As dog lovers and dog parents, there's a part of life with our dogs that we really don't want to talk about. But it is inevitable—the day we have to say goodbye.

I recently went through this with our dog, Harley, and I shared parts of the experience on the Forging Bonds social media page. But it's now been 2 weeks since that day and there's so much more to say.

Unlike most of my other blog posts, this isn't an instructional post. I don't have the answers. What I want to share are some of the challenges that don't have easy solutions, starting with what it's like to watch a beloved dog go downhill.

One of my favorite things about living in Wisconsin is that we're surrounded by lakes.

For many of us, they're places to ski, fish, kayak, paddleboard, or simply relax on a warm summer day. But they're also one of the best places to create lasting memories with our dogs.

Training is important. Structure and leadership matter. But so does having fun together.

Some of the strongest bonds are built during the moments when there isn't an agenda…