well my australian heeler has been my best friend for over 11 years, got her as a puppy at 6 weeks, she was soppoused to be julies dog, but she became mine, i lost her brother Yamaha when he was 4 years old, and if you hav ebeen to my house you have meet Ducati (my heeler) and she has never as so much had a mean bone in her body, or bit anyone to include me, she is getting old and a little fat, and i let her do what she wants, she deserves it, it will tear me apart when she goes, but iam hoping that she has a few more good years in her. so i feel your pain Tim, always sucks, but i hope it gets better!