Ode to Maude, A Very Michigan Dog
Mates,
Today we had to say good-bye to our 14 ½ yr old maize (not yellow) lab named Maude. Any dog owner will tell you that is a sad day and because our K-9 companions are much more short-lived than we are, nearly all dog owners know how that feels. Maude was our family dog whom all the kids had grown up with and who proudly displayed her blue 'M Go Blue' collar every day of her life.
Beyond the collar and her natural maize color, Maude was named after one of the first women to ever graduate from U of M back in the 1800's, and first of 5 generations of our family (so far) to attend our favorite school. Yes, Maude was a Michigan dog. Maude was sweet, beautiful, and wicked smart. On the farm all of the animals must have a job. Maude's job was technically as a bird hunter, which she did well. But Maude had other talents: She amazed us in a pinch and turned out to be a tremendous sheep herding dog. She was very helpful tracking deer, too. Beyond that, she was as sweet of a family dog as you could ever want. So sweet that if you had wanted to burglarize our farm, she would've licked the burglar's hand and opened the door for him if she could. 'Guard dog' was not in her repertoire.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/egwvrqFGn9s634kv7
Loved by the kids, able to roam free on the farm, but she couldn't outrun father time. Her elder years were less active, but she never lost her sweetness and I'm pretty sure she could've knocked out a decent SAT score if asked. Late this summer she started losing weight and just wasn't 'right'. You all know what that means. We took her in to the vet who told us cancer was there. So just before the ohio game she had a 5 lb tumor taken out of her. Not a typo. 5 lbs. We knew her time was short but at least she got to watch another ohio beatdown with all of us. She recovered quickly, periscoped up in her health, but time was short. After the New Year she stopped eating even when her favorite things and 'people food' was offered, time was indeed short.
Dogs aren't as important as kids, but man, they sure are important. They have an intellect, loyalty, and emotion that surpass all other animals. They attach to you, love you, want to help if they can, and we've all heard tales of dogs crossing states to find their masters. So when you watch your beautiful pup go from 85 lbs of exuberant health to 39 lbs of struggling sweetness, it pulls on your heart. Knowing what was coming we took turns sitting with her this weekend, and all the kids came home to do the same. We petted her, tried to feed her what she might be interested in, but we knew...time was very, very short.
And today, that time ended. I buried her just before sunset in a driving rain up on a hill overlooking the farm. The kids call that place 'Plymouth Plantation' and they have spent many a day up there, shaded by tall maple trees, building forts and playing with Maude. I thought she'd want to keep a watch on us.
Life really is a miracle, much more than subatomic particles and electricity. Things like the personalities of your pup can't be accounted for in a chemistry lab. Enjoy what life you have and those around you, including your dogs. And I don't know if there'll be dogs in heaven, I'll save that discussion for some other forum and theological debate, but I can tell you that I sure hope they are.
I know you love your pup(s) and you've lived through these same things. And your Michigan dog is (or was) every bit as wonderful. It's just that today, today was the day ours departed.
Go Maude, Go Blue. Our hearts are heavy, but we are all nevertheless grateful to have had Maude, a very Michigan dog.
XM
January 16th, 2023 at 8:07 PM ^
Rest in peace, sweet, sweet Maude.
January 16th, 2023 at 8:18 PM ^
I'm not crying.
... actually, yes I am.
Beautiful diary, XM. I've been there a few times where you are today.
There's simply no companionship in this world that exactly matches the companionship of a good dog. All the forms of human companionship occasionally/often(?) involve deep disagreement, arguments, tension, etc mixed in with the love and friendship and other human qualities.
But, as I'm sure all dog's best friends will agree, there's something unique about the loyalty involved when a pooch teams up with their favorite human. I don't think I would trade the dogs that have been part of my life for practically anything else in the world.
May your Maude rest in peace and in your and your family's hearts.
January 16th, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^
you are such a champ (and a techno wizard). thank you so much for embedding that picture of maude in the body of the OP. that was our dear pup just before football season this year.
January 16th, 2023 at 8:29 PM ^
Great tribute, XM. Thanks for writing it and sharing it.
Not looking forward to the day my wife's 13-year-old dog Poppy the Puppy crosses that rainbow bridge. Not as smart nor as diversely talented as Maude, to be sure, but she was an excellent companion for my wife and is now for me.
Blessings to you and your family as you move forward from this sad day.
January 16th, 2023 at 8:31 PM ^
oh crud, rendezvous, i thought of you as i wrote this. burying a sweet dog is an emotional day for the family, but what you went through with mrs. rendezvous 14 weeks ago, well, that is a nuclear bomb compared to small arms fire. blessings to you and the strength you muster each day to put one foot in front of another.
