What is a painless way to put my dog to sleep on my own?

• I know this sounds horrible but here is the story: My family has a 15 1/2 year old toy poodle called Nellie who has been an angel. But in the last year she has really deteriorated. The poor girls teeth are rotting, shes deaf, practically blind, in constant pain, can't control her bladder, and has a heart condition that makes her cough constantly. I know most of you would say to put her to sleep and I fully agree but here is the problem. We also have a five year old male cocker spaniel who is absolutely in love with her. They are absolute best friends. He refuses to go out in the back yard without her and when we say "Toby, you wanna go outside?" He goes straight to her to get her up or runs around the house looking for her before he will step foot outside. He gets extremely protective over her when our other puppy tries to play with her (because she cant play anyway he really just thinks she can so Toby has to tell him to step off) and he gets nervous when she isnt around. So basically here inlies the problem. If my mother (who Toby is also totally in love with) takes away his best friend and never brings her back... we are scared that he will never forgive her. He wont understand what happend. All he knows is that we took away his love and never brought her back. At one point we thought that maybe we could euthenize her ourselves so he could see her fade away and he could sense that she had passed. Right now we really just dont know what to do. If anyone has any other ideas please let me know. Thank you.

• Answer:

  ok no....let me explain... Please stop assuming dogs are humans...THEY ARE NOT emotional creatures like us. MAYBE dogs have emotions in some way, but a dog is not going to think to itself as your mother walks out the door with Nellie "that ***** is taking my best friend - I will hate her forever!"....It just doesn't happen like that dear. Do I fully believe that dogs can form an attachment/bond with another dog - absolutely! My 2 female dogs are attached at the hip like Nellie and Toby are. However, your younger dog has nothing more than a strong attachment and bond to your older dog, and chances are, he will be very upset/depressed or a few days once he realizes his older friend is gone for good. In no way will he "hold a grudge" against your mother. Dogs do not have thinking processes like we humans do. The HUMANE thing to do is to take the older dog and get it PROPERLY euthanized at the vet. If you still don't believe me about the dog not getting mad at your mother, lock the little jagoff in the bathroom for the short period of time it takes for your mom to load up Nellie in the car and leave, then let Toby out. Like I said, he will be upset, and it will be hard for you guys to see him this way, on top of losing Nellie, but it's what happens EVERY DAY to every dog owner. To help your dog get over Nellie sooner, have you discussed with your mother to perhaps bringing in a new dog or puppy to allow Toby to have a new playmate and friend? It would probably be best for him to acquire a new best friend once Nellie has passed to help him not be so depressed about her leaving. Again, PLEASE just take her to the vet and quit associating dogs' emotions with human emotions - maybe ask a vet to come do it at your home. Sorry for Nellie's fate, but it does sound like it's time for her to pass.