I’ve been thinking of you often 
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“One of the kindest things you can do, is be gentle and patient with yourself.” Charlie Mackesy ~
Canter On ~ Cat_Tap ~
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Sending a favorable wind (or maybe current) your way as you coast, @Cat_Tap. A little time to reset can be good 
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I didn’t stay till the end with my Ivy kitty. We went into the special room, the vet gave her sleepy juice (she bit him in the process, lol) Then we let her wander and find her safe spot to take a nap. Once she was fully asleep, he took her back to finish the process and I left. I was there till she was sound asleep, but not at the very end. It was a good experience, as far as those things go.
Cat_Tap, you made the right decision. It’s not safe for anyone to have a dog that can’t be trusted 100%. Love and hugs from myself and my pack of mutts.
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Thank you, I now joined their Facebook group. Have been a member of a Bouvier Rescue Group for a long time but they are very few Bouvs needing a home. Keeping my eyes open .
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Can I just say that I “adopted” a retired show dog and it is literally the best decision I made in my entire life? She is an absolute joy - came crate trained, house broken, beautiful manners, absolutely stunning individual and just the best personality. She is a joy to be around and she enriches our life in so many ways. I adore her breeder - we keep in touch - and I even went to a show to support - and got to meet her mother, her two full sisters, and some nieces and nephews - all lovely, healthy, well-bred and emotionally stable animals.
@Cat_Tap it sounds like you have so much on your plate, with your own health and your existing animals. It’s very understandable that it might well be best to give yourself some grace and some time to heal from this experience. But if there comes a time that you may want to consider having another, a mature adult retired show dog is a great option.
Also, maybe consider other related breeds to the Bouvier? For instance, my last dog was a greyhound and I was originally set on adopting another. The dog I ended up with is a retired show whippet. I thought I wouldn’t like having a smaller dog but have since realized it has its own benefits.
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YES! Glad you found a wonderful dog.
To EXCEL in the show ring, a dog needs to have stable, confident temperament. It is VERY difficult for an anxious, insecure dog who isn’t comfortable with people, a noisy environment, and lots of change to really do well as a competitor.
A nervous dog might manage to earn a championship or grand championship, but to keep going on to Bronze grand champion and win in Group, you really need sound temperament. (There are always exceptions to the rule, and sometimes breed-dependent, but they are limited exceptions.) They have to love it and be confident to truly do well at the Group level and so many do, especially when people clap for them! Just watch a veterans class!
A confident, secure dog is an easier dog to live with and makes a better pet than a shy, nervous, spooky, skittish dog.
Plus, they typically have plenty of training and good manners. (Again, there are exceptions! We’re talkin dogs and humans…no absolutes ever.) 
And since the vast majority of show breeders keep a few dogs at a time (frequently around five), placing a retired show dog allows the dog to be center of attention in a retirement home and the breeder has the opportunity to breed for their next show prospect.
Just like a horse that is ready to step down to a rider in a less-demanding discipline or non-competitive situation, some breeders will place an older pup who didn’t turn out for the ring, a dog who doesn’t like showing, doesn’t fit their breeding program, or is ready to retire to a pet home.
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I am keeping this idea in the back of my mind for (if) my mom needs a “next” dog. 
her current pup is around for a good while, tho.
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100%. I made my retired GCH but gosh he’s cool. By 7 months of age he was used to riding in elevators, staying in hotels, being in a convention center with 2,000 dogs, etc.
He’s old and stiff and going blind/deaf but he’s such a rock solid guy. I’ve seen some nervy dogs get through a CH but totally agree that to have a solid group dog they need to sparkle rather thank shrink when the energy goes up.
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Yes, but I think group winning dogs aren’t usually the ones you’ll see on a site like that FB group. In fact, I didn’t really see many actual show dogs being retired but I did just scan it.
If you really want a “retired” show dog (or one that is a washout or just not breeding quality, which is more likely what you’ll find available) - connecting with breeders directly is really the best way. I know lots of breeders that have dogs that aren’t necessarily “retired” but just being replaced for various reasons - just not a good show dog or breeding dog, outgrew the standard, and also - yes - some that can’t handle the show ring and being around other dogs - which is the actual reason they are being rehomed. I’d be wary of people doing it in a FB group like the one posted.
Ask lots of questions, and try to see the dog in person if possible.
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Honestly, a senior dog in need of a home is such a good thing to do. The ASPCA is full of them.
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True! I haven’t spent much time on that fb page, but I know several breeders who have posted or referred there.
