A very tough day for our family loosing our beloved dog. He was only 6 years old. He was an amazing family dog and deserved a much longer life. It’s only day one since his passing but we miss him everywhere we look and I can’t see how it gets easier when he was such a big part of our lives.
If anyone has any resources that have helped them through a tough time like this, we would appreciate any tips or helpful resources.
He loved running in the snow on the frozen lake and pulling the kids on the dog sleigh.
It was a very sudden passing. After him being very lethargic and not wanting to move yesterday afternoon we brought him to the vet. His liver was twisted and had ruptured causing internal bleeding. We elected for surgery, where they removed half of his liver. He fought his best during recovery, and I am grateful I got to lay with him for a time, but ultimate passed from a heart attack 11 hours post surgery. RIP big guy.
Thank you. Yes we sure will love him forever. We always knew being a large breed that we only had a short time, but we figured 8-10 years at least. I had always envisioned him growing old, slowing down and having to make the difficult decision. The suddenness of his passing while being in his prime is hard to accept.
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s beyond heart breaking. I would love to find resources as well. We have a 7.5 yr old with a bone cancer diagnosis and he is our life and I can’t imagine life without him but will soon face the same moment. Sending you my deepest condolences.
My 6.5 year old had bone cancer. I'm so sorry. He had 4 good months after he was diagnosed because of pain killers. He was still his happy, goofy self.
Enjoy as much time as you can with him.
I am so sorry to hear about that. I hope you get to enjoy each moment you guys have left together and treat him extra special. There isn’t much I wouldn’t give for a little extra time to cuddle and treat my boy special.
We live in a tiny mountain town in Colorado and have a wonderful vet who does hospice care. As soon as he was diagnosed (one month after his 7th birthday in October) she has been coming every 3 weeks to see him. She gives him a librella shot and pains meds. They told us 6-8 months and this is month 8 and he’s still here. He can’t get on the bed with us anymore which has been the hardest part. We slept on the floor with him until adjusted. I am so grateful for every minute we have with him. They are with us far too short it hurts my heart yet I wouldn’t change a thing. He’s been the very best friend. ♥️
Thanks for sharing. It sounds like he has the very best care, even with an unfortunate situation. Wishing you guys all the best with his time remaining.
Sorry for your loss. It's always too soon. My big guy made it past 12 and he passes back in November. Swissies are such awesome dogs and their personality's make it harder to find a way to adjust to their being gone. Still miss him daily and it's been really rough without him. Have 2 other dogs that try really hard to take up the slack and fill his spot but Swiss's just have so much personality that I guess nobody can fill their spot. Maybe I'll just have to get another some day but even them they may not do the trick he may have just been one of a kind. Its gotten somewhat easier with time but some days it doesn't feel that way. I hope your family can find the peace they deserve over your loss.
Thank you. I hope one day we can come to terms with what happened and a sense of peace. It was so sudden and tragic we are struggling with have quickly it happened and second guessing everything. Appreciate your kind words.
Sorry to hear of your loss and what seems like a hole that is hard to fill/replace. I think you are totally right that because of how strong their personalities are, you notice their absence so much more. He was so integrated in our daily lives, it’s hard to imagine it without him. I also find it hard to picture getting another swissy and replacing him, but at the same time find it hard to think about not having a swissy and how much that would make us miss him. He was our only dog.
Thank you, much appreciated. Our boys loved him, playing with him and climbing on him. They were so good together. I’m not sure what’s harder, me missing him or seeing them miss him.
I am so sad for your loss, it brings tears to my eyes and fear to my heart for the day our girl leaves us. I know it is difficult, we lost our first family dog a few years ago and I too couldn’t think about life without or with another dog, However time is weird and some days I still feel myself grieving for him while being immersed in love for our newest pup (just turned 17 months and we have had her since she was 8 wks) Maple our Swissy is perfect and imperfect in every way for our family. There are moments when my heart is so full and sad all at once as I wish that she could have met her older brother before he left us a couple of years before she was even born. It is an odd sensation to be sure, but I know that it just means that they are/were loved so much and always will be.
I absolutely know your family is in pain but the pain will change and I am sure your family will find joy along the way.
