29/05/2026
It's coming up to two years since we lost my beautiful boy Trig 💔
He's been on my mind a lot lately as I miss him terribly and it's always worse around this time of year. So I wanted to share his story and how he helped me become the dog trainer I am today.
I got Trig from a farm in Liverpool when he was 3 years old as they wanted to rehome him due to the other 4 dogs ganging up on the two borders. When we got there the dogs were living outside, and sharing one food bowl. He was also named Pig. I don't know how anyone could look at this boys beautiful kind eyes and call him Pig, so I promptly had to change that. We also adopted Millie along with Trig. They are not actual siblings, but they had such a bond.
Considering they had never been on a lead before, they accepted it with eagerness and from then on I had the most wonderful 5 years with this boy.
I soon found he that he had major reactivity issues with other dogs. Not just your average barking, like full on if a dog approaches him he will go for the neck and not let go. It was intense and on sight if a dog came nose to nose. When we first got him he had to be muzzled and on lead any time he was outside.
I researched online and tried a few methods and one that worked a treat was a tennis ball! When he first arrived, him and Millie had no idea what to do with toys. They'd never seen them before. It took a while but slowly I taught them that toys are good things you can play and express yourself with.
The tennis ball gave Trig a whole new existence. When he had a ball he was calm and replaxed around other dogs off lead and unmuzzled. He even made a Collie friend on Cambois beach (our favourite haunt) and this was such a phenomenal step for Trig. It was truly beautiful to behold, the freedom he now had changed our lives.
Such a simple fix, this was my first lesson in dog training from Trig. It doesn't always have to be complex tricks, we just have to find the dog an outlet.
We still had some issues when on lead walking past other dogs, especially if the other dog barked first. But then I started my job at Dogs Trust.
I learnt so much about reactivity and dog behaviour in general, and I started implementing the techniques I learnt at work. And it worked. We got to the point were we could walk past another dog on the same side of the pavement with no muzzle. And he was relaxed, walks were truly a joy.
Trig allowed me to see the theory work in practice and reinforced my belief that these techniques truly work and are life changing.
As well as teaching me so much, Trig was just the best dog you could ask for. He LOVED humans and adored to be cuddled. I would often fall asleep for a mid day nap with spooning him on the sofa. He had so much character, and always kept me on my toes once pinching an entire yum yum from a remarkably high place for a border terrior 😂 you could not keep him behind a dog guard him the car, he would literally Houdini through the teeniest gap because he desperately wanted to sit shotgun by my side.
I never taught him loose lead walking, ever. From the first time he got his lead on he never left my side without any training at all. He was the most loyal boy. He would have literally followed me to the end of the world and back without question.
Then at age 8 our world was shattered as he developed a sudden and severe illness. He had been in the vet overnight and they had discharged him with neck pain. The next day he had a fatal seizure. Before I could even get him to the car he had passed away in my arms. And I'll never forget that moment. It was horrifying and traumatic, but I am so thankful that it was me who was holding him in his last moments. I needed to be there for him because he had done countless things for me.
Me and Paul have Trig with us always in memorial rings and he was scattered in the sea at Cambois and Newbiggin beach. Cambois because when we lived in Bedlington station it was Trigs favourite place to go and we went almost daily. And Newbiggin because I am now a two minute walk from visiting him.
Just remember to appreciate every moment with your dog, as you don't know when it could be your last. So make the most of every single day, even the bad ones, as one that you will truly miss those 'naughty' behaviours.
When we take on a dog we have to accept that we will more than likely outlive them. But that doesn't mean we shouldnt get the dog for fear of the grief when they are gone. As Butters Stotch said "And the only way I could feel this sad now is if I felt somethin' really good before. So I have to take the bad with the good, so I guess what I'm feelin' is like a, beautiful sadness."
I really appreciate if you have read to this end of this post. I think I just needed to express these feelings I've been having around missing him. And I wanted to share what a beautiful boy he was and how much he meant to me.
Love you forever and always my beautiful Trig 💕
