'Pickle the pig' R.I.P - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

Matt Vandart · 11-14-2012, 02:23 PM

Not sure if this is the correct etiquette (?) but I thought I would post here.
Its been a year and a bit since Pickle died of DCM (sudden onset) and things have changed alot since then.
I am not so sad anymore even though somtimes when I am out and about the places we used to go I do get memories, they are more and more happy ones so I decided to put a happy thread in this sad section.
My oldest boy was looking through his old I pod or whatever the thing is called and he found a video taken the day before Pickle died.
It's a nice video which makes me happy becuase I thought we had very few pictures of pickle and certainly very little if any video.
So I have made a thread with everything I can find of my best ever friend, and I mean ever, none before or after will ever come close I believe wholeheartedly.
So enough of the drivel here is the pictures, from day one to effectively the day she died at just under 11 years old, so she didn't do too bad.
Let me give some advice or whatever you want to call it.
Take every day with your doberman as if it is the last, don't shout at them, take them out every day, do something they like every day, cwtch them, feed them the best you can afford, train them to the best of your ability and pat them before you go to bed, no matter how much stress you are currently receiving from life, their lives are shorter than you think. 11 years seems like a long time, it isn't.

I cannot date any of these photos accurately so I will let you work it out for yourself, I will just say this, pickle looked young and acted young right up to the last minute so your guess is as good as mine.

I have attempted to put them in chronomalogical order but it only the first and last I can guaranty are correct.
she would never have won any conformation shows but she was an amazing doberman.....
Real bona fide photo taken on photographic film and developed in the chemist, remember those?

now scanned to my computer,

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

no idea why this one is sideyways:

pig

This is the video of the day before Pickle died suddenly, my oldest boy had taken her out down the field for a walk, which was really unusual for him, he videoed this on his Ipod and only just today found it:

Pickle the pig

I am sad now after looking at all that but nowhere near as sad I was until these two numbnuts turned up:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Hope I have put this in the right section, sorry if not feel free to move it.
I will tell you this, if I ever win the lottery the whole lot is going on stopping this hideous stinking evil ****ing disease and you can hold me to that.
thanks for your time.

Matt

**dax0402** · 11-15-2012, 03:04 PM

So very sorry for your loss. The first anniversary is always the hardest. She was a very pretty girl and a beautiful tribute to her. RIP and run free sweet Pickle.

eegreen · 11-15-2012, 10:08 PM

So sorry for your loss. Pickle was a pretty girl.

Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

Darkevs · 11-16-2012, 12:52 PM

so sorry for the loss of your 'Pig'...........

.............can tell she was much loved.

Hugz from here to there Pickle!

love all your names sweetie.

flash98 · 11-16-2012, 03:25 PM

Very sorry for your loss.

However I enjoyed your post because it shows we can remember the good times....despite the terribleness of losing them. What a beautiful dog Pickle the Pig was! A really lovely girl.

I think your post ought to serve as inspiration for those of us who are still "closer in time" to the "event" so we can see there is light at the end of tunnel. Well done.

Toby'shuman · 11-16-2012, 03:35 PM

As my old mum used to say, 'She lived life to the end'.

Sleep tight Pickle.

Matt Vandart · 11-17-2012, 12:56 PM

She did indeed.

That is the worst part of the disease, the suddeness even with the longer version of the disease, it's not enough time to get your head around it.
I think me and Pickle were in a very strange way, lucky that it was the sudden onset version. I can't imagine what it must be like for the people (and dogs) to be told they have the other version.

I knew nothing of DCM when Pickle died, the unbeliveableness of it all was intense, I looked everywhere to see if she had got into anything she shouldn't have, like poisoness stuff ( there is loads of things like that at my house, brake fluid, chemicals etc all kept in a locked cabinet) I thought I had killed her, it got pretty surreal at one point digging her hole. We got the kids out from school and Curtis thought she was just sleeping (she was in her bed by the hole) there were literally no signs that anything was wrong at all.

The strange thing was bumpy, it was as if she no longer recognised her, like she was just another object, she just ignored her completely when we got home and found her.

Anyway thanks dudes.