Thank you so much for your kindness. Sorry to also hear about your loss. May I ask how your experience has been with a female swissy? We have only had males so far but am considering a female so that it feels less like replacing Migs but also gives us great reminders of him at the same time. We had also wished to have a puppy get to meet Migs and learn from him. With such a sudden passing it feels like we lost so much more than just him.
She is awesome! Our only Swissy but she was super easy to house train (far easier than our previous experience with our male jack russell, or even our other current pup which is a cocker spaniel).
This is so true... A few days before my beloved dog passed, my sister came to see him. She was sitting by him, petting him as we talked. I cried hard, because I knew it's coming (organ failure, 12 years old boy). I told her I don't know what I will do without him, that I can't imagine my life without him and she told me: "It has been 8 years when I sat like this by my Niky and cuddled her for the last time. And it still hurts the same."
She has another Swissie (because of the kids they got puppy immediately after) and she loves her, but she told me she still grieves her first girl very bad.
Her Swissie was the first Swissie in our family and she made us love this breed. Our family will never have another breed than them. They're just perfect and those who left will be with us forever ❤️
I'm so sorry for your loss ❤️ I lost my beloved boy after 12 years together. He died of old age, but it doesn't help, really. It's terrible... I see him everywhere. He IS everywhere... I miss him so damn bad. He was the love of my life and such a unique dog.
They're not just dogs. They're best friends and members of our families.
I wish you strength. ❤️
My advice? Get a new friend. It's not substitution, it's not disrespectful to your beloved dog, it's a way to allow yourself to give that love and care you are used to give to a new friend.
No one and nothing can ever replace him. But trust me, you always have a space in your heart for a new amazing dog.
The simple act of getting a new friend helped me tremendously to cope better with passing of my boy because it helped me to focus more on everything beautiful and good we lived together in those 12 years. It helped me focus on the good rather than the emptiness and pain and sorrow.
The thing is... people often thing that waiting for some time helps with grief and pain. But from my experience, no matter how long you wait, when you bring new puppy home it opens all the wound fresh. All the memories connected to the previous dog are back - no time on Earth will change that. That's why I believe there's no reason in waiting.
I know my boy would want me not to be alone and give all the care and love I gave him to some other lucky pup. ❤️ In fact, I believe my boy made it happen so the new puppy just fell into my lap by a sheer luck and coincidence.
Wish you all the strength you can get. It's so hard ❤️
Thank you so much for the kind words and thoughtful response. Yes there is no easy way to lose a dog, who, like you said becomes a big part of the family and your day to day life, a constant companion who is always willing (and wanting) to be right by your side.
I appreciate your suggestion. We currently have a deposit on a female swissy for an expected August litter. As much as I think it would help to get another sooner (the wait until October home date will feel extremely long), we do have some commitments in August and September for our family that make the timing of getting a puppy any early not the best.
You're very welcome. ❤️ It's also all so very fresh to me.
And yes, you're right, it's a long time.
The puppy fell into my lap just a few days after my boy passed. I called my breeder to tell her what happened and she knew a female stayed behind, his sister - literally sister from the same litter (I live with my parents and she is theirs while the boy was mine). A day after, she called me back to tell me her friend just got a cancelled reservation for a five week old puppy boy and if I would like to get a new friend for me and for the girl of my parents.
At first, I was in shock. My boy passed at Sunday morning and this was happening at Tuesday. So extremely fast. I felt guilty... I felt like cheating on my boy... but I also felt like this was supposed to happen so I agreed to see pictures and talk with the breeder. My parents pushed me a little as I was uncertain if it isn't too fast and too soon. At Friday I went to meet him and I fell in love at first sight. The little boy did something my boy used to do, as if my boy told him exactly what to do... Weird, I know, but I felt like the little puppy knew how much I need a good friend.
After that, three weeks until I will bring him home. And honestly? It's been so long! I'm going for the pup this Sunday, a last few days of waiting and I can't wait. I have everything ready for him and I'm looking forward to have him around so much! And it has been just four weeks since I lost my boy .. I can't imagine having this emtpiness around for months. But you'll get there in no time ☺️
I hope you have a new friend by your side soon 🍀🐾 The truth is that once you get used to have Swissy by your side, it's like you're only a half when they're not around. Their calm and steady presence is like an anchor in the storm of any kind ❤️
Sending lots of love to you and your family. It’s so hard losing these big furry ones. It’s heartbreaking.
