you feel.
Again, I am sobbing typing this, I do have to go out and get some things done, but I fear I will just burst into tears at the smallest thing.