Remembering Our Pets: The Lessons They Leave Behind

National Pet Memorial Day

There are some dogs who leave our lives but never really leave us.

We remember the sound of their paws coming down the hallway.

We remember where they slept.

We remember their favorite treats, their favorite places and those little quirks that probably meant nothing to anyone else—but meant everything to us.

And sometimes, years later, something happens, and we immediately think:

Oh, he would have loved this.

Or:

She used to do exactly that.

Today, on National Pet Memorial Day, I want to remember my dogs who left their pawprints all over my life:

Candy, Sammy, Kelso, Skyler, Sandy, Candycane, Scout, Liberty, and Justice.

They were very different dogs.

They came into my life during different chapters.

And each one left behind something worth carrying forward.

Let’s talk about Scout and Liberty because it’s also National Hug a HOUND day!

🐾 Remembering Scout

Scout was an American Foxhound—and a hound through and through.

There are photographs of our dogs that capture what they looked like.

And then there are photographs that somehow capture who they were.

And that’s one of the beautiful things about living alongside a dog.

We’re supposed to be the teachers.

We teach sit.

We teach stay.

We teach come.

We teach them how to live in our strange human world.

But somewhere along the way, if we’re paying attention, they start teaching us.

🐾 Remembering Liberty

Then there was Liberty.

Another American Foxhound.

Another personality I’ll never forget.

And Liberty left behind one particularly profound piece of life advice.

Okay, maybe profound is stretching it.

But I still think it’s pretty good advice:

When in doubt, have some peanut butter. 🥜🐾

That was Liberty.

And the more I think about it, the more I realize there’s actually a lesson hiding inside the humor.

We humans can make life incredibly complicated.

We worry about tomorrow.

We replay yesterday.

We wonder whether we’re doing enough.

We wait for everything to be perfect before allowing ourselves to enjoy where we are.

Dogs don’t seem particularly interested in any of that.

Sometimes happiness really is right in front of you.

A walk.

A sunny spot on the floor.

Someone you love.

A good sniff.

And, according to Liberty, peanut butter.

Liberty reminds me to notice those little moments.

They count too.

From Remembering Our Dogs to Hugging Our Hounds

Remembering Scout and Liberty brings me perfectly to another observance happening today:

National Hug Your Hound Day.

And before everybody runs off to hug the nearest dog—which I certainly won’t discourage—we need to clear something up.

Every hound is a dog. But every dog is not a hound.

So, what’s the difference?

A dog is the big umbrella. Our domestic dogs come in an enormous variety of breeds, mixes, sizes, shapes and purposes.

A hound is a particular type or group of dog historically developed largely for hunting and tracking. Within the hound family, some were bred to rely heavily on their extraordinary noses—scent hounds—while others pursue primarily by sight and speed—sighthounds.

So:

A hound is a dog.

Scout and Liberty?

American Foxhounds.

Dogs AND hounds. 🐾

And anybody who has shared life with a hound probably knows that sometimes the nose has a completely different opinion about where the rest of the body should be going.

Human: We’re walking this way.

Hound nose: That’s adorable.😂

Hug Your Hound—And Maybe Hug the Rest of the Dogs Too

So today, if you have a hound beside you, give that hound an extra hug.

If you have a dog who isn’t a hound?

I’m certainly not going to tell you not to hug them.

Give them one too.

Because National Pet Memorial Day and National Hug Your Hound Day sitting beside each other on the calendar give us a pretty powerful reminder:

Love the animals who are here while they’re here.

Take the photograph.

Go for the walk.

Give the belly rub.

Laugh at the ridiculous thing they just did.

Spend another five minutes together.

Because someday those everyday moments may become some of your most treasured memories.

Today I can hug Freedom.

I can’t physically hug Scout, Liberty or any of my other dogs anymore.

But I can remember them.

I can tell their stories.

And I can continue carrying the things they taught me into the life I’m living alongside Freedom today.

That’s one of the principles behind Doggone Healthy Choices: our dogs aren’t simply standing in the background while we build healthier, happier lives. They can be companions, participants, motivators—and teachers.

🐾 Now I Want to Remember YOUR Pet

Today, I’d love for the Doggone Healthy Choices community to create our own little Pet Memorial Wall right here.

Who are you remembering today?

Tell me:

Their name + one lesson they taught you.

That’s it.

Maybe they taught you patience.

Maybe they taught you courage.

Maybe they taught you how to play again.

Maybe they taught you unconditional love.

Or maybe your answer is something completely silly that only another animal lover could understand.

Share their name and lesson in the comments/reply.

Let’s give those stories somewhere to live today.

And if you’re fortunate enough to have your dog beside you right now?

Go hug that dog. ❤️🐾

🐾 Keep Walking Alongside Us

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If you believe, as I do, that our dogs can help us live happier, healthier and more purposeful lives, I’d love to have you alongside Freedom and me.

Don’t forget to check out my FREEBIE above.

It’s one more way for you and your dog to start where you are and take the next step together.

Because around here, we’re not looking for perfect.

We’re looking for progress, companionship, connection—and maybe occasionally a little peanut butter.

One foot. One paw at a time.

Until tomorrow, have a happy and healthy tail-wagging day.

In memory of Scout, Liberty & and all my past furry friends/ family, 🐾❤️

Pamela & Freedom