Missing our Tyler this Christmas - It's been a tough holiday for me

I'm not usually one to write sad blogs, but this year, Christmas seemed pretty hollow to me because our 14 year, 8 month old Dachshund, Tyler passed on July 29, 2025. Tyler loved Christmas. He loved opening presents, and playing with every single toy. His tail never stopped wagging, ever. I always said he was our happiest dog. Today's blog is a reflection of a Christmas without him.

(Photo: Tyler sitting under a Christmas tree in 2019.) 

Losing a dog is losing a child. We raised him when we adopted him at 1 year old from a Dachshund rescue after he had been abandoned by his first household (and apparently abused there). 

FUN MEMORIES WITH TYLER - We took him to obedience school, taught him everything we could, and I took him to agility classes for 2 years and he thrived in them. In fact, Tyler and I practiced agility at home, when I would create makeshift obstacles and tunnels in the living room. Tyler taught our Weimaraner, Dolly how to do the agility courses, too. 

(Photo: Our Christmas post card from 2024. Tyler's last Christmas)

He tried teaching our Dachshund, Franklin, but Franklin would have no part of it. When we adopted Dash in 2018, Tyler and Dolly taught Dash, too. Up until the week before Tyler passed, he was still doing agility and Dash would follow. 

(Photo: Tyler loved his toys. Taken on 7/28/29, the day before he passed)

FEELING LOST - Tyler was fiercely protective of me. Up until Dolly passed, he slept next to her every night. After she passed, Tyler slept on my bed every night.  When Tyler passed of an aggressive cancer within 4 days of diagnosis, we were all lost. I was gutted, hollow, depressed, and sad beyond measure. Now I keep his blanket on the right side of my bed with his 5 favorite toys. I kiss his blanket good night every night, and hold one of toys when I sleep. 

(Photo: Dash misses his brother, Tyler) 

HIS BROTHER DASH DEPRESSED - Dash felt the same and more because Tyler was his brother, his best friend, and everything Tyler did, Dash followed him. Without Tyler, Dash stopped eating. He stopped playing with toys and games. He lost interest in treats. Two months after Tyler passed, Dash's vision deteriorated to total blindness, and because Dash is 17 he couldn't get cataract surgery. Also after 2 months, Dash's kidney failure increased significantly and he now wears diapers 24/7 and he's down from 10 pounds to 7 pounds. On walks, Dash is carried 95% of the time and only let down to do his business before being carried again. I am treasuring each day with Dash. 

(Photo: My favorite picture of Tyler (left), Dash (middle) and Cody (right) from 2022.) 

WHERE I AM NOW - Some people have said that because I'm a medium who can connect with pets in the afterlife that it must be easier to deal with a dog's passing. They couldn't be more wrong. The daily interaction, the wagging, the happy barks going through a Dunkin' drivethru, the excitement of a new toy, or "3 treat time" nightly at 7pm isn't there anymore. Instead there's a hollow feeling, that I keep trying to replace with memories. I look at his picture daily. I tell him I love him every night. I ask him to help Dash from the other side as he did when he was here. So, this Christmas has been brutal for me. I'm feeling lost, empty and sad. Meanwhile, a part of me reminds me to look for his signs, like dreams with him (which I've had), and fill my heart with memories.