Tuesday, 17 March 2026

A Year Without Archie

I can't believe that it's now a year since Archie died. Even after all this time, we're still getting used to life without him.

Anyone who has ever loved a pet will know the heartbreak that comes with losing them, and though it's such an awful thing to live with, it's worth it for all you gained through loving them.

I still look for him as we unlock the door after a trip out, think I can hear him mooching about the house sniffing for food, imagine I glance him out the corner of my eye as I pass an open door, and turn my head to look at the back seat of the car on days out.

Archie was only a little dog but he left a huge hole in our lives and he'll be missed forever. My best boy.

48 comments:

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  2. Anyone who has ever known and loved and lost a pet will understand your feelings, Jo. I still think back to dogs and cats long gone, remember them with thankfulness and always a pang of regret.

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    1. Yes, I know there's many of us who, sadly, know this feeling. I just try to remember all the happy times we spent with him, but the sadness is still there at the moment too.

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  3. That year has flown by. I feel for you, Jo, our beloved pets are so fundamental to our lives. My beloved Betty is now over 9 years old, which is quite elderly for her two breeds.

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    1. You're absolutely right, pets are a huge part of our lives. It's sad when we see them begin to age, they're here for such a short time in the grand scheme of things.

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  4. They never leave us, I'm sure I have seen Grace from the corner of my eye many times, the pain of losing g them is hard, but the memories stay forever.

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    1. I think the best way of keeping them with us is to talk about them, and we do that all the time. I'm so glad we've got our memories.

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  5. I know how you feel. It has been nearly three years (will be next month) that my heart fell apart when Moss died. It has taken nearly that long before I could fill that space with Willow.
    Strangely though, I never 'saw' her. She had gone, well and truly gone until the week before I picked Willow up and Moss seemed to be in the corner of my eye as she came into the lounge. That gave me start.
    So yes, I do know how hard it is, they leave such a large paw print on your heart and it never really fades xxx
    sending hugs x

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    1. It's true. We had the most amazing dog when I was a child, he's been gone over fifty years now but I still carry him with me in my heart. It's always so difficult when we have to part.

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  6. Dear Archie, I miss him and his adventures as well. You have kept busy though, I wonder if you are missing all the daily walks with him, mind you, you do have plenty of great trips out.

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    1. Archie slowed down a lot as he got older and so did our walks, we never left him at home so we only went as far as he wanted to and and his pace. We've started walking a bit further again now, as you say, we have plenty of days out, but I feel as though my little sidekick is missing wherever we go.

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  7. Lovely post and pictures. Mum always said to remember our pets with kindness and a smile. xx

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    1. Your mum was very wise. I have so many happy memories of Archie and they always make me smile.

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  8. Oh Archie! I'm glad you're still seeing him around the house. He will never leave your heart!

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    1. I'll carry him in my heart until the day I die. He was a dog in a million.

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  9. I empathise - losing a beloved animal companion is such a difficult thing to deal with. As the late Queen said, 'Grief is the price we pay for love'. I 'saw' our cat, Scruffy, several times after he was no longer with us. We had such a bond and I still miss him, even after nearly four years.
    Archie had a lovely life with you and you have some beautiful memories.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. We always tried to give Archie the best life we could and we do have such happy memories of him, he was such a funny little dog and made us laugh all the time.

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  10. I know he was loved. And I'm sure he had a good life with you.

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    1. He never went short of love, we all doted on him. I miss him terribly.

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  11. Little paws leave big holes in the heart.

    I still miss our Rough Collie. Probably the smartest, kindest dog we ever had.

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    1. Oh they do! There are so many special animals in the world, we're so lucky to have known them.

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  12. Am crying reading this and all the comments as I look at my beautiful Bluebell and think about our Freddie too at the daughters. I love them so much.

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    1. There are people who just don't understand the love and attachment to animals but I think anyone who has ever loved a pet will understand the sense of loss and grief which comes with losing a much loved family member. I miss Archie so much.

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  13. Lovely pictures of sweet Archie.

    Lost loved ones human or animal stay in our hearts forever.

    All the best Jan

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    1. That's very true, they do. I still miss the family dog we had over fifty years ago.

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  14. Lovely Archie. It's heartbreaking to lose a much loved pet. They are such a huge part of the family. Xx

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    1. They are. I don't think the sense of loss is any less just because they're a pet. We grieve just the same.

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  15. Archie looked to be a gorgeous boy. It's heartbreaking when we lose our pets. I still think about my dog who died suddenly in April '23 - I think that event will never leave me! I lost another pet just 2 weeks ago - one of my 9yr old rabbits had to be PTS with an incurable disease. Sending best wishes. (I deleted my first comment as spell checker had changed too many words into completely wrong ones!)

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    1. Yes, Archie was the best little dog, I miss him so much. Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your lovely rabbit, it's just heartbreaking when we have to make that decision but it's something we're able to do to ease their pain, even though we're left with so much pain ourselves. Yes, I remember your beautiful boy who died in 2023, so terribly sad.

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  16. They were our children, we still miss Nell after 2 years, she was such a love.

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    1. I think I'll always miss Archie, I feel like I've lost a limb when I'm outdoors without a lead in my hand.

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  17. We are still missing our two also. My lap still feels empty at night.

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    1. They become part of the family in no time at all and you get used to the routine of them being there. They leave a huge hole when they're gone.

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  18. I'm sorry. It's never fun. We still miss ours too.

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  19. My heart aches for you. I tear up just thinking about ever losing my 'best boy' and my 'goodess girl'. xo Diana

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    1. It's the hardest thing we go through when we love our pets.

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  20. Archie was such a handsome boy. I always love seeing pictures of him paddling in the water. I think he really love the sea.

    I'm sorry you are missing him so much, but how could you not. He was a very good pup!

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    1. Thank you so much. Yes, Archie loved water, he enjoyed paddling but didn't like the sea when it splashed him, I think he enjoyed paddling in rock pools most of all. He was the best little dog.

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  21. You never stop missing them even though we now have Ruby we often think of Tivvy and it has been six years since we lost her.

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    1. Oh my goodness, I didn't realise it was that long ago. No, I don't think you do ever stop missing them.

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  22. Hello! I am coming by from Jules at Along the Way. Bless it. I’m sorry! Archie was a doll. I lost my Pomeranian last July (Precious) it is an empty void.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by. Oh I'm sorry to hear that you're going through the grieving process too, it's such a sad time and you're so right, the world feels so empty without them in it.

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  23. Arh Jo, he was such a gorgeous boy. It's heartbreaking losing a beloved pet. Take care x

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    1. Yes, he was, we all miss him so much, he's left a huge paw print on our hearts.

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  24. ((HUGS)) for your loss. One year...wow. Take care.
    Sandy's Space

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    1. Yes, that year has gone so fast, we're still getting used to him not being here.

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