In this inaugural episode of Beyond the Rainbow Bridge, host Rob Anderson introduces a new podcast dedicated to supporting people grieving the loss of a dog. He explains why pet loss grief is often minimized, shares personal stories of losing his own dogs—including the emotional impact on his work and relationships—and cites research (Journal of Mental Health Counseling, University of Hawaii study) that shows pet bereavement can be as intense and long‑lasting as human loss. Anderson then outlines four core reasons why his canine grief coaching is valuable: a safe, non‑judgmental space to grieve; validation of the unique bond between owner and dog; practical tools for remembrance and healing; and guidance to move forward without “moving on.” He describes the coaching formats he offers (individual sessions, group workshops, classes), provides website and email contact information, and invites listeners to subscribe, share, and reach out for support. Throughout, the tone is reflective, empathetic, and promotional, aiming to create a community where pet loss is acknowledged and honored.
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Hey, you're listening to Beyond the Rainbow Bridge. This is a brand new podcast, and it's specifically for those who are mourning the loss of a well-loved companion. At times, you're gonna find Episodes on here are also shared with one of my other podcasts, which is Stan Stewart Coaching, where on that podcast I help people navigate life's turning points with strengths, clarity, and compassion. But I wanted to have something that was speaking specifically to the loss, the loss of your puppy. This is something I've dealt with a lot. This is a very personal podcast, and it's really coming off of a discovery call that I did this morning, just a few hours ago, with a potential client. And this is where they were struggling. They were struggling with the loss of losing their dog. By the way, if you're seeking support, I offer both individual and group canine coaching workshops, classes, and sessions because healing happens when your story is heard and your love is honored. Make sure that you visit www.stanshirescoaching.com, or you can just email me at rob@stanshirescoaching.com. By the way, over on that website, There's a special section that is specifically about supporting the loss of a puppy. By the way, my name is Rob Anderson. Today's episode is gonna be personal. This is the first one that I'm doing on— the first one I'm doing for the show. And it's It's about the kind of loss. It's about the kind of loss that often gets overlooked or dismissed. That grief that we carry when we lose our pups. If you're listening to this, there's a good chance that you've lost, you've lost a dog at some point. And you felt like the world just expected you to bounce back. You're not overreacting. You're not imagining things. And you're definitely not alone. Let me tell you why I'm called to this work. And I, I'm going to share several of my own puppy stories throughout this show. But a few years ago, I had to say goodbye to my dog. And I mean, and he was my best friend. Aww. We traveled everywhere together. I— when I got him, I was in a really, really dark space. As a matter of fact, I was having nightmares. He would actually lick my face to wake me up from nightmares. He was my rock. And when I had to say goodbye, my whole world didn't stop. There were no long phone calls. There were no casseroles. No one sitting with me in silence except for one person, and that's the person who's now my wife. I remember feeling like my pain didn't count, like I had to shrink it down just so other people would be comfortable around me. And that, man, I didn't want to go anywhere. I sat On a couch for 2 days. When I returned back to work, I was berated by my boss, and I was told it was time to put my big girl panties on. I had to suck it all back in. Just so that other people would be comfortable around me. But that grief, for me, that grief was loud and it was very real and it changed me. Again, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do several podcasts about different losses that I've had and We're going to cover. We're going to cover the science behind it. We're going to cover the. We're just. We're just get. I want a space where you can feel comfortable and know that there's someone else out there that has gone through that pain, and someone who will willingly walk with you. down that path. Because I've met others that are just like me, people who lost their pup and felt like no one else truly understood. I know people who were expected to go back to work the next day and pretend their heart had not just been torn wide open. And there's, you know, there's a huge difference between telling your boss you need a day off because your grandmother passed and telling us because your dog crossed the Rainbow Bridge last night. One gets met with sympathy, the other one gets met with silence, or, hey, I'm sorry about that, but we got work to do. This is why I've started offering canine Grief coaching. So I've got all this training and coaching. I've got all this, you know, I've been trained on how to deal with trauma. I've been trained on how to deal with grief. But I've never until today wanted to open up space for people who are going through that. We can even