Baden's dad/mom
What a wonderful thing that Baden is showing himself so often to you and your dad. I, too, heard my Gretta's feet walking in our long hallway. Three days after she went home, I did have a dream - about a spirit dog. This dog appeared between Gretta's food/water bowls and the credenza behind them (about 8 inches max. The spirit dog was a golden retriever - not the same as Gretta (a chocolate lab). This dog just jumped behind the bowls, hopped about 1 foot and disappeared. In my heart I believe this was Gretta's way of telling me she was OK - but she knew it would be unbearable if she herself appeared. SO she either took on a new appearance or sent someone else.
I, too, am sleeping on Gretta's dog bed. She was an older dog (12.5) so about two years ago I got her the softest, most supportive bed in the Drs Foster and Smith catalog. Thank you for letting me know that I am NOT crazy - just, as you say, traumatized.
How are you and you dad doing now? One thing we newly grieving (especially first-time grievers like me) need to know is what is this like after 2 months? 3 months? six months? a year? Right now these long times seem like horrible impossibilities. But We know they are real and, God-willing, we will experience them. Baden must have been / be a wonderful dog to be so loved by you and your dad. Have you posted any pictures of him? (I'm a true computer illiterate so I probably just haven't looked in the right place.)
I hope your days are less pain-filled, that they are sunny and gentle, and that we'll all see each other in the perfect World.
Gretta's mom
QUOTE (Baden @ Apr 30 2011, 02:57 PM)

Hi there-
I havent been on here in a while. I have been dealing with my own grief with the loss of my dog. Sometimes its too hard for me to come to this site. But, I check it now and then and saw this topic. After Baden passed, my Dad was with me. He swore he saw his shadow pass by one night. Then out in the field when he was reading a book by himself, he heard him bark. He looked around and there were no other dogs. My dog had a very distinct, very DEEP bark. He said he heard that. I was so traumatized that I would sleep on my dog's dog beds and one night I felt something kick me and I jumped about a foot off the ground, completely startled. I know it wasnt my imagination. I have since moved out of that apartment, but in my new surroundings, I see signs all the time. I too have heard the bark(at night in my apartment), and when I ask for signs I get them when I least expect it. I dont know if anyone will believe this-but when I opened up this thread with the two replies and was reading it, suddenly I heard a dog bark (from my computer). Yes, it surely sounds like Im losing my mind. I thought maybe someone had put a picture of their dog with a bark or something. So, I used the back button and went back into the thread. Nope...didnt hear anything again. Well, it wasnt the bark of my dog...so it must have been someone else's loved one??!! I think they are closer than we realize. Its just tough to not have them in our physical presence. I still grieve everyday about it, but somewhere in my heart I know we all will be reunited.
Wishing you well.....