SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Claypan is such a cutie @Former-Member. Who gave him that name? Can't say I have ever known a dog called that. Love it though. No wonder you are missing him so much. His eyes are full of expression. There will be many times when you expect him to be there and sadly he won't be ....

It must be so hard seeing his things - dog bowl, collar, lead etc. I remember the first dog we had when I was a kid. It was a stray mongrel cattle dog that my older brother had found and brought home. We ended up keeping him and had him for well over ten years. When he was close to dying, he took off for a few days. We thought he was gone. Then all of a sudden he returned and passed away the next day when I was at school. That afternoon, I went walking with my mother - the same route we used to go with this dog as a one last time. Cried my eyes out and had the following day off school.

Dogs are so amazing.

That name is even more gorgeous than ever now - Claypan Boogie - 😆 We got our dog for my daughter's birthday too. When she was 14. I had always had a dog growing up but had put off getting one as we often went away for holiday breaks. Our dog is nearly nine now and has never boarded in a kennel. She would hate it. She's such a Mummy's dog. Sleeps on my bed and is beside me on the sofa now. I told her that Lapses' best canine friend passed away and she looked at me as if she was saying that she would let you pat her.

Sorry if this is making you sad. I have been to gym, had dinner, cleaned up, showered, now just relaxing.

Tenterfield Terriers are bundles of energy. Clay pan wouldn't have liked being sick. You did the kindest thing for him. Have you kept a memento? His collar perhaps? Allow yourself to be sad. Remember Claypan and honour him @Former-Member

Why Grief Over the Death of a Dog Is So Intense

Psychologist Julie Axelrod pointed out that the loss of a dog is so painful because we are not losing just one thing; we experience multiple losses at the same time. We may be losing our primary companion, a source of unconditional love, a “life witness” who provides security and comfort to us, and maybe even a protégé whom we mentor like a child. The loss of a dog seriously disrupts your daily routine, even more profoundly than the loss of most friends and relatives, and changes in lifestyle and routine are one of the primary building blocks of stress.

A recent survey of bereaved pet owners documented the common experience of misperceiving ambiguous sights and sounds as the deceased pet. This occurs most frequently shortly after the death of the pet, especially among individuals who had very high levels of attachment to their pets.

I miss my dog more than I can say, and yet, I am sure that I will put myself through this ordeal again in the years to come. I'd like to finish this essay with another stanza from the Kipling poem:

When the body that lived at your single will,
With it’s whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!).
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-ooze/201701/getting-over-rover-why-the-loss-dog-can-be-devastating

What a great tribute. I gave that video a thumbs up @Former-Member. We have a budgie here too. He's only two,years old and belongs to my daughter who didn't really invest much time in teaching him to talk. The last budgie was super intelligent and could say quite a few phrases and words.

Just watch out for the butcher birds though. They will attack smaller birds. I let the budgie fly around the house during the day and the neighbourhood butcher flies up to the screen door trying to get inside.

I gave my pooch a hug, now she wants me to keep on patting her.

A Budgie would be lovely @Former-Member They're very gregarious & chatty, especially when there's two or more of them together. Lovely little parrots.

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