kozmic
Member
A little over 11 years ago my wife and two young boys and I had made a trip to the Lake George area of northern NY to look at a litter of Gordon Setters. We had gotten an English Setter from the same breeder 2 years earlier (she was a wonderful dog and a true kind soul). We had the pick of the litter and were eyeing a male. Darby was by far the largest of 8 pups. We all we fell in love and three weeks later we schlepped back up (5 hours each way) to pick up our newest ward. He dwarfed his stablemates, in fact when we picked him up we weighted a staggering 13 lbs and the next largest pup was 10 pounds!
When he matured he was off the AKC "Gordon Standard" chart by over an inch at the shoulders and by about 12 pounds. He was a very solid 88-92 pound for most of his life. Still a perfect proportional specimen by all standards with a set of jowls that would make any blood hound envious. They were a most impressive 4-1/2 inches from the top of his snout to the end of those flappy drool dispensers.
It's a good thing Darby wasn't used as a hunting dog because he would have never earned his keep. One of us was pretty stupid and I'm quite sure it wasn't him. It was eventually clear to me the art of retrieval was beneath him. Instead he was a talented and amazingly opportunistic thief. He was a bottomless pit and would eat anything at any time. We had 3 large wood and aluminum gates fabricated to keep him out of parts of the house. Particularly the kitchen. The "extra" items that were picked up in the pooper-scooper in my front yard were mind boggling. Saying the phrases "how the hell did he get that"? or more impressively "how the hell did he pass that"? or even "oh, so that's what happen to that" were all fairly common.
Darby made it clear who was master of the kingdom to both the human and four-legged family members. He was a fierce defender of our house and it's occupants. He was friendly to those whom we were friendly. Those who were left unattended in our home got a bump and a "I'm eyeballin' you" stare. He instinctively knew the status of all guests here and more importantly, they his. Strangely, the exception to this was my S-I-L whom he unapologetically hated 24/7. I suppose it's possible that the positive reinforcement he got from me might have somehow fostered that attitude! Coming up or down our road whether by vehicle or afoot received a series of barks at the door or window until one of us acknowledged his sighting and told him he was a "good boy" and to "stand down".
Ironically, Darby was also the biggest baby ever. It was embarrassing. He would hide when the nail clippers or brush came out. He would cry and run at the mere mention of a bath. He despised his ears being cleaned or even having his muddy feet wiped down. He would go rogue if he thought there was any matter of hygiene or treatment in his future. Dingleberry maintenance? Yeah, forget about it! That was one ***ty job in every sense of the word!
He was affectionate but in 11 years he never gave anyone (even me) a tongue-bath kiss. He would rub his muzzle on you but "no tongue". He enjoyed lying on the floor by us but would rather lumber into a chair with you, curl into a ball and pretend he could somehow fit on your lap although there were various dog parts hanging out all over the place. He would lay there until you literally shoved him off. The resulting drool spill was suitable for a haz mat team clean-up crew.
Darby had his health issues over the years. I'm quite sure I put our vet's daughter through college. But always quickly bounced back to his quirky self. Sadly, no one has yet found a way to bounce back from old age. His health had started to fail as of late and in the past two weeks he really crashed hard. It became obvious that Darby was nearing his earthy end.
My youngest and I dug a suitable hole in our back yard pet cemetery on Sunday and Monday morning Darby took his last trip to the vet. He humanely passed surrounded by those who he gallantly protected and unconditionally loved for his entire life. His failing body was only slightly less limp when I carried him into the vet than it was when I carried him out.
Darby had a proper and dignified burial and is now in a prime location overlooking his kingdom and with his brothers and sisters who passed on before him.
Thanks for letting me eulogize my best buddy for the past 11 years. I'm sorry for the length and for not posting pictures. I had really hoped to figure out that process be his passing. I will though.
RIP Darbs. You did yourself proud my friend.
When he matured he was off the AKC "Gordon Standard" chart by over an inch at the shoulders and by about 12 pounds. He was a very solid 88-92 pound for most of his life. Still a perfect proportional specimen by all standards with a set of jowls that would make any blood hound envious. They were a most impressive 4-1/2 inches from the top of his snout to the end of those flappy drool dispensers.
It's a good thing Darby wasn't used as a hunting dog because he would have never earned his keep. One of us was pretty stupid and I'm quite sure it wasn't him. It was eventually clear to me the art of retrieval was beneath him. Instead he was a talented and amazingly opportunistic thief. He was a bottomless pit and would eat anything at any time. We had 3 large wood and aluminum gates fabricated to keep him out of parts of the house. Particularly the kitchen. The "extra" items that were picked up in the pooper-scooper in my front yard were mind boggling. Saying the phrases "how the hell did he get that"? or more impressively "how the hell did he pass that"? or even "oh, so that's what happen to that" were all fairly common.
Darby made it clear who was master of the kingdom to both the human and four-legged family members. He was a fierce defender of our house and it's occupants. He was friendly to those whom we were friendly. Those who were left unattended in our home got a bump and a "I'm eyeballin' you" stare. He instinctively knew the status of all guests here and more importantly, they his. Strangely, the exception to this was my S-I-L whom he unapologetically hated 24/7. I suppose it's possible that the positive reinforcement he got from me might have somehow fostered that attitude! Coming up or down our road whether by vehicle or afoot received a series of barks at the door or window until one of us acknowledged his sighting and told him he was a "good boy" and to "stand down".
Ironically, Darby was also the biggest baby ever. It was embarrassing. He would hide when the nail clippers or brush came out. He would cry and run at the mere mention of a bath. He despised his ears being cleaned or even having his muddy feet wiped down. He would go rogue if he thought there was any matter of hygiene or treatment in his future. Dingleberry maintenance? Yeah, forget about it! That was one ***ty job in every sense of the word!
He was affectionate but in 11 years he never gave anyone (even me) a tongue-bath kiss. He would rub his muzzle on you but "no tongue". He enjoyed lying on the floor by us but would rather lumber into a chair with you, curl into a ball and pretend he could somehow fit on your lap although there were various dog parts hanging out all over the place. He would lay there until you literally shoved him off. The resulting drool spill was suitable for a haz mat team clean-up crew.
Darby had his health issues over the years. I'm quite sure I put our vet's daughter through college. But always quickly bounced back to his quirky self. Sadly, no one has yet found a way to bounce back from old age. His health had started to fail as of late and in the past two weeks he really crashed hard. It became obvious that Darby was nearing his earthy end.
My youngest and I dug a suitable hole in our back yard pet cemetery on Sunday and Monday morning Darby took his last trip to the vet. He humanely passed surrounded by those who he gallantly protected and unconditionally loved for his entire life. His failing body was only slightly less limp when I carried him into the vet than it was when I carried him out.
Darby had a proper and dignified burial and is now in a prime location overlooking his kingdom and with his brothers and sisters who passed on before him.
Thanks for letting me eulogize my best buddy for the past 11 years. I'm sorry for the length and for not posting pictures. I had really hoped to figure out that process be his passing. I will though.
RIP Darbs. You did yourself proud my friend.
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