Andrew Bolt: Farewell Ralf, you gave us nothing but love

No one reminds you when you get a dog that it’ll tear your heart in just 14 years — they’ll love you without any conditions, like nothing else on earth, which loads you with a great responsibility.

Ralf was proud and no one’s poodle.

All day I see Ralf, but it’s a blink and he’s gone. He’s by the door, waiting to come in. Or he’s lying on the veranda, the breeze from the sea ruffling his regal coat.

And all day I’m wondering why we keep doing it.

No one reminds us when we get a dog that it’s going to tear our heart in just 14 years.

Our youngest chose Ralf. He wanted a Lapphund – reserved, like our son. Even introverted. Kind.

Oh, you should have seen the smile on Dominic’s face when we got Ralf. Dogs tease out your love, right?

We’ve always had dogs, saying there was nothing better to teach our children that the more love you give, the more you get.

Wrong. Your dog will love you without any conditions, like nothing else on earth, which loads you with a great responsibility.

Ralf wasn’t a demonstrative dog, mind. He was proud, and no one’s poodle.

He wouldn’t lick you to win affection. He’d put his big paw on your knee. Pats, please.

It was a front, of course. He’d always sleep by our bed. He adored an ear rub. He’d complain if I left without him.

We knew yesterday would come. When Ralf was young he’d almost yank your arm out of its socket on walks, but last year he couldn’t run. His walks got shorter, and then his back legs would suddenly collapse.

Still, he was happy. He’d bark for his walks, his tail would wag on his return – until the day before yesterday.

He was restless and couldn’t settle. He yelped and panted and wouldn’t eat. He could barely walk. It was time.

What a test of your love. You want him to stay another week, another day, and it’s only your love that lets him leave.

The vet was lovely. She let us take Ralf outside, where she first gave him an injection to make him sleep. He drifted off, rubbed and held by three of us, telling him how much he was adored.

I told myself not to look back as we left his body lying on a blanket, but I had to.

It was a lovely day, so sunny, and a breeze wafted from the fields below. Ralf lay there, in his forever sleep, that breeze once more ruffling his beautiful coat.

He was at peace, but we are not. Fourteen years of love has its price.