i'm on my 3rd black lab. he's called henry and soft as lights. grom and bridgetwidget, i know how you feel too. i lost my first lab dougal, when he was 15, i was pregnant with my 3rd (who's now 9) at the time and one nite he seemed a bit off colour but was so tired i went to bed. when we woke the nexyt morning he had died in his sleep, i still feel so guilty about not staying with him and am now crying whilst i write this sorry, as i don't think it ever goes away fully. his brother digby died a year later at 16 but we were there for that as he had to be put down as his legs had collapsed.
i still miss them dreadfully but had loads of lovely times and now have henry to love. x