January 16th, 2023 at 8:43 PM ^
This line really got me: “ I buried her just before sunset in a driving rain up on a hill overlooking the farm.”
I’m so sorry. Rest in peace, Maude.
January 18th, 2023 at 9:46 AM ^
That's the way it should be with the weather aligned with your heart. There will be some good weather days up on the hill in the future.
January 16th, 2023 at 8:45 PM ^
My cousin’s 17 year old dog, Sasha, died last week, as did my friend’s 11 year old dog, Vanilla. Even dog deaths come in threes. Sorry for your loss.
January 18th, 2023 at 9:53 AM ^
17 years wow that’s incredible. Bravo Sasha.
January 16th, 2023 at 9:24 PM ^
Beautiful tribute to a loving dog. Had a shepherd mix back in the 70’s that we adopted from the Ann Arbor Humane Society. We used to theorize she was conceived on the Diag, where dogs ran loose in those days. I think of her still from time to time. As I always said, she was the only living being who was always happy to see me.
January 16th, 2023 at 9:47 PM ^
Someone cutting onions? Or is it just me?
We are on our 4th Golden retriever with two other mixed companions along the way as we now double up since we cannot go 4 days without this companionship. I consider my dogs more important than most people I have known. No knock on the people just that much unmatched love from the dogs.
So sorry for your loss but glad you have the memories. To not have had them would be what's sad.
January 19th, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^
Yeah, seriously. This post should come with a Tears Warning. What a beautiful tribute to what sounds like an amazing dog. Thank you for sharing.
January 16th, 2023 at 9:53 PM ^
Sorry for your loss, XM. When I read this, of course it brings us back to the loss of all of our precious furry companions. I was thinking of mine. I still call him even though...well you know. God Bless.
January 16th, 2023 at 10:13 PM ^
Your story made me think of Maggie’s Song by Chis Stapleton. Here’s a particularly relevant excerpt to your experience:
…I had a revelation
As the tractor dug a hole
I can tell you right now
That a dog has a soul
And I thought to myself
As we buried her on the hill
I never knew me a better dog
And I guess I never will…
We have a 2 year old dog with lymphoma. Chemo treatments for the last 6 months. She’s doing exceptionally well, but it is only a matter of time. Enjoy dogs and your human loved ones while you can.
January 16th, 2023 at 10:18 PM ^
had never heard of that song but wow, talk about accurate right down to driving one of the tractors out to plymouth plantation to dig the hole.
January 16th, 2023 at 10:46 PM ^
I lost my dog the fall I went to Michigan. I thought I didn't feel bad when I heard because I didn't sense a strong reaction. Days later, writing a friend a letter and thought I'd write a word or two about Skipper and then couldn't stop crying.
Sorry for your loss. Here's a tribute, light-hearted and heavily felt.
Ode in the mode
To not odd Maude
Work to cease
Best rest in peace
January 16th, 2023 at 10:54 PM ^
That is a very touching post XM. My best friend has always had Labs so I have spent a lot of time with them. Where they go doesn't matter, they are a gift to us while they are here.
January 16th, 2023 at 11:22 PM ^
Oh man, I’m so sorry to hear that, XM. There’s something special about the comfort we get from our dogs and other pets and I’m sure she felt that same comfort when you and your family were with her in those moments.
Blessings and peace to you and your family. Rest in peace, Maude.
January 17th, 2023 at 12:06 AM ^
RIP, Maude. Run free OTRB
Sorry for your loss, but thank you for sharing. She's beautiful.
January 17th, 2023 at 12:14 AM ^
My sincerest condolences XM. I get it.
I lost my russian blue or more like a cat-dog, a friend and member of the family a true Prince. I'll never have another like him. It's been 4 years and there's still a hole there that makes me think about him almost everyday. He watched Michigan Games with me no matter how much I yelled at the TV. Not normal and silly, I realize, but has a memorial stone and tree planted where I buried him.
So sorry for your loss.
January 17th, 2023 at 1:06 AM ^
Sorry Coach. My few dogs taught me about never ending loyalty, devotion, and too brief loving companionship. When they leave us, they leave a huge hole in your heart. I am genuinely sorry you lost her.
Peace.
Be well.
January 17th, 2023 at 8:53 AM ^
My sympathy, XM, and thank you for the poignant reminder of how much our pets have warmed our hearts over the years. Each further loss, however, feels more emotionally painful. Another side-effect of aging? Ours as well as theirs?
I recently scanned some slides taken many years ago, and loaded them onto my computer where they now rotate as the background image. Among them are pictures of our beloved Irish wolfhound, who won a special place in the hearts of all my family. Indeed, it was the experience of caring for him in his dying days, while my wife and I were on sabbatical leave, that launched my younger son on his career as a veterinarian.
With the passage of time, the pain of loss does diminish, fortunately.
