Signing off.

Well, this is the last post from the Favourite Puppy blog.
Since Archie passed away we've been adding to our collection of memories, but the time has come to sign off.
None of us ever thought we would be saying goodbye to our little poochie so soon, but he'll have a place in our hearts forever.

Archie

"with you forever"

(10 November 2008 – 26 January 2012)

What I'll remember: Vickie

I'm not sure I can put into words what I'll remember about Archie.

He was so full of love & life. Always so happy to see us - even if he then took off straight after, we got a tail wag first.

I'll remember how he'd always come you if you crouched down & called him, how he'd crowd in against you legs - & always seemed a little confused if you happened to be wearing a long skirt & he disappeared under it.

I'll remember the first time he got over the barrier (the very first year, when he was tiny & still sleeping inside), in the middle of the night & wouldn't go back to bed, wanting to sit in my lap instead. How when he was small, he'd climb into your lap the minute you sat down.

Picking him up & watching over the gate together, getting the inside of my elbow licked as soon as I started wearing short sleeves, playing in the long grass, watching him watch bubbles float away above his head, cuddles, sharing the red couch in the morning, even getting licked while holding him, I miss it all.

I just miss Archie & I'll remember him, always

Archie & I, September 2011

a few of his favourite things

most of his favourite things weren't really things, but activities, like running,

going for a walk,

sleeping - some of his favourite places to lay: by the gate, by the front door, in his beanbag, on the red couch

eating - his favourite food was, well, food (except for lettuce), but he especially loved cheese & anything one of his people was eating.

chasing lizards & then sleeping in the sun, especially in his favourite mild & sunny weather...

 

& giving his people a good licking

Archie through the ages: 2011 + Jan '12

Archie's third year was full of running, barking, playing, even having a bath or few. His training continued & he got better & better at it. A selection of photos from his year + from January 2012...

Posted in loving memory of Archie (10th November, 2008 – 26th January, 2012)

What I'll remember: Kathryn

What will I remember? Everything.

Archie was the most happy little puppy and he could make you feel his happy. He was so soft after a bath and brush on Sundays, he was so smart but also the sweetest doofus, he was almost always excited to see you in the morning and loved sleeping in the sun.

There is so much I'll remember and that I miss. I'll miss the Archie-bulletins that happened during the day because he was always doing something funny or cute or both, the way he helped you pick him up to look over the fence, and how he would run around in circles eager for his dinner yet would still wait until you told him 'okay'.

Archie's last walk was lovely, it was the day before whatever happened happened, he sat and waited while we watched the sunrise and I let him sniff lots. It was a lovely walk, I'm grateful for it.

I'll remember how sometimes he seemed so big and other times so very small, the way he sat on his side and the way he tucked his paw in when he lay, looking so regal.

I remember the time Amy dropped a bowl of tuna mornay and Archie was trying to eat it as quick as he could so he could go bark, he was barking and eating at the same time - so funny. I remember how he always made it into photos and was well behaved (most of the time) when we dressed him up.

I miss him, his happiness and his presence which seemed to make the house full. We were blessed to have him and I'll always be grateful for Archie.

I think his memory will always be tinged with sadness but with time it will fade and the brightness of Archie will shine through and we'll laugh and reminiscence about a life that was short but so sweet. 

Archie and Me, March 2011

the little things

Archie meant very brave; bold; valuable and he was so dear to us and, although not the bravest puppy in the world, he could be quite bold (like how he lay on the back on that couch a lot).

He was born in the year of the rat and he was a rat-bag, it was a leap year like my birth year and he was a Scorpio like Amy.

Archie had so many quirks, the way one of his back leg's would hop a little sometimes when he ran or walked and how his little tongue would poke out.

He had lots of names: zoo zoo bon, mr baby, fuzz face, mr 9, Ar-choo, mr pancakes and many more.
James said once Archie's nickname was Thunder because he doesn't do much but makes a lot of noise, I thought that was cute & funny.

He was really good at his training and would run straight to the back door to go out and bark and he would wait patiently till we let him run to us for his treat.

He had songs sung about him and mottos made for him, like 'get rewarded' or if translated into Latin and back 'for the aim of the prize', another is now very apt and made my heart ache when I read it: 'with you forever'.
 
Archie liked to chase bubbles (lizards, mice & birds, too) and lick ears & necks, he loved to run and to go on walks. 

And the biggest thing he did was love his family with all his being, just as we loved him.

Archie through the ages: 2010

Archie's second year was filled with cuteness, good times and adventures. It was the year we started training him, he got super muddy paws, and became a dog instead of a puppy. Here are some photos from every month:

January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

 

Posted in loving memory of Archie (10th November, 2008 – 26th January, 2012)