QRTRHRS
Elite Member
My wife and I made the decision to put our twelve year old French Beauceron down today. His heart was failing along with bad hips, fatty tumors, etc., etc. so it was time. "Dually", so named for the breeds prominent double dewclaws, was perhaps the most loyal dog either of us ever had. At 130 lbs, he was a gentle giant even perhaps a sissy. Though a bit of a clutz in the house, outside he was ever so graceful as he would "run like the wind". He would sprawl across the sofa leaving me just enough room at the end and lay his head in my lap. As I stroked him, he would purr like a cat.
Searching for another member to our family at the time, my wife had mentioned always wanting one of the breed, a herding dog that dates to the 1600's. Back in February of 2000 when Dually came to us, supposingly, there were only around 500 in the US. None of the veterinarians that ever met Dually had ever seen another nor have we except for pictures or just in the last few years on the dog shows.
I found Dually on the net. A product of a puppy mill of all things, he was being fostered in Nashua, NH. Leaving our then home in PA at around midnight after working the evening shift, we drove all night to get there then turned right around to go home. Not being so good at traveling, Dually was carsick the whole trip home. Other than some nightly crate training to fully housebreak Dually, he was one of those dogs that always knew what to do with very little correction.
As we drove home from the vet's office, the heavy rain lightened up then stopped long enough for me to get a hole dug and bury Dually. No time to mourn though because while I was putting the tractor away, my wife informed me that one of our stallions had a gaping chest wound. Sheese! As we cleaned the wound up, we decided we had better bring the same vet out. About the time that the vet arrived, the sky opened up again along with some thunder and lightning.
Seems the stallion had rammed into a bucket hanger in his stall. We got him patched up and he will be fine but what a day!
Hopefully, I will get my picture attached correctly. Dually is on to the left of my wife and his buddy Oscar (the "blond" Belgium Malinois) is on the right. Unfortunately, Oscar has hip issues and problems related to calcium deposits on his spine so his days are numbered as well.
It will not be totally quiet in our house though. We also have a min pin and a yellow lab or golden retriever/hound mix. I suppose after some time we will take in another family member though I don't think that we would want another 130 pounder. Thanks in advance for understanding.
Searching for another member to our family at the time, my wife had mentioned always wanting one of the breed, a herding dog that dates to the 1600's. Back in February of 2000 when Dually came to us, supposingly, there were only around 500 in the US. None of the veterinarians that ever met Dually had ever seen another nor have we except for pictures or just in the last few years on the dog shows.
I found Dually on the net. A product of a puppy mill of all things, he was being fostered in Nashua, NH. Leaving our then home in PA at around midnight after working the evening shift, we drove all night to get there then turned right around to go home. Not being so good at traveling, Dually was carsick the whole trip home. Other than some nightly crate training to fully housebreak Dually, he was one of those dogs that always knew what to do with very little correction.
As we drove home from the vet's office, the heavy rain lightened up then stopped long enough for me to get a hole dug and bury Dually. No time to mourn though because while I was putting the tractor away, my wife informed me that one of our stallions had a gaping chest wound. Sheese! As we cleaned the wound up, we decided we had better bring the same vet out. About the time that the vet arrived, the sky opened up again along with some thunder and lightning.
Seems the stallion had rammed into a bucket hanger in his stall. We got him patched up and he will be fine but what a day!
Hopefully, I will get my picture attached correctly. Dually is on to the left of my wife and his buddy Oscar (the "blond" Belgium Malinois) is on the right. Unfortunately, Oscar has hip issues and problems related to calcium deposits on his spine so his days are numbered as well.
It will not be totally quiet in our house though. We also have a min pin and a yellow lab or golden retriever/hound mix. I suppose after some time we will take in another family member though I don't think that we would want another 130 pounder. Thanks in advance for understanding.
