Spoken about him a few times over the years, most adorable, intelligent, affectionate wee soul I have ever had the privilege of having for a four legged friend, sigh.

He had increasing problems with his back legs, probably due to his mixed German Sheperd genes. bad breeding has ruined  that breed *grumbles about idiots doign this for pedgrees".
Sven's mother was German Sheperd-Border Collie cross and his dad a Golden Labrador...couldn't get better mix, and I bought him for £5..best £5 I have EVER spent! ;)

He was a mongrel so hoped that would mean he'd never suffer a short life like many pure breds, and he had 13 years of good life in total and last a year and a half where we'd had him on epiphen (spelling?) for small seizures he'd take and more recently an anti-arthritic drug for his back hips.

He still loved going walks, and would jump up to put the leash around his own neck, hehe.
His fave hting was jumping half up on my chair, so I'd give him a cuddle and "Puppy pacifiers" (blowing raspberries under his chin, dogs LOVE that, lol!)

Friday  he suddenly lost much control over his back legs, and he fell trying to climb the back steps...I resorted to lifting him in and out to do his business, but it was obvious he was in a lot of distress, so had him put to sleep.

Sigh. He helped me deal with the rotten illness I have, giving me a reason to force myself ot go for short walks most days,and to have a companion who didn't bitch, nag or annoy ya :p

Always happy to see ya, and very very funny. I loved it when he'd put his head aorund the corner of the door in the kitchen, when me and mum were there, and his eyebrows would go up and down, from  one of us ot another, with the eyes tempting us to let him out!! lol

Hope ot see him again one day, as my idea of Heaven is walking the hills with my wee pal.
God bless ya, Sven :)

Sven in *"Walkies? are we going WALKIES?!" *mode ;)

 I am so sorry for your loss.  We both also have lost pals in the past, so I know what you are going through.  Your time with Sven will never be lost and we honor you for dedicating yourself to your animal.  You have done God a great service taking care of his creation.  Sharen and Mike

I remember you talking about him when we got Maya last year, and I do so sympathise with you - I know exactly what you're going through as we've lost several dogs due to old age/illness over the years.  Maybe he'll meet up with Tex in doggie heaven.

I'm absolutely sure he had a wonderful life with you, which is some, if little comfort.

Can't type any more as tears are rolling down my cheeks. 

Sam3D,
I alway sliked the story of the fella who, when he died, refused ot go into Heaven 'cause his dog wasn't allowed in...I'm sure you know the one ;)

Gill,
hugs yeah I maybe crying too but he was such a wonderful soul, made life much better, so he did :)

as you cna see from his WALKIES?! pic, he was adorable ;)
Real privilege having him for a four-legged pal :)

I am sooo sorry for your loss, my friend...

13 years is a long time for such a wonderful friend to be by your side.  i whispered to the winds for my own two long-passed but never forgotten mongrels Gizmo and Rascal to meet Sven at the Rainbow Bridge, to show him the ropes... and so he'll know how to find you when the time comes in the VERY distant future.

gentle hugs,
~meli

Looks like a total sweetheart, I'm sorry for your loss. He may be physically gone but his love will live on in your heart.

I'm very sorry about your loss. I love that picture of him; I agree, he was adorable! Pets are members of the family and it hurts to have to lose them. We lost our cat suddenly and unexpectedly last year and I still miss her a lot. She was also only 13.

I agree with Gill; I'm sure he had a wonderful life with you, and he'll always be with you in your heart.

Sorry to hear...our dog passed away couple of years ago, when he tried to hunt down (probably) the local wild boar...crazy idea when he was  maybe even smaller than your dog...yeah he was crazy a little bit, but nice and funny (when there was no storm in sight:))) Very sad...

I'm so sorry.  Over the years, we have lost several beloved dogs, and can understand completely the depth and scope of your loss.  It seems there's no purer love than that between human and canine; and no purer sense of grief when the inevitable loss occurs.  I know there are dogs in heaven.... at least I'm counting on it...  May your grief soon turn to beautiful memories, and the thought of your sweet friend bring nothing but joy.  mcw1917

I want to thank you for sharing the pictures...I can tell he was a sweetie...So sorry for your seperation...

There are no words which describe how much pets give you but then it always comes the day in which you pay for everything (and pay dearly).

After my last one (a wonderful neozelandese rabbit) I decided to never again put myself in the situation to have to play "god" with a living being.

No place for any bye with exclamation marks...

Sorry to hear of your loss.  Dogs are our best friends, and it hurts when they leave us. 

I'm so sorry silverblade. Pure trusting and loyal souls that they are, dogs most surely go to heaven.

Hi silverblade33,

I'm a forum lurker, but I'm also a huge animal lover.  I wanted to offer my condolences on the loss of your beautiful Sven.  I believe animals are created from Spirit just as we all are and so he does continue on.

