7 things you learn when a pet passes

The journey over the rainbow bridge comes all too soon for our beloved animals. Life is cruel in that way, it takes your best friend after so few years together and leaves you to carry on like nothing’s changed. But everything has changed and there are several things they can definitely teach us.

1. No matter who has come and gone in your life there has never been anyone or anything more consistent with their love than your pet. Waiting for you to get home, never staying mad after an argument, being the only thing on the planet that you will happily let lick you knowing full well their tongue has probably been somewhere rather distasteful. Their love is well and truly unconditional.

2. Explore everything and everywhere you can, whether it be with your eyes, ears or nose, to feel the wind in your face on the cliff tops, to belly flop into that river without a second thought ... and funnily enough to not throw the only dog toy that doesn't float into said river because you will end up knee deep in river water trying to find it! Go and splash in the muddy stream, jump in every puddle you pass, chase anything that moves because it clearly wants to play tag and bark a nice friendly but loud hello to everyone you meet.

3. Take time out from the world and the busyness of life. Not everything needs doing right this moment. Sometimes having a big stretch and a nap can do the world of good, especially when life is so hectic that you seem to be losing yourself to it. A little ‘me time’ goes a long way.

4. Put your phone down and enjoy the moment. Sometimes we get so absorbed in social media and making our life look perfect that we forget to appreciate the perfect things right in front of us. We are so busy taking photos that we miss the bigger picture. So busy replying to emails that we make the people sat right next to us wait even longer for our attention. Even when they’re pawing us for a quick belly rub or dropping the ball at our feet waiting for us to play.

5. Never pass up the opportunity to play. Dogs know how to find joy in every object they find and they will help you do that too. From an old, chewed up tennis ball to a cardboard box your latest parcel arrived in. One day, the times you said “no we’ve played ball all morning already” or “stop throwing that box around” (yes my dog loves to throw boxes and toys into the air) will become the times you regret. The joy in their eyes when you throw the ball one more time will be the look that you treasure for the rest of your days.

6. Make the most of every waking minute, even if that's just cuddling them on the sofa.

To think of the world the way they see it, full of joy and happiness and balls to chase. To offer everyone the same happy greeting and chance in life. But mostly to love with everything you have. They are experts at it and have so much to teach us. But if we can give out even just half as much love as they show the world we would be living in a much better place.

7. And finally to make the most of having two (or four legs) that can take you anywhere you want, even if they are simply taking you home!