Ways to remember
Dog memorial ideas
Honest, practical ways to remember your dog: at home, in the garden, with their ashes or their collar, and things you can make today for free.
If you only do three things
- Keep their collar and tags with a photo, in a frame or a box
- Write down the little things they did, before the details fade, or turn them into a poem
- Pick a day to remember them, every year
At home
Small things you can see every day.
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A shadow box with their collar
Their collar, tags and a favorite photo in a deep frame, so the things they wore stay together. Add the date or a short line if you like.
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Their collar, worn or kept close
Some people wear the tag on a necklace or keyring, wrap the collar around the urn or a frame, or have it made into a bracelet.
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A paw print or nose print
Many vets and pet crematoriums offer a clay or ink paw print, and some can do a nose print. Ask before the goodbye if you can; it is easy to forget in the moment.
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A small clipping of their fur
Ask your vet to keep a little fur aside. A small jar, a locket or a folded card keeps the feel of them.
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A framed photo with a poem
Their best photo with a few lines written about them. Our free poem writer prints both on one page.
Write a poem for your dog -
Their toy, leash or bowl, kept out
Some people keep one thing exactly where it always was. There is no rule for when, or whether, to put it away.
In the garden
A place outside to sit with them.
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Plant a tree or a shrub for them
Something that flowers in the month they were born or comes back every spring. A small plaque or stone can say their name.
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A memorial stone
A garden stone with their name and one short line. Our poem writer gives you a line sized for a stone with every poem.
Find a line for a stone -
Their favorite spot, made into a quiet corner
Where they liked to lie in the sun: a bench, a pot of flowers, or just a stone, so the spot stays theirs.
With their ashes
If you chose cremation.
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An urn in the place they loved most
By the window they watched, or near their bed. Urns come in every size and style, and some hold a photo.
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Scattering in a place you shared
Their favorite walk, a beach, the yard. Check the local rules first for parks, beaches and public land.
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Planting with their ashes
Cremated remains are strongly alkaline and salty, so tipping them straight into a planting hole can harm the plant. Mix them with plenty of soil, or use a planting mix made for ashes.
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A little in a keepsake
Keepsake jewelry or a tiny urn holds a small amount, so part of them can stay with you or go to family.
Photos and words
Things you can make today, for free.
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A printable memorial card or phone wallpaper
Their photo, name and dates on a 5x7 card or your lock screen. It is made in your browser and the photo stays on your phone.
Make a memorial card -
A Rainbow Bridge poem
For many people the Rainbow Bridge is the gentlest way to picture where their dog is now. This writes one about your dog, by name.
Write a Rainbow Bridge poem -
A letter to your dog
Writing to them directly, about the day you met or the things you didn’t get to say, is something many people find helps.
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A photo book of their life
From the first day home to the last good walk. Ask family for their photos too; they will have ones you have never seen.
Music
For a slideshow, a goodbye, or something to keep.
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A slideshow set to one song
About three to four minutes of music fits 40 to 60 photos. We put together songs that fit a goodbye.
Songs for a dog that passed away
Giving back
When you feel ready, not before.
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A donation in their name
To the shelter or rescue they came from, or one near you. Some will send a card or add their name to a memorial wall.
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Helping other dogs
Volunteering, fostering or dropping off blankets and food at a shelter, if and when it feels right.
Small rituals
Ways to keep remembering.
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Their walk, on their day
Walk their favorite route on their birthday or the anniversary. Family can join, or you can go alone.
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A candle on the anniversary
A small ritual that marks the day without needing words.
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Share stories with the people who knew them
Ask family and friends for their favorite memory of your dog. Hearing new ones is a gift.
Questions
What can I do with my dog's collar after they die?
Many people keep it in a shadow box with their tags and a photo, hang it beside a framed picture, or put their tag on your keychain. Some families split the tags among themselves.
Can I plant a tree with my dog's ashes?
Yes, with care. Cremated remains are strongly alkaline and salty, so mix them with plenty of soil or use a planting mix made for ashes instead of putting them straight into the hole.
How do I get a paw print of my dog?
Ask your vet or the pet crematorium before or soon after the goodbye. Many offer clay or ink paw prints, and some can take a nose print.
What can I do on the anniversary of my dog's death?
Walk their favorite route, light a candle, look through their photos with family, or donate to a shelter in their name. Small rituals that are yours matter more than big gestures.
Is it normal to want a memorial for a dog?
Yes. For many people a dog is family, and remembering them the way you would anyone you love is completely natural.
Can I have a song written about my dog?
Yes. FureverSong writes and records a song from your memories of your dog, with their name in it, and a memorial page your family can visit. You hear a free preview before you decide anything.