Right its time :(

I have booked my dog in tomorrow to be put to sleep. Some of you may remember Ive been struggling with this decision for months now but i think its finally time. He is so sore and old and still loosing control of his bowels quite often plus and this is one of the biggest things, i dont trust him around the kids anymore and we always have other kids over. The other day a wee girl tripped and bumped into him and he yelped and barked it hurt him so much and of course then she started crying cos she thought he was going to bite her and although I dont think he ever would hurt anyone how long till it does happen. Im soooooo sad but it has to be done... everyone keeps telling me how old and bad he looks but i think i just havent been able to see it. What do I tell kobe? Do i tell him the truth or just say that he has gone to live somewhere else?

I'm a strong advocate of telling the truth to kids that age. Even though it's sad, it can sometime eliminate awkward questions later on. I'd be inclined to tell him that the dog is old and ready to die and we are going to take him to the vet blah blah. Not take Kobe though of course. And add that it's going to be a sad day but how about we have ice-creams at dinner time (or some other special thing to look forward to).

It's probably as good a time as any because in a couple of days the kids are going to be swamped with new Christmas presents and that can help them forget.

 Big hugs to you and your family. I agree with everyone else and tell Kobe the truth, kids really do cope with these things really well.

My thoughts are with you also, it's so hard losing a beloved pet

I also would be inclined to tell the truth just in as nice a way as possible.

Big hugs to you.

oh robyn!    i'm in tears

i know you've struggled to make this decision for a while now and even though it doesn't make it any easier, it does sound like he's really miserable and ready to end his suffering.

will be thinking of you tomorrow hun!

bug fat hugs to you all

Lots of to you all today.
It sounds like you are doing him a kindness by letting him go, as sad and difficult as it is for you.
Thinking of you xx

Big hugs, how upsetting for you and your family. You are doing the right thing, but I know that doesn't make it any easier.

Big hugs, that is so sad. I would strongly advocate telling the truth. Children are often more robust with this than we would think, and even if upset they tend to become almost more inquistative about it all after a while.

Just take care with the language, like Lizzle says. If you emphasise him being sick then kids can worry every time they get sick that they will die. Say something like, when animals get very very old their bodies stop working so well. Our dog's body stopped working and he has died. His spirit is in heaven (if you have this belief) or, we can look at pictures of him and always remember how special he was and how much we loved him. Do you have any questions you want to ask me Kobe?

Don't say he has been put to sleep as it can give kids nightmares about sleeping, and noone needs a sleep problem!

We had to put our Lab down back in September and we just told Blair the truth, he new Clyde was sick and getting old and we just made him cross and when my husband had buried him we took him to see where he was buried and he was fine with it.
I guess like adults, children have there own way of coping with things like this, in saying that Blair was 5 and Kobe is only 3 1/2, but i would go with the truth, good luck with it :)