Anyone who knew me knew Lightning — my beautiful collie and best friend for nearly 15 years. She was loyal, loving, endlessly fun, and had the quirkiest personality. Lightning’s favourite things in life were yogurts, sausages, chasing tennis balls, and playing with her hundreds of toys (she gave every single one equal attention!). But above all, she loved me — and I loved her right back.
Lightning also came with her own challenges. She was a fearful dog, easily spooked by the world around her. From the very beginning, I worked to make her life as enriched, happy, and fear-free as possible. Together we tried it all — working with behaviourists, exploring confidence-building activities like Canicross and agility, and testing every calming product on the market.
Here are a few things that really helped her:
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ThunderShirt — this gave her comfort during thunderstorms and fireworks.
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Treat-filled Kong — irresistible snacks helped keep her distracted and calm.
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Safe space — her own special place to retreat to when she felt insecure.
Because of her unpredictability, Lightning wore a muzzle when we were out and about — not just for others’ safety, but for her own. I found one that still allowed her to pant, drink water, and (most importantly) show her beautiful face. Accepting that she wouldn’t be the “pub dog” who could happily join us in busy spaces wasn’t easy, but it was part of loving her for who she was.
Despite her fears, Lightning gave me more than I could ever give her. She taught me patience, unconditional love, and how to adapt without hesitation for someone you care about. She wasn’t the stereotypical happy-go-lucky collie — she was uniquely Lightning, and that made her perfect to me.
Her spirit still lives on today. In fact, Clever Animal Marketing carries her legacy with us — our logo is based on her name, her gorgeous face, and her trademark lazy puppy ear.
Lightning may no longer be by my side, but she will always be at the heart of everything I do.