But the love lives on. (Did I mention that one grows more emotional with age?)
We have much to be grateful for, and those memories are a gift.
Take care.
January 17th, 2023 at 8:31 PM ^
great stuff: wolf-hound (big!), son = vet, and yeah, we get a bit more sentimental as we age.
January 17th, 2023 at 9:20 AM ^
What a great tribute,Thanks for posting the pic.Dogs are great companions and friends.They are great judges of character.
January 17th, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
Blessings to your family. Tough time.
January 17th, 2023 at 9:39 AM ^
I’m sorry XM. What a beautiful tribute.
January 17th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
Beautifully written. Sorry for your loss. I dread this day for my aging golden.
January 17th, 2023 at 12:41 PM ^
Someone way wiser than me said this, every word of it is so true.
"Every time I lose a dog, they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog that comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all of the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and as loving as they are"
Having had some awesome dogs in my lifetime I know exactly how you feel and I'm shedding tears for you and your family as I write this. 14 years isn't long enough RIP Maude, I'm sure she's running and playing on the otherside of the Rainbow Bridge waiting to be reunited with her family.
January 17th, 2023 at 2:55 PM ^
XM, I did not want to open this diary because I knew what it was about. I am very sorry for your loss. I know one day, hopefully far in the future, that we will have to go through the same with Percy, our Yorkie/Silkie mix. It is remembrances like this that make me enjoy the fleeting time with him being a "pain in my ass" even more. (Percy has a profound sense of when the most dramatic part of a movie or game is and then have the strongest urge ever to use the bathroom... or go smell something for 20 minutes in the furthest corner of the yard). Dogs are truly a gift to the world. Rest in peace, Maude.
January 17th, 2023 at 3:04 PM ^
Well said, XM. As someone who is struggling with a 13 year old cat who is losing weight quickly, this piece resonates with me. I'm sorry for your loss.
January 17th, 2023 at 4:34 PM ^
So sorry to hear about Maude. We lost our 15 1/2 year old chocolate lab, Buster, a couple of months ago so i know how hard it is to let go. He grew up with our kids, too, and was a fellow sibling to them, always game for any adventure. Maybe Maude and Buster can meet at the great and plentiful dog buffet in the sky and then chase tennis balls around when they're done stuffing themselves with anything that's edible (or half-edible in Buster's case).
January 17th, 2023 at 8:24 PM ^
love chocolates. you were exactly where we were this past couple of months. and yeah, it only takes a smidge of imagination to see buster and maude running in the pasture, tongues hanging out.
January 17th, 2023 at 4:45 PM ^
If all my dogs don't come back to me in heaven I'm not goin.
Sorry for your loss. 14-1/2 is a pretty good run for labs. Took me 6 yrs to get another pup after having 2 of mine pass over a couple years with roughly same life span as Maude. Struggled mightitly with the right name. My list went from 20 to 5 to 10 to 15 to 5 to 20. Friends and fam were really bugging me about it. Got her late Sept of 2021 at a couple months old. A few weeks before - The Game - I knew I had it. If we beat Ohio her name would be Maizie. Haven't lost to em since. She wears a Michigan collar. And yes she has very much maize coloring on her chest and face. Her breed is an AMMMM (American Maybe Mexican Michigan Mutt). Who due to her place in So Cal may never set paw in Michigan but ya never know.
January 17th, 2023 at 8:30 PM ^
great line: If all my dogs don't come back to me in heaven I'm not goin.
another great line: And yes she has very much maize coloring on her chest and face. Her breed is an AMMMM (American Maybe Mexican Michigan Mutt).
as a former socal resident, i get it. and i bet maizie is one of those uber-healthy, uber-smart mutts.
January 17th, 2023 at 6:01 PM ^
So sorry to hear of your loss XM.
RIP Maude 🙏
My wife and I love dogs, especially maize labs. They are one of the best breeds for sure 🤗.
My daughter had to put down her Olivia back in November. She was 15 and a half years old. She is the tan one in my avatar picture. She is extremely missed by all.
January 17th, 2023 at 8:21 PM ^
a group 'thank you' for all the folks that commented last night and today. very kind of you guys. all of us K-9 owners have a bond with our pups and know the pain of losing them. it'll be a while until i stop looking for maude in the normal places she would be in the house, noticeably absent, or wonder why her bowls aren't in the boot room anymore. i'm hating that feeling right now.
January 17th, 2023 at 11:09 PM ^
XM...thanks for sharing. It's the day we sign up for everytime we welcome another sweet pup into our lives.
My avatar is Holly when she was about 8 mos. old. That pic was taken in front of Community High School, just south of Zingerman's and across the street from the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market.
