What would you do to save your dog?

Yes, in a heartbeat! I would have done the exact same thing... except the duck hunting part.:D
 
Without doubt I would have made the same attempt. I lost my Britt to a bucket trap 1 1/2 years ago. Long story, but for weeks after I buried her, I lived with the guilt that I couldn't save her. I guess it depends on the bonds that we develope with our companions that determine to what extent we would go to. Steve
 
I have and would do it again! you don't even think about it at the time, it is after you wonder what the he!! was I thinking

same scenario as in the article only we were ice fishing
 
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I to have been in that same situation, except I was not duck hunting either. My gsp ran out onto the ice and break through as well. I took a different approach. My dog was a pup when this happened so he didn't weigh much. He made it about 50 60 yards from the shore before he broke through. Looking at the ice I knew it most likely wasn't going to hold. Luckily for me it was just thin enough that I could break it as I swam out to the dog. It was swim a stroke, break the ice, swim a stroke break the ice for about 50 yards. Luckily it was a lake and not a river so no real current to worry about. The whole rest of that winter the dog would freak out if he even stepped on a frozen puddle in the driveway. There were times I had to actually carry him over little tiny frozen creeks that winter because he wouldn't go near them. He got over it well enough though.

This all happened at our hunt club. My dad was up in the clubhouse when I walked in soaking wet and freezing. Talk about catching an earful.
 
Stevegk said:
Without doubt I would have made the same attempt. I lost my Britt to a bucket trap 1 1/2 years ago. Long story, but for weeks after I buried her, I lived with the guilt that I couldn't save her. I guess it depends on the bonds that we develope with our companions that determine to what extent we would go to. Steve
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Steve, A while back I read your post on your Britt and the trap. It was heart breaking. I cannot even imagine what you went through. I appreciate your efforts to bring this problem to light and your talking with your State Representative. I'd like to talk to you some time about your thoughts on changing the wording in Title 34.
 
njp158 said:
I to have been in that same situation, except I was not duck hunting either. My gsp ran out onto the ice and break through as well. I took a different approach. My dog was a pup when this happened so he didn't weigh much. He made it about 50 60 yards from the shore before he broke through. Looking at the ice I knew it most likely wasn't going to hold. Luckily for me it was just thin enough that I could break it as I swam out to the dog. It was swim a stroke, break the ice, swim a stroke break the ice for about 50 yards. Luckily it was a lake and not a river so no real current to worry about. The whole rest of that winter the dog would freak out if he even stepped on a frozen puddle in the driveway. There were times I had to actually carry him over little tiny frozen creeks that winter because he wouldn't go near them. He got over it well enough though.

This all happened at our hunt club. My dad was up in the clubhouse when I walked in soaking wet and freezing. Talk about catching an earful.
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Wow, NJP. What a story!
I don't think it is something you stop, think,plan then go do. You just react.
I enjoyed reading the Wildfowl story, but never thought we would have similar stories here.
Thanks, and I'm glad you and Beaker are here to share.
 
Dive Into Cold Water Rapids?

I was wading in the middle of a western trout stream one day when my buddy yelled, "Sport's drifting toward the rapids!" I turned to see my Brittany being carried in the current toward some white water, the danger of which he was oblivious to. Fortunately, I had taught him hand signals. I gave him one and he paddled straight for shore and pulled himself up on a log. Whew! Close one.
 
A couple of crazy stories, A good reminder to be prepared for the unexpected in those situations.

I can't imagine any way anyone could listen to the dog cry out to you and not go risk yours to save theirs.

Chuck
 
When my female GSP was just a puppy, I took her for a swim at Tuttle Creek lake here in Kansas late in March. She had only been in the water once before, but was a swimming machine. She was swimming up a channel that leads to the flood gates against the current when she started wimpering, and almost crying. The banks in this area were steep rock faces, so I thought she was tired and couldn't find a way to get out.

So, I dive in the water to get her, but she just keeps on swimming - faster than I can swim. She probably swam another 300 yards before reaching the end of the channel and getting out. I later learned that she will at times do this wimpering while swimming out of excitement. Needless to say I nearly froze my ass off trying to swim out of the channel myself! Lesson learned!
 
My sincere respect & admiration to Gary March . . . and River, as well as the rest of you. I have done similar once in the Upper Clark Fork of Montana & would again (tho I never hunted my Labs in flowing water again). My dogs (and I have a new pup coming in May) are my partners, my furry children. I have no doubt that any of them would ever not risk their well-being for me. Unconditional love & devotion deserve such consideration . . .
 
macstevej said:
None the less, would you risk your life to save your dog? This story gets you thinking:

http://www.wildfowlmag.com/destinations/WFnear_tragedy_on_the_pend_oreille_river0510/index.html
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No. Not a chance. My life isn't my own. It belongs to my wife and children just as much as it does me.

I love my dogs dearly. They live in the house with us and are part of the family. But to consider orphaning my children to save one of them. No way. Not a chance. They're dogs, not people.
 
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