A Tribute to Coco

Authentically Being News • July 04, 2021

The 4^th of July marks a year to the day that our beloved golden retriever entered our lives. What an anxiety inducing dream come true that was. For years, I’d been dog broody, intentionally walking on beaches to maximise potential dog pats and feeling those pangs of jealousy every time I saw people happily stroll on by with their perfect pooches.

Even though we were only blessed with her for a short while the lessons I learnt and the journey we went on during that time will be everlasting and I’d like to take a few moments to share some of the lessons we learnt.

1. When those annoying people tell you a dog is a huge responsibility, believe them.

So many people for so many years were like… “oh you want a dog? They’re a huge responsibility”. I’d be silently seething inside wanting to scream “I know you moron, it’s not like I haven’t thought it through”. But you know what, from the moment Coco entered our lives, it was relentless. For all the imagining I did, the reality was much tougher.

2. For all the money you think you will spend on your dog, double it, triple it and know that you will spend even more.

Your dog deserves the world and even though you factored in food, insurance, vets, basic necessities you’ll still spend a fortune on everything else. Extra treats in your bowl, you’ve got it (Sushi Rice and Chicken was her favourite)! Disembowelled your 7th teddy in 2 weeks? No problem, here’s another one. 4 different leads dependant on the walk, that’s totally normal.

3. You’ll l think your dog is the most special dog in the world, and you’re right.

To the world your pooch is just a dog but to you your dog will be your world. Every time they make you smile or do something remotely comical it will reaffirm just how special they are. You will believe that your dog has been sent directly to you because they make you feel so good and all of this will be enough to overcome the days that they drive you insane, like coming home covered in mud and splattering the walls.

4. What you put in is exactly what you will get out.

The time you invest in training, walking and boundary setting will pay dividends in the character of the dog that becomes your family. We took Coco everywhere we could from day one. It’s the lifestyle we wanted and eventually she was one of the most polite patrons of any restaurant, she loved our friends and our friends loved her.

5. You will experience a companion like no other

Without me even realising it, Coco became my shadow. Personal space became a distant memory, and I didn’t mind mostly, although showering alone occasionally would have been nice. If she could accompany me she would. Just always by my side whether it was under the desk whilst working or stretched out in the kitchen waiting for me to drop whatever I was cooking. Looking back on my pictures she was always there.

6. Don’t believe the kids when they say they’ll help look after the dog.

Before we got Coco we had visions of us partially only being a vessel to unite the children with the family dog. We imagined they would do the majority of the training and be determined to take care of her themselves. The reality was they were more interested in duelling together in the field at puppy class and seeing how much money they could squeeze out of us when we asked them to pick up her poo (Our best deal was 7 poos for 99p – he wanted that extra 99p bad).

Having said this, she was the glue to our family and helped us all get out in the fresh air multiple times a day. They also stole most of the cuddles with her in the evenings.

7. For every dog nut out there, there is equally someone who doesn’t like dogs and you will become acutely aware of them all.

When you get a dog you are thrust into this world whereby everyone has an opinion/reaction to dogs and dog owners. There will be the people who just bound up and start patting away (not ideal when you’re trying to train) and then those that look as if you are about to attack them as you walk past. Then you’ll have to deal with other dog owners, and as a general tip here; just because someone has a dog, it doesn’t automatically mean they are an awesome person. It’s a relentless task of trying to do the right thing and striking the right balance. If you really want to get involved with some extreme views and general confusion join a dog forum.

8. One day your heart will be broken into a thousand pieces and you’ll question whether it was ever worth getting a dog.

The day Coco left us was quite literally one of the worst days of my life, she left suddenly and without us ever getting a chance to say goodbye. It tore our hearts into a thousand little pieces and every day there are constant reminders of the Coco sized hole she left behind. As a side note one of my friends admitted that she quite literally did leave a hole in their garden recently and they’ve left it there in honour of her. Feeling the loss of her made me question every fibre in my body as to how I could have allowed myself to get so attached to “just a dog”. I asked myself whether it was worth it? Was it worth having a dog only for it to end in heartbreak?

Well in my case, of course the answer is yes. Even if just for such a short space of time she brought us abundant love, smiles and special moments as a family. So wherever my precious fur baby is now, I hope she knows that we will always be grateful for the time we spent with her.