Goodby old friend...

[apache12]

Farwell old boy. Looking back at your life we had some great days that I won’t soon forget.

 

I remember the time when…

 

You were the little GSP pup that wouldn’t leave my lap as an 8 week old pup.

You were always first in the truck ready to hunt, camp, or mnt. bike.

You’d run the trails while I biked for miles and then we’d sit on tailgate and split a beer.

You’d run through Cholla cactus and never even yelp or cry with your nose up sippin the wind for quail.

You’d bury your head in a thorn bush or cholla and dig out the down quail and never thought twice

You always gave me a great look after you winded bird, help point, steady to shot and I’d put two shells behind the bird letting it fly away. I’m sure you had some choice words for me.

I thought I taught you to hunt buy I finally learned it was you teaching me.

Your tail always told me what I needed to know following you in the field.

 

Then there was…

 

The mama skunk you fought on a camp trip, she ripped up your stomach good and you smelled for a month, be she never came back out of that wood pile.

The time on a camp trip during archery deer. I left for my spot pre dawn and left you in the tent with wife and kids. Two miles to my pre scouted spot I was set and ready. An hour after sunup the crashing in the trees told me a deer was coming in right at 40 yard pin. Arrow back and ready, and who pops out but you. Soon as mom let you out of the tent you tracked me to spot and you couldn’t be happier with yourself.

Then there was the time you stuck your head in a hole and a rattle snake bit you in the nose. Two benydril later and an ice bath and you pulled through that day too. I thought your head was going to pop it was so big but you kept wagging your tail.

Oh yea and remember up at Canerro lake when you swam after ducks for more than an hour, I thought you were going to drown for sure. Nope, you loved it.

How about the bird you went and got that dropped over that deep wash by the barb wire fence. I thought you’d gone over a cliff, but a good fence gash in your back and a tough climb back up the drop off and there you were bird in mouth.

How about when you ear got all tore up and when it healed in rolled like a pork rind.

With all your scars and marks some people would meet you and think you had a rough go in life, but I know you wouldn’t change a thing. You were the toughest ole dog I ever new, right up to the end you help on as long as you could and were never a burden.

Our best times were always sitting on the tailgate after a hunt and I’d pull all the cactus that were buried in your paws while we spit a PBR. My hunts won’t be the same without you old boy.

I buried you in your favorite spot under the ficus tree, nailed your tag in the tree, and tonight we’ll split one more PBR. I hope you find the trails clean of cholla and the birds holding tight in cover were you’re going. Maybe the hunter you’re with will hit a few more birds for all your hard work.

I miss you Apache.

[Pine Donkey]

What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful friend. Please post some pictures of Apache that we can all enjoy.

[Snapshot]

Nice tribute. All good dogs go to heaven. They will be waiting for us when we arrive!

 

It's tough to lose a good friend. I know!

[CouesWhitetail]

Wow, great tribute and I too know what it's like to lose a great dog friend. At least you can take comfort in that you gave him a great life. Thanks for sharing your tribute and pics.

[firstcoueswas80]

Apache had it good. I will have a beer in his honor tonight and yours as well.

[bonecollector]

Apache had it good. I will have a beer in his honor tonight and yours as well.

+1 Great tribute

[Mocha1545]

Apache had it good. I will have a beer in his honor tonight and yours as well.

+1 Great tribute

I will also have a beer and a toast to you both! Nice tribute to a great friend. I have also had the pleasure of being trained by a couple of great GSP's.

[COOSEFAN]

Man that makes my eyes water up. Losing a close friend like that is extremely hard and I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. I've got a GSP that is gettin up there in age and bracing myself for that dreaded day. You gave him a great life with lots of love, gotta focus on that and be thankful you had that time with him! Take care, JIM>

[jim]

Sounds like 1 heck of a friend. Awesome stories it's amazing what we go thru with our buddies.

[tjhunt2]

Wow, that was some tribute to your friend. I actually wiped a few tears from my face before replying here. I'm a big softy when it comes to dogs. They certainly give us more than we give them that's for sure. I've lost my share over the years and it doesn't get any easier.

Thanks for sharing that great tribute to Apache with us here.

 

TJ

[Jimmer Negamanee]

Beautifully written. Like others have said, a fitting tribute. He was a good dog. May we all have one like him in our lifetime.