Q734 · 11-17-2012, 09:21 PM

Thank you for sharing your beautiful girl and may the doberman goddesses smile on your son for having taken that video.
The look on her sweet face in the maroon loveseat pic is moving to say the least.
(((Pickle & Family))))

JobeyV · 11-18-2012, 02:35 AM

Matt, you are so right. You & Pickle were lucky. She looked so vibrant & full of life right to the very end. You & your family were spared watching her succumb to CHF, I spent 3 months praying Homer's arrhythmia's would take him but it didn't. I had to watch as CHF robbed my boy of his life.

Pickle had a long & wonderful life & was happy & loved right to the very end. Just what a doberman's life should be.

RIP Pickle the Pig, you will be loved & missed forever.

GrdnDelite · 11-27-2012, 04:02 PM

There is no good way for us to lose them.

But it is better, I think, for them, if there is no warning, no pain, no downhill slide in health.

And I love how high functioning this breed tends to be, well into old age, often right up until they are done here.

Obviously, while it hurts, there's no way you'd wish you'd not had her (and that is what keeps us coming back for more). She looks to have been a lovely lady as well as a cutey pie.

**Brandy&Melanie** · 11-27-2012, 04:11 PM

I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing those sweet pictures!! RIP!

pdubois64 · 11-27-2012, 05:25 PM

Thanks for sharing the pictures. My boy passed 2 months ago and I still can't look at any pictures or video. I'm glad to hear in a year it gets easier.

It's awesome she made it to 11. I think at that point you can just call it passing from "old age".

Shell81 · 11-27-2012, 05:54 PM

RIP Pickles, she was a beauty. Thank you for sharing

I read your post with tears in my eyes as I looked over at our almost 9 week old pup. You are so very right when you say that 11 years seems like a long time but it isn't. I remember the first day with my last boy, and I remember the last, and it felt like a blink of an eye in between (in reality it was almost 9 yrs). Thank you for the reminder to not take a single second for granted. I am really going to try to live in the moment with the sweet little puppy who has just graced my family with his presence. I know the years will fly by, but hopefully I can remember your little bit of advice.

I should add, it has been almost 4 yrs since I love my last boy (who I always did, and still do, call my firstborn as I had him before I married or had kids), and I still cry when I look at pics. My memories now are happy ones, but I do tear up when I spend a lot of time thinking about him. Time helps us heal but it doesn't take away the love.

Jenn · 11-27-2012, 06:14 PM

Its nice to see a good memories thread.
R.i.p prettygirl!

Fortheloveofadoberman · 11-29-2012, 12:47 AM

Thank you Matt for sharing your memories of "Pickle". Your message is a sweet reminder to all, just love your beloved pet as time moves quickly, and gone way too fast. You will see her again, I believe there is a place in heaven for all creatures; God made them so why not. I hope your message will help those who have lost a friend, it is never easy to lose a pet for whatever reason. I know I have lost many cats and dogs over the yrs. even a few birds and a horse. We keep those memories close because we love our pets and we can see the devotion and love they have for us. Too bad so many others fail to recognize the gift they have and will never feel the excitement and love like we know. and yes the heartache too! What a nice tribute to Pickle, she was a very pretty lady and obviously loved very much. My heart goes out to you, it's never easy and you just never forget.

Cathy43 · 11-29-2012, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Vandart

.

The strange thing was bumpy, it was as if she no longer recognised her, like she was just another object, she just ignored her completely when we got home and found her.

Anyway thanks dudes.

What a pretty girl; I love her little ears.

I have also seen dogs do this and have also noticed it myself when viewing the dead-human and animal. There is a sense of it just being an empty hull because whatever made them "them" is gone. The total absence of a much loved spirit is indeed a profound one.

Matt Vandart · 11-29-2012, 10:48 AM

To be honest when I realised what Bumpy was doing, that was when I gave up CPR, we were just far to late.

Here is a video of someone that wasn't too late, it could be a bit distressing for some people but it does have a happy ending. It's worth a watch because you may not be too late:

CPR

VZ-Doberman · 11-30-2012, 12:19 PM

I'm glad you put your thread here.