My cousin's lad, who's 8 was crying whenhe ws told, so yeah he was a sweetheart who about everyone loved :)

Melikia,
well I'd need his help, bridges always do make me feel nervous ;)

Alex
well the loss sucks like a SOB, but...the 13 years of fun and love was well worth that price. They are just such wonderful wee folk :)

Ailig,
I had a crazy Jack Russell (well, most Jack Russells ARE crazy, lol),
Me and a pal were throwing rocks in a river looooong time ago ,"Splash!*, and my jack russel jumped into the river! we thought it was gonna drown, nope, came out with half a brick in it's mouth, determined ot get it back...
jaw drops! :p
His jack Rusell jumped into the watet to get a plastic bottle...imagine seeing yer pet, floating down a big river, holding onto this clear plastic bottle, and the dog was happy as Larry thinking it was a hoot.....
talk about panic?!  AGH!!!! lol, so ever after we had ot keep em away from being to close ot the water, silly wee things :)

Hope you don't mind me borrowing your photo.  I'm sure he'll be waiting for you to take him walkies in a beautiful place like this when it's your time to meet up with him again

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1884626

So sorry for your loss, it's never easy loosing a member of your family.  Try to cherish the good times. 

Awww that's great, thank you Gill! hugs :)

Woof woof!! ;)

My boy-dog is 11 years old and thinks he's a pup. He is actually still growing longer which makes no sense. I don't know what I'll do when he goes. I've had other dogs, but this one is the most special.  When my airedale went I cried for days.

This is sort of a funny story. Both he and his sister were mixed. Mother was 9 lbs, he is 32. Since they were not a pure breed we felt they would live longer and be healthier. We had no idea how inbred they were. His siter developed diabetes at 7. The vet made me feel guilty so we kept giving her shots even though you could tell she was not happy any longer. She was an alpha and we knew mad e her brother do what she wanted.

When we took a trip, she did so poorly, we knew it was time and being away from home it was easier. He was never so happy. He turned from a dog who stayed in corners to being the happiest most outgoing pup alive. He never looked for her and he blossomed. We never had any idea that she was the one who traumatized him to that degree. We thought that it had happened before we got him.

My feelings are with you. He looks from the picture like a gem.

Paula
 

Paula,
oh that was a shame :/ (about him being so upset by his sister)
often I'd suggest folks have two dogs, because if they are a working family, it's often very cruel on the single dog to be left alone all day, so having another dog = good company for them.
Heart breaking hearing our neighbour's dog howl when they go away during the day, sigh.
Tricky though, having a good match so neither dog is pushed out or troubled too much.

Peopel don't realize how much most (but not all) dogs desperately need company nearly ALL the time, long a sthey know yer in the house, can come in to see or sleep near you, they are happy as Larry.

Pal had a Newfoundland and a St Bernards, lol what a pair those were! always playing, knocked us down a few time with them racing aorund etc...dont' stand in the way of a St bernards when it's running! :p

Well if he's stil feeling he is one, and acting like a pup, he's loving life, and that's all you can ask for, bless him! :)

so sorry to hear it... it's the letting go that's hard. orrabest, pal

Silverblade33 -

We wanted two for the same reason. When I had an Airedale I was working so I thought of getting her a friend. She kept trying to sit on the dog. She wanted to be numero uno and no other. I think my dog now is the same way. But we are home a lot since we are both retired so he gets loooooooooots of company and attention. He is absolutely spoiled, but I love it.

Paula

 Steve,
 
I am so sorry for your loss. Here on our ranch, we've lost a border-mix, too. Unless one is a true pet lover, it's hard to put in words how much these little animals mean to us. Holding their heads and paws while the Vet sends them to doggy heaven slays me for days.

We've a little pet cemetary which now has three dogs, three cats and a chicken. It is so very hard burying them-- and one look at my wife or daughter during this sad time seems to bring up all the emotions again.

I've a little rat terrier, "Petey," who follows me everywhere. I can't imagine the state I'll be in when he's gone. I, too, hope there's a heaven where we can once again go for walks and play fetch with our favorites.

All the best to you, Chipp

Paula,
me and mum are both disabled, me less than her thankfully, so our dogs always have folk there for 'em :) Alas most folk's necessities of life prevents that for them though, but I have seen companies allowing dogs at their works but it it's very rare and obviosuly only practical for a few types of jobs.

Chipp,
*nods they areally are like part of the family, you could only love 'em more if they were yer actual kids :)
Oddly enough, near me, there was the estate of a local lord, now long abandoned and given to the local people as a sort of park, and they have a pet cemetary on it, grave sof hosrses and dogs goig back coupel of hundred years! Interestign to see how much they cared for their pets back then, even to the Egyptian pharoahic era

Shit.

I.m a cat person, but I still understand your loss. They become part of the family. When my last cat died I had to take three days vacation I was so effed up. Now i have another, adopted from the humane society, I'll have to take another three days in ten years or so :)

They're my surrogate children.

For some reason I have to add an additional message instead of just editing the old one???

Chip: I had two Siamese cats from the same litter. Siamese twins jokes aside, they were two halves of a single organism. After 16 years one died. The other went mad and died of kidney failure within six months. And both times, telling the vet to use the needle was devastating.