Pepper, a long full life

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Pepperdog

Pepperdog

Adult Guinea Pig
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On monday the 21st May we said goodbye to my wonderful pepper, she was 15(ish, possibly a little older) and her body was failing her, life was a struggle even though she still refused to admit it and tried to carry on as normal, we felt that it was unfair to keep her going any longer especially as I suspect she had a mini stroke or some kind of seizure the weekend before, her past minor issues with her brain and oxygen levels to it was just not something I wished to gamble on in the future, I did not want her to have any more if this was the start of them, better a week or month too soon and not suffering than later on.

It has been very empty here without my boo, the hardest was the weekend when I would put her on the bed for cuddles with the OH while I got ready for work. The pigs have even been unsettled as I am not going outside for toilet breaks, no shouts for grass from them and they have been quiet except the boy silver in the herd, he has decided to find his voice but that is another story.

I am desperate for another hound in this place but have to wait till I know what is going on with my health first, even though I have not been for any walks with her for over a year, maybe even 2 years for what we used to do, I have really missed this as well as teaching her new things, having fun with toys and just having a dog about I am looking forward to starting again when I can, but just wish of course I could roll back time and enjoy the time I had all over again but I cant.

I havent managed to watch any of our dances, I can remember them all to well and the times I tried (and failed) to win obedience competitions, the long walks and the agility days we did. Some photos to celebrate her fun times

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And what we did manage to pack in, well....

First ever kennel club companion dog club "pup idol" competition - made it to earls court for finals but not into finals
first ever wag and bone show competition again shortlisted but never made to finals (both out of thousands of entries)
lurcher racing till she was 6 - for fun, retired her because she kept cheating by barging the other dogs, ran solo till 2 years ago
many dog shows - well over 200 rosettes from 3rd-1st, some best in shows too
tried flyball but she kept cheating by nicking the ball out the holder
tried agility which she loved but couldnt do the sea saw
after failed obedience comps, went solo and did our dancing demos to promote rescues, 5 dances a year, each one a different tune
4 years of helping at 2 day lurcher fundraiser
13 years of ambassador for lurchers and greyhounds for as many rescues as possible
learnt clicker training and then taught others how to do it
and lots of other things I cant remember at the moment.
 
oh blimey I'm sobbing now, i feel your pain sweetheart, even though ive never even met you or Pepper you know i have shown a lot of interest in her, she was a beautiful girl.

I'm so sorry you lost her and are feeling it, but I'm so happy you both had a wonderful time together.

Rip beautiful Pepper, hope you are having lots of fun over the bridge and are causing lots of mischief x
 
thank you.

though the years of having her we attended a lot of dog shows and rescue fundraising events, this lead me to then become part of forum and social media life, opening my world up to even more people. I am so shocked by not only how many people have met (and fell in love with her, she was able to gain adoring fans easily) her, but those who only saw photos of the vids of her understood just how special she was.

I know all our pets are special but there is such a thing as a heart dog, these dogs come along a few times in peoples lives and bring much much more than others, its hard to explain without making it sound like she was something extra special above others, well she was a heart dog and one of this rare club of heart dogs. She was extra special and truely one in a million, her legacy she has left behind is beyond words, the dogs she met and helped - yes she was a fantastic teaching dog to others who needed her wisdom and worldy wise experience, the rescues she met and helped to bring out of their shells, the dogs in the parks she taught good manners and playing together politely to, also the ones she rather embarrasingly barged during racing (norty girl).

Two examples of her special ways. In the first year with her I took her to training classes, it was the beginning of what went on to be a long training session all her life as we both enjoyed out days out. There was a rescue pointer who was very shut down and withdrawn, after 3 weeks of coming to class he took a shine to pepper and started to invite play with her, this sparked a change in him and he then relaxed at home and over time became a lovely happy dog. He loved her loads and she helped him out of his shell because she just did that with dogs.

Then more recently, another rescue, a little yorkie that my friend adopted and it was a fun day with agility. We had tried to teach him to jump over my home made jumps at home but he just didnt want to, seemed very unsure about it. So as pepper was going round with me and this yorkie as she would get tired but loved to have at least a few goes at the course and I got her to jump the jump first, then somehow managed to persuade him to jump over with pepper - I trusted her to know where he was and not squash him, after two goes with pepper, he then went over by himself. We then moved onto the tunnel and I attached her lead to him, called her through and then shortly after him, two practice runs and again he did it on his own. Whatever pepper did, he copied and he was a brilliant agility dog loving every minute of it.

She really did touch so many lives and people and dogs alike, I forgot she was for the first 2 years a therapy dog that visited an old peoples home each week, she did a fabulous job till I had to move and we couldnt visit the home any longer as it was another county away.
 
I really am so very sorry for your loss. I know how much you loved Pepper and how special she was to you.
 
Oh no :(

Pepper was a one in a million, such a special doggie. We are both so sorry for your loss, I know how special she was to you and that has always come across whenever you have shared stories and photos of her on this forum. A lovely moving tribute to Pepper. Massive hugs to you and lots of love.

RIP Pepper
x x
 
I was so sad to see your news. Sweet dreams lovely Pepper. I really am so so sorry.
 
What a moving tribute to a very special doggie...Sleep tight lovely Pepper....x
 
I am very sorry that you have lost your friend.

RIP Pepper
 
Thank you for sharing your stories about her. She was a beautiful girl, and was clearly very well loved. Pepper lived a full life, and undoubtedly enjoyed every day of it xx
 
oh gosh, what a tribute. Thank you for caring for her so well, and even at the end putting your baby's feelings and care above your own pain. She will wait for you over the Bridge, you will be together again one day. x
 
Oh I am so sorry for your loss :(

My 15 year old dog is struggling too with heart and kidney failure and I don't think he has long left. My heart really goes out to you,

hugs

xx
 
Oh I am sorry to hear this, I know how much you loved Pepper. I'm honored I got to meet her and have her sit on my feet. Sending you a big hug x
 
Beautiful girl, so sorry you have lost her x
 
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