I'm so sorry for your loss, and I know it hurts. I lost my 7 year old springer spaniel/best friend/hunting buddy to cancer last Spring... Broke me up so bad I haven't yet got the nerve to get another. All dogs are special and unique, but I think you're only lucky enough to have 1 or 2 in your life that really are like an extension of yourself and when you lose them, it's like your left arm is gone...