It is definitely your prerogative to disagree but you and I know that dogs are very tough animals. They are bred to hunt (in the case of sporting breeds) and will do so without complaint even when they are in pain. Having said that wait till the day comes when they are anxiously awaiting the time to go and you have to help them in the truck because they can' t jump in. Then you get to the slough and they can' t get into the boat so you lift them. Then you knock a bird down and they can' t jump in the water so they throw themselves in then bring the duck back and scream in agony when you have to help them over the gunnel. Then they sit and wait for the next duck. I went through this many years ago and believe me it is easier to cut your losses and take them to a vet and do what they decide. It is never easy to do the right thing and have them put down. This is my opinion. Labs and Chessies are probably the toughest dogs of the sporting breeds and don' t show pain easily. I had a lab bitch that tore an entire teat off going through a barb wire fence and never made a sound. I had another Lab which lost the pads off both front paws when she came in with a duck and froze the pads on the gunnel of the boat when she came in, No complaints from her either. Dogs will die doing what they are bred for regardless of the pain they are in. Sorry I' m so long winded.