Your message is almost identical to what I just went thru. I put my Husky of 14 years down this morning,so my prayers go out to you.The best advice I rec'd was to look at my dog as if I had no personal intrest in it. Its hard, but, what would a stranger say? that it should be let go of? It no longer enjoys the life of a dog?Is it in pain? these helped me and I probably did hold on to long, but she is happy now. good luck