I'm sorry for your loss. It really is like losing a family member. I had to put our German Sheperd to sleep about 7 years ago.
My wife took the kids to her folks and I got the job to take Brandy to the vet. She was a big dog and they had to use 2 shots to put her down. When she died, her tongue was sticking out of her mouth. The vet tried pushing it in, but couldn't do it. I found it pretty appropriate that her tongue was out. That's the way she was. She was always kissing us. My oldest learned to walk by pulling himself up on her. She was very patient for being such a big dog. She did get her revenge one time though.
I was laying on the couch and she was laying next to it. My son crawled over and she sat up. He grabbed her fur and pulled himself up. When he turned to walk away, Brandy reached out with her paw and pushed him over. She turned to me with those puppy dog eyes that seemed to say, "Please don't be mad, I just HAD to do it."
My son was unphased and toddled off to play. Damn, I miss that dog.