She just turned 12. The jersey still fits her, and she has proudly worn it for many games. After "shake", the next thing I taught her was "High Five", and we've been doing a lot of those over the past couple of seasons.
Two repaired ACL's, cancer surgery, ear hematomas, and enough vet bills to have put her through UM (even with out-of-state tuition). We've moved to Texas, so she's enjoying laying by the pool more than she ever enjoyed lingering out in the snow of Michigan. But she runs the beach in Mackinaw City every summer, and she'll one day join Emily and Chloe, who's ashes are buried underneath the tree by the beach that they all loved to run.
I knew I'd need a kleenex or two when I saw the title... and, if there ain't dogs, it's the wrong Heaven.
God Bless you...and Maude.
January 18th, 2023 at 6:19 AM ^
pretty, pretty pup. glad she is enjoying texas. i will say our maude preferred the cool/cold weather and even this winter would go outside and simply lay down in the snow.
January 18th, 2023 at 9:45 AM ^
Thanks for sharing XM. Our family dog is going through slow congestive heart failure. 14 1/2 year old miniature labradoodle. Such a sweet dog it’s hard to watch. They are family.
January 18th, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
My condolences, XM. Losing a member of the family—and dogs are—is a tough thing to deal with.
A little over a week ago we had to put down our 14-year old cat due to issues stemming from ongoing kidney failure. She's now permanently resting in our back yard.
About ten years ago, we had to put down our Chocolate because of a recurrence of an aggressive cancer that we'd put the poor guy through radiation in order to stop. His last couple of years were not good; he was never the same after the radiation therapy, and the cancer came back anyhow.
January 18th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
Sorry for your loss.
Dogs give us so much more than we deserve.
January 18th, 2023 at 1:59 PM ^
sorry to hear this my friend. 14 1/2 is a good run for a big dog, but even at that, never long enough.
No one has had a more loyal companion, than a good dog. A person could be so down on their luck, as to not be able to afford to feed their K9 companion.... that dog will wander off and find something to eat and come back..... The loyalty of a dog is second to none.
I'm sure Maude's trip across the rainbow bridge was joyous, healthy and fit..
Wishing peace to the XM family as they cherish the years of memories made with that four legged, furry piece of the family.
January 18th, 2023 at 3:53 PM ^
thanks booted, and agreed. you would know re: k-9's, too, with your super duper bird dog. she is a beauty.
January 18th, 2023 at 2:50 PM ^
Condolences, I dread the day when our dog dies. Truly part of the family
January 18th, 2023 at 5:34 PM ^
I held off on reading this because I knew what it'd be about and didn't have it in me to vicariously relive that. The best part of my day is getting home from work, plopping down for a nap and having our Chihuahua mix Billie jump up and burrow under the covers to curl up against me.
We suddenly lost our Maltese Scampy of a weak heart the Tuesday before 42-27 and I still remember how... surreal it was to watch, expecting the same result as the previous eight times, not ready to cheer about *anything*, and then finally allowing myself to feel a trickle, a drip, and then a cascade of exultation and joy even as I was still in mourning for Scampy.
My condolences to your family on the passing of your sweet Maude. I know you must have loved her and that she returned it a hundredfold.
January 18th, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^
XM - Thank you for posting. Great thoughts. I share many of them.
We lost an 8-year old chocolate lab in 2020. She kept looking at me for that last month as if to say don't worry, this is the plan. I kept looking back as if to say, the hell it is, let's go to the vet. Nope, that was the plan. Eight good years and good-bye. I didn't handle it well. So . . . after a long pause, I now have a 5-month-old chocolate lab and my plan is get ready for that day we have to part every day so that I am ready for it.
January 19th, 2023 at 5:22 PM ^
I can understand how difficult that is. No one in the world loves us as much as our dogs do.
I have a yellow lab who is 3. Since he was 6 months old (when covid got going) I started walking him 3-4 times a day, playing frisbee, etc. I figure that's the best way to plan for that day. The day our puppies are gone we can say we maximized our time together.
Thank you XM for posting this. I literally got up out of my chair and took mine for a walk right when I finished reading this. What you wrote was very well said, and I'm sorry for your loss of a family member.
January 19th, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
Sorry man. Been there and it hurts.
January 20th, 2023 at 3:04 AM ^
R.I.P. Maude
Here's a dance in her honor:
January 20th, 2023 at 6:15 AM ^
One the more famous gun dog writers, might have been Bill Tarrant, posed the question (I paraphrase), "why is God so cruel as to give dogs so short a life that we must watch them die?" His answer: "so we can meet more of them".
Beautiful piece. Sounds like Maude had a great life XM, but still sorry for your loss. And yes, dogs, especially labs, are the absolute best. Eddy (ours) spent his weekend insisting on fetching dummies from the very chilly Au Sable then later wrapping himself in provided bedding.
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