I got that feeling too, Jimk. A man doesn't "loose" his dawg without pretty serious desperation. It's like the gunfighter shooting his horse when they're out in the desert with a dry canteen. Lost his family. He done Don wrong and Don don't dig him. No liquor. Geez. He still something of a blank tablet, though; and the show might need him for some plot imprint.

Duck is looking especially desperate. Putting the dog out was a harsh symbolism of this, but true to form for someone who is really loosing it. If it was just the drinking, I don't think he would have put the dog out. Even bad alcoholics will take care of their pets because they have unconditional love for their owners. It bummed me out when he put Chauncey on the street. I know a lot of posters are thinking people are talking about the dog too much, but most people react to pets and kids being hurt or in danger in a negative way. It just is what it is.
Duck may just be on the way down, literally.

I don't care for the character (Duck) so I say jump.

There was talk on the boards about Harry having been slated to jump out a window in season one to give face to the man falling in the opening--but the character and the actor became so well liked that was dropped.

This was countered John Hamm on the commentary for the DVD supposedly says "there's me falling."

But clearly you don't establish a man loving his dog so much--the only member of the family who still likes ol' Duck after he wrecked his marriage and family and then not have a payoff.

Perfect how they have him talk about scouts to his son, long done with it.

The family has dumped the dog and him. They don't need "continuity" or Duck anymore. He lost his mistress in London, became a drunk, lost his wife and family and landed at Sterling Cooper, a minor agency where he's best known for blowing American Airlines.

He pathetically lies about why he's got the dog and now he knows that with nothing to live for it's either the bottle or the window.

Often characters get some major face time before being written out--look at Midge's final appearance.

Will this be another straw on the camels back of Don's sanity? A guy cheats, loses the woman, drinks, loses his family and goes out the window because life has no meaning anymore?

Seems about right. But what do you think posters?

next week's synopsis

"Cooper has a new piece of art in his office that attracts the interest of the workers at Sterling Cooper."

so that's what they're looking at, not duck's dead body. people usually look away from literal dead body not crowd them.

I had an explanation all forming in my head, but JimK you said it all. I will add that 'the look' was displayed more than once in this episode. Sally at least twice at her dad, Don, and the dog (Irish Setter?) to Duck. They both had that look of love that is given without judgment but makes the person who receives it feel inadequate, lacking and worthless. The dog represented all those Duck loved and wanted to impress who saw his flaws. I think Duck rid himself of any pretense at being a nice guy who brings hot chocolate to his kids, went back upstairs and had a drink. Maybe his first in a long time. He then became the man his ex wife knew him to be.

I agree Sizzie. Duck went back up to drink, without Chauncy's adoring gaze. He has severe inadequacy issues, triggered by Don's comments to him. As far as the dog, dogs don't always just run away, although Chauncy starts to run. Dogs look for another way in if the path in front of them is closed, and eventually will just give up and wait. Although Chauncy is an Irish Setter, so all bets are off.

Anyone who leaves a beloved dog like that should jump out of a window.