Hugs to you @Cat_Tap. There is absolutely nothing wrong with just coasting right now . You have been through a lot and taking some time to heal emotionally and physically is a good thing. I truly believe that when the time is right the right dog will come along.
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And if no dog happens, that is ok too.
I lost my dog of 14 1/2 years three years ago and now in later 70’s, decided for any pet’s sake, I just needed to enjoy other’s dogs now.
To own and care for one now properly and expecting some personal health problems, better just do without.
First time in my life without one.
Also have friends in same situation.
Sure miss my dog terribly, don’t miss the stress of caring for her the last two years of her health problems.
Just play it by ear, you will do ok.
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Take your time. You and your body need it.
The last 4 years were collectively rough and uncertain, Cancer is a massive disruption and chemo sucks (I had cancer 3 years ago, still got the neuropathy to show for it.)
Then my spouse got sick and passed away last year. Yep, I am coasting. If it wasn’t for the animals I would have little reason to get up in the morning.
It is alright to coast! To float, to drift, and not having a solid path in mind.
Many hugs to you. Keep on trucking. When the time is right there will be a new pup in your life.
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I love your post Bluey! I do not have dogs, my dog hating cat ensures that it will never happen, but I have volunteered with rescues in the past . One of my favorites things to do was take shelter dogs out hiking. The dogs loved the one on one attention and the staff appreciated the socialization that the dog got . It was win / win for everyone.
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Whippets are wonderful dogs!
(Of course I’m completely biased… 
)
But yes - a retired show dog - if you can find one! - is a good idea for all of the aforementioned reasons. You really need to network with breeders, though.
Best of luck! I would focus on healing your heart and “re-setting” first, though; you have been through quite a lot and need some physical and emotional rest.
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I’m very sorry to bump an old thread, but @Cat_Tap… I just wanted to commend you on a difficult, but kind, decision. Behavioural euthanasia is one of the kindest gifts we can give an animal, even though it’s excessively difficult for us. By humanely euthanizing him, you released him from the fears and anxieties and everything else that may have caused him to believe his only option was aggression.
A personal story to show you that I truly understand the struggles - My very first Doberman had stuff going on that made him unpredictable. For the first two years of his life, he was absolutely wonderful. Perfect. Never met someone he didn’t love.
Then he turned 2 and it was like a light switch went off in his brain. He would close his eyes and bite. He wasn’t eve present for these instances. We did behavioural training. We saw vets that specialized in dogs like this. He was on multiple medications, including Prozac and Synthroid. It helped a bit, but he was never truly safe. He was muzzled in public. He was crated at home if anyone but me was there. I disabled my doorbell because that would trigger him - he would hear it and start spinning and screaming. There were rules and procedures in place for when people came to visit me - they had to call me while they were still in their vehicle so I could crate him and then walk to their vehicle to get them. It was exhausting.
I managed his life until he was 9 years old and sudden stomach torsion took him from me. He was my best friend and I loved him beyond all belief… but I see now that I probably wasn’t doing him any favours by keeping him with me. Like someone explained to me after the fact - dogs don’t enjoy being so anxious that they feel their only recourse is aggression. They don’t wake up one day and choose violence. It’s not fun for them. Looking back, I wonder if he was suffering from Idiopathic Rage Syndrome and I just got lucky he never hurt me. That doesn’t mean I loved him any less and even though he’s been gone since 2019, I still grieve for him and miss him every single day.
I have two other dobermans now and believe you me, their 2nd birthdays were nerve-wracking for me. But they have never, ever offered even a hint of the struggles my first doberman had. That tell me that, even though there were moments when I blamed myself, that I wasn’t truly to blame for my first dog’s issues and that I didn’t fail him.
Please don’t think you failed him and don’t beat yourself up for not staying with him. Some people absolutely feel the need to stay - I’m one of those people - but I understand that some people just can’t. Dogs don’t have a concept of the future, they just understand the here and now. He was loved in the moments leading up to the final moment. And that is the important part. You loved him as much as possible until his final moments, when you gave him the most loving gift of all - Peace.
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Thank you so much Star Pattern, I am crying right now while typing this. In the past I was able to stay with all my dogs when they had to be euthanized due to old age or illness but this time I couldn’t. It was tearing me up to watch him struggle and fight to the end. I became almost hysterical and quickly ran out of the building.
My trainer and female vet assured me that in the end they were able to stroke him and settle him. This is something that will stay with me forever
Until that day he was the perfect dog, smartest, best trained on and off leash. Loved car rides and visiting stores with me, perfect gentleman towards strangers.
I don’t know if I will ever have another dog, I look at all the posts of dogs needing to be rescued but cannot move past that.
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