I myself am a dog lover.  My dog means more to me than many people.  I think you need to ask yourself about the quality of your dogs life. Have you brought he or she to the vet to be looked at?  That is the first step, you need an opinion.  If the dog can be helped through medicine that is wonderful.  If not you need to treasure the memories you hold deeply and let them go.  If you were in pain release would be the best thing.  Your dog knows you love him or her, now please show her, because I know you do not want them to be in pain.  I know it is hard, I have lost three dogs I loved deeply and one on Christmas day.  Let your heart lead the way, I know you will make the best choice.

Christmas time is such a bad day for a loss.. I'm sorry.
I already had thought of taking him to the vet. The vet probably won't be able to tell me for sure if he is in pain, but at least I'd know that I did the best thing.
Putting an end to his pain would be a terrible thing to watch.. I just hope it really is a painless process by itself.
Thanks for your support.

Jim, I've buried 6 pets in the last 10 years as they have lived out (and sometimes beyond) their allotted days and the only thing you can go by is their eyes and their quality of life. It's hard, no matter how many times. They tell you when it's time. I am sorry for this sadness. It sounds so much like my Zoe two years ago. You'll know.

That's tough. Animals, specially dogs, they make us so happy with their big mouthed smiles, and they hardly ever get us any problems. It's almost worse than losing a friend.
We've been trying to take the best care of him, the next step is really calling the vet. I hope he goes when I'm not home.
I thank you for your words. I never pictured myself crying for a dog.

Twice now, when both Zoe and Barney had signaled that it was time, our Vet came to the house and it was done with all due and deliberate compassion. Some of the most bitter tears I have ever shed came this past spring for my Corgie Damon, who died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed and asymptomatic form of liver cancer.

 . . .his fleece was white as snow . . . (I'll explain later)

(You better..)

That was a very very private affair...there's not much I can say in the way of explanation!! I replied the nursery rhyme to get the first request out of the box! What a mess!!!

I love the way you write.. no matter what you write, it astounds me.

Thank you, very much . . . you have the soul of a romantic . . . was this inspired by my latest entry?  If so, would you go there, choose a line or two and comment from there . . . after the bruising of an ended love affair, my still tender 'inner man' (and ego) needs the balm of your lavish admiration . . .

Actually, I get astounded by the slightest amount of text written by you.

The tempo imposed by your syllables, the smoothness of each sound, and sometimes, that rarely used word, all combined, gives me a tasteful experience. Not only it sounds so easy too read, but it also has a feeling of charisma to it that makes me want to keep reading.

I can compare that experience to the tasting of a nice bowl of smooth, soft and sweet chocolate mousse. Pleasant in so many ways, that you actually have to close your eyes to feel it all.

Maybe you're right: I'm too romantic.

If you only knew how much I needed everything you just said . . . for you to, in essence, compare me to something as sensuous and scrumptious as "chocolate mousse" . . . something that is orally satisfying . . .ummmmm . . . I'm so jealous of your intended!

Thank you again and again . . .

scrumptious..
that's another one of those words.. so.. exquisite.

I'm sorry your boy is declining.  We have a 12 year old lab who also suffers weakness in the hind legs and sometimes has difficulty getting up, does a lot of groaning when he lays down, etc.  There are medications the vet can prescribe if it is arthitic pain that will greatly improve your dog's quality of life.  It may be something else entirely, but you'll never know if you don't take him in.  It is so hard to watch our pets age and decline.  Wishing you strength to deal with whatever comes...

The vet finally came to our house and saw the dog. Besides the problem with the back legs, he also had a severe heart problem. According to him, it was time to give him some rest. I'm kind of happy that he is no longer in pain, but on the other hand, I wish he hadn't got to go...
Thank you Labsnabys.

I'm so sorry. 

He'll be okay..
**hugs**