back this up with science. You know, science tells us— in fact, in the Journal of Mental Health Counseling shows that the loss of a pet can bring on grief that's just as intense and sometimes even longer lasting than the grief of losing a human family member. The University of Hawaii found in 2018 that more than 70% of pet parents experience symptoms like sadness, anxiety, even identity confusion after a pet dies. And it makes sense. Our dogs are part of our routines. They're with us throughout the seasons of life. They don't judge, they just love. And when that love is gone, that silence is deafening. Let me tell you the, the reasons. I'm gonna give you 4 reasons why canine grief coaching can be a powerful part of your healing process. Number 1, I'm gonna tell you straight up, and this is not the 4, but I do want to tell you that A, we'll use A instead of number 1, but A, this is not therapy. And B, this is not counseling. This is coaching. Therapy And counseling are great for unpacking things. They're great for things that have happened in the past and unpacking those things in the past. What coaching does— coaching helps you move forward. There's no advice giving in us. But here's the 4 reasons why canine grief coaching can be a powerful part of your healing process. Number 1, Coaching gives you a safe space to grieve. You see, grief doesn't follow a calendar. Coaching gives you a space where you don't have to explain. You don't have to hide all those emotions that are just so strong. You just get to be where you are. Number 2, coaching validates your unique bond. I found out— so right now sitting right beside me is Deco, and he's a Brittany. The past 3 dogs I've had are Brittanys. And honestly, when Deco came into our life, I probably was not ready for Deco yet. Because I was grieving the loss of my other dog that died of canine cancer. And what I had to learn is that no 2 dogs are the same, and no 2 bonds are either. I'm bonded to Deco in a completely different way than I was to Trigger. Coaching lets you talk about the real relationship that you had. And what they meant to you, and how they shaped you, and what it feels like now they're gone, to get you set up to begin moving forward and taking action. Number three: Coaching offers healthy tools for remembrance and healing. Maybe it's journaling. Maybe it's building a small ritual. Maybe it's simply finding language for what you're feeling. Coaching provides structure for moving forward in the chaos. And the last one. And I mentioned this a couple times, it's all about moving forward. Coaching helps you move forward without moving on. All my dogs in the past 20, 25 years, I've never really moved on. I think moving on is more like what my boss told me, suck it up, and— or actually, you know, put, put your big girl panties on. Or my own mindset, suck it up and, you know, be an adult, or, you know, don't, don't show your emotions. Man, I— every one of my dogs I've lost in the past 25— actually, I think every dog I've ever lost, there's been tears. And as I look back how I processed those experiences and moved forward, there were some that were healthy, some that were not healthy. Ways that I did that. You see, there's no need to forget or replace. As a matter of fact, all my dogs somehow, some way are integrated into usernames or passwords or, or whatever. I'm not forgetting them. At my in-laws' place, they actually have placards for all the pets that they've lost, including baby squirrels. Coaching helps you move forward without moving on. We find a way— as I walk through this with you together, we find a way to carry your dog's love with what comes into your life next. We do it gently. We do it honestly, and we do it in your own time. If your heart still aches, whether it's been a few days or a few years, you're not broken. Your heart's been ripped open, and you've got a broken heart. But you need to know that your grief is something that's very real, and you deserve real support. You were in your dog's life forever. They may just, they may just be in ours for a little period of time or a short period of time, whether that's 5 years, 15 years. But for most dogs, you were their forever friend. So let's make sure that they stay in your life in the most beautiful way possible. I invite you to learn more and schedule time with me at standsurecoaching.com, or just email me at rob@standsurecoaching.com. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm looking forward To doing this show. Today's just the first podcast. Emotionally, I can probably only do one of these every— I'm not even gonna put a time frame on it because as I dig into each show, I have to dig back, dig back deep, deep, deep, deep into those relationships that I had with my own dogs. So I really invite you to be part of the podcast. Listen to it, subscribe, send it to other people who have dealt with loss. And by the way, I know that I am talking about dogs. This is not to eliminate anyone else that has lost a pet that they love. And a lot— and everything I'm talking about is around dogs. Okay, I get that. But if you know cat lovers that are out there, I'm a cat lover. Or someone who's just, you know, experiencing the loss of that pet. For me, it's, it's about dogs, but any animal that's moving across the rainbow bridge. All right, thank you so much.