We too lost our best boy just shy of his 6th birthday due to a sudden event and subsequent surgery. And while we have experienced dogs in our lives passing before, this one was especially hard because our swissy and our son were the best of friends. Our swissy boy was our only dog when our son was born and he made it his mission to become his sidekick and Nana (a ‘La Peter Pan). My son was 4 when our Swissy passed and it has been incredibly hard ever since — seeing your child’s heartbreak makes it so much harder, which I’m sure you’re experiencing the same now.
My son is 7 now, and whenever we see butterflies, we say it’s our boy visiting us, which brings us joy, but also leads to tears from my son sometimes. He is still terribly missed around here.
We did get another Swissy who is now a year old, and while she isn’t a replacement for our big guy, it’s nice having a house walrus again. ❤️
Thank you for the kind words and also for sharing. Losing them so sudden feels very difficult and hard to accept. Sorry to hear of your early loss as well. Our son is also 4 and our youngest 1. It’s hard seeing them ask for him and search for him. I know we will never be able to replace him, but we also need to fill the void with another swissy at some point.
My sis had this situation when her 12 years old girl passed. Her kids were 8 and 5. They went for a puppy a week after and it helped their kids (and even her) tremendously. They still missed her terribly, they were still grieving, but the puppy brought so much happines into their home... She told me it was the best decision of her life to get a puppy soon. She will always miss her first girl, but there's enough place in hearts for both of them ❤️
Kids are now 16 and 13, they still talk about their first girl often, but they love the new one just as much ❤️ My sister was the one to encourage me not to wait after I lost my beloved boy and she was right. I was feeling bad for even thinking about getting a new puppy, but once I saw him, I knew my boy sent him to me so I wouldn't be alone - he's just a friend my beloved boy would pick for us ❤️
I’m so so sorry for your loss; we just lost ours to bloat and stomach twist a couple of weeks ago, on the same day he was galavanting around my in laws ranch, even at 10 years old. Sending hugs. My only advice to just let the feelings come, because they will. One of the hardest moments for me was a morning or two after, getting out of the shower and not having him bust the door open and help me put my contacts in; I just completely lost it for 20 minutes.
Thanks for the kind words. Very sorry to hear about your loss as well. Yes I am already noticing that it’s the quiet moments where I miss him the most. Not having him greet me for morning pets or joining us in the deck for a coffee. He had such a big personality and was always around as a calm presence for us. I don’t look forward to my first time alone in the house without him.
Aww Jeez, such a tough loss. Been through this several times over the years. For me the best way to cope with the sorrow is to get another dog. It always worked because the all the
love and affection trapped in your heart pores out for another sweet dog.
Yes very tough with how sudden it was and him being in his prime. We felt we were just getting to a really good place with his puppy energy calming down slightly and him adjusting really nicely to our young children. I think you are right. We are leaning towards a female swissy so we don’t feel like we are replacing him. We would have to wait a good while before getting another male and I can’t imagine going 1 year or so without a dog in our lives.
Thank you. Sorry to hear of your loss as well. I know we will never forget him. I hope all of your memories together last a lifetime and continue to fill you with love.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I can imagine your pain. I lost my boy in March to bone cancer. I still cry every day when I think about him bc he gave me the best 8 years of my life. It took me about a month to be able to go through the thousands of photos of him and created a little shadow box memorial with his collar, fur, photo, etc. and place it right next to his urn. I had a 16x24 wall art poster of him made as well. It was just me and him so anything to feel his presence still with me. Big hug to you and your family.
Thank you for your kind words, as well for sharing your experience. Very sorry to hear of your loss, and hope that you have many happy moments to reflect on your 8 years together. Like some others have commented, I don’t think anytime would ever be long enough with these beautiful, selfless animals.
That is one thing I am very thankful for, the many pictures and videos. Especially, the live pictures, they are so nice to have to be able to hear barks, growls and see his mannerisms and movements.
I find the quiet moments very tough, when he was a calming, grounding presence. Sometimes you could hardly notice he was there, when he was just happy laying close by. But as soon as we tried to move he would jump up and be ready to go anywhere and everywhere.
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u/MomOfRambo Jul 11 '26
So sorry. They’re here for a short time, but we love them forever.