Elkhound Odin lost his Powder

[Elkhound Odin]

When we were living in Chestnut Hill, Phila, Joan wanted a fluffy white dog. We found a breeder in NE Phila with a litter of American Eskimo dogs being raised by a couple little girls after the pup’s mother was hit by a car. We selected a middle of the pack pup and named him Powder. He quickly marked Joan as his new mother when he simultaneously puked & pooped on her on the drive home. Powder became a proficient rabbit chaser at our new home in Bucks County, PA. After he caught and killed a bunny, the rest of the rabbits got the message and left our yard for a less stressful environment. Powder spent many days just laying in the grass next to Joan while she tended her flower garden.



We moved to Colorado in 2002 when Powder was 5yrs old. He was a tough dog, or so we thought. His first mountain hike was Mt Audubon. He easily managed the climb up, but on the descent, he refused to come down, he just sat there looking sad with a paw in the air. The top section to the summit was a bit steep & rocky, so I carried him down. When I placed him on the ground I discovered my shirt blood stained and Powder’s paws shredded. Since he could not walk, I put him in my backpack and carried him the 4 miles back to the car. After that, he wore booties.

Powder & Joan on Bierstadt



Powder & Chris on Quandry



Powder enjoyed being outdoors. His most favorite place of all was the dog park at Chatfield State park. Any time we said “dog park”, he was instantly excited and would keep barking until he got in the car. He liked to bark; mostly at people, just to say “HI”. He would always run up to friends and strangers for attention. He especially liked little girls, and they loved touching his soft, fluffy, white coat.

Powder posing in Crested Butte



Powder & Joan taking a nap



As he got older, he still maintained that rabbit hunter spunk. He might have lost a step, but he always gave them a good chase. When he was 10, we were all hiking together near Montezuma, CO and there was a lock of Ptarmigans below the trail in a steep boulder field. Odin and Powder teamed up to hunt them. Odin took the low ground and Powder the high ground. Powder was so excited he jumped 10 feet down into the rocks. The birds easily flew away and somehow Powder managed no injury to himself.

Powder & Odin the Christmas pups



Powder was a vibrant, energetic, happy dog. He always had a smile on his face. He could be stubborn, especially on trail when there was a smell to sniff. He was always friendly to people and dogs he met.

Snow dogs at Rabbit Ears Pass



Powder & Chris resting after a trail race in Kremmling



Yesterday morning I took Odin for a long hike, too long for Powder. When I left, he didn’t seem his usual self, he didn’t want to get up and go out or eat breakfast. Joan looked after him. When I returned, he wasn’t any better. Joan brushed his teeth and saw his gums were completely white. We took him to the vet, after some tests, the vet told us Powder was bleeding in his gut. He thought it was most likely a burst tumor on his spleen. It was heartbreaking to see our once perky, vibrant pup change so radically to dying in a few hours. We went back to the vet to put Powder out of his suffering. Somehow he managed to keep himself alive long enough for us to say goodbye. He died in Joan’s arms without any intervention.

We thought Powder would live to see 18. He seemed ageless, acting at 12 like dogs half his age. Our home and our hearts have an empty place now. There was one less dog to walk this morning.



REST IN PEACE my friend. You were loved and you will be missed.

[corn dog]

vibes for the loss of your fluffy white friend.

sigh

[BmillsSkier]

Serious condolences. Sorry Elkhoundodin for your loss of Powder.

On a related note, Powder looked more like a Samoyed than an American Eskimo, no? Beautiful dog nonetheless and certainly a great friend.

[MMP]

These threads never get any easier to read,

That was a beautiful tribute to your pet.

Condolences

[Danno]

Sorry for your loss.

[montanaskier]

a devastating post. We have a 12 year old spitz, she seems to age every day, is blind, and just not the same dog she used to be. I tear up thinking about the day we'll lose our Kiya. Vibes to Odin, your family, and props to an awesome spitz in Powder.

[jm2e]

Thanks for the post. So sad. So happy you had such a wonderful friend. I'm sorry for your pain and loss.

[DeeAre]

aww man, so sorry for the loss of your pup.

[Elkhound Odin]

On a related note, Powder looked more like a Samoyed than an American Eskimo, no? Beautiful dog nonetheless and certainly a great friend.

There are 3 sizes of Eskies. tiny, miny, and standard. You don't see standards very much as most people like the small versions. Powder was a large standard at 40lbs and often confused for a Samoyed. His lineage had a few UKC grand champions.

[nateski]

no exception, i tear up at these threads every time. vibes to you, and peace to powder's memory. kingston sends doggie vibes.

[peterslovo]

Vibes.

A great tribute to a friend.

[Trainwreck]

Vibes man.

[haydukelives]

I REALLY feel your pain as my 14yo Hayduke died just last week.
Every moment of fun had him in the picture for that time.
I really cannot even allow myself to think about it yet,even though he was old, that did not make it any easier to say goodbye.

[TNKen]

Likewise. All great pups are missed.

[jibij]

I had a rescue-dog in the 80's that looked just like Powder. Great dog. So sorry for your loss.

[pappag]

Awesome looking pup with some touching words and photos. Sad to hear that he won't be around for another winter but at least he wasn't suffering for too long.

[QuikR12]

Ahh, beautiful pup dood. Sorry to see he's gone. Vibes man

[skifishbum]

fuck I hate reading these threads
cool tribute to a cool furkid
vibes sent your way

[Pinner]

What a handsome boy.

Sorry for your loss. It's both a curse and a blessing when they go so quickly.

[Lonnie]

I hate these thread, but they are always some of the best ones here....

Godspeed Powder.

[rideit]

Powder and Zane are tearing it up.
I just know it.

[liv2ski]

These threads never get any easier to read,

That was a beautiful tribute to your pet.

Condolences

That was great tribute. You were a lucky guy to have such a cool dog for 18 years. My tears for your loose. Give Odin a big hung, as I know he is missing Powder too.

[DoWork]

Awesome tribute dude.

It's in this instance that we really have to feel lucky that we had them around, even if it was too short. It never gets easier to say goodbye to such a dear friend, and it's borderline cruel that their lifespans are so much shorter than ours. +++vibes+++

[TBS]

A sad, but wonderful, tribute to Powder. It certainly looks like you and the wife gave him a marvelous life, full of love and adventure...the best a dog can have.

My sincere condolences

[Tippster]

Sorry to hear, mang. At least you have another fur-kid to help you ride out the grief.