Her den
Under the bed on her brown cushion, red teddy under one paw, grinning out at the room.
Pikli
The gentlest girl there ever was, and always the first face at the door.
6 November 2016 · July 2026
Gentle · Quiet · Devoted
9¾years of being ours
50 kgand gentle with every bit of it
0times she ever barked at anyone
1red teddy, her favourite thing in the world
The life of Pikli
Pikli was born on 6 November 2016, a cream Labrador who grew into a big, beautiful girl of about 50 kilograms. In almost ten years she never barked at anyone and never bit anyone. All that size, and nothing in her but gentleness.
She was the heart of our home. She did nothing in a hurry and nothing alone: she waited for her people before she got up in the morning, she waited for them before she ate, and when one of us was unwell she lay close by all day and would not leave. Coming home meant Pikli at the door, every single time.
She was cared for every day of her life, and the whole rhythm of the house turned around her. She knew exactly how loved she was.
She left us in July 2026, a few months before her tenth birthday. The house is quieter now, but it is still hers.
In praise of Pikli
For everything she was.
- For every single homecoming, met at the door.
- For fifty kilograms of the gentlest dog we ever knew.
- For never once barking at anyone, and never once biting.
- For waiting to eat until her people ate.
- For never leaving the side of anyone who was unwell.
- For being the centre of our home, every single day.
- For loving one red teddy more than anything she owned.
- For that grin, the one you see above.
- For nearly ten years of being ours.
The things that made her Pikli
Small things that only the people who loved her would know.
Chicken nights
She knew the bones and the cartilage were hers, and she sat right beside the plate, patiently waiting for her share.
Mornings
She never got up before her people did. However late they slept, she waited.
Mealtimes
She would not eat until her people ate. Every meal, together.
Sick days
If anyone was unwell, she lay beside them all day and would not leave.
Her quiet
Not at visitors, not at strangers, not at anyone. In ten years, she never barked.
Her favourite thing
Her red teddy
Out of everything she ever owned, there was only ever one. In the photo at the top of this page it is right where it belonged: under her paw.
Remember her with us
If you knew Pikli, add your memory of her. Every one is kept here, so her story keeps growing.
Gathering memories of her…