Forever in My Heart: The Story of Marwell, the Australian Shepherd Who Changed Our Lives

There are stories that are easy to write. And then there are stories that bring tears to your eyes as you write them. This is the second kind. A story about a dog who was more than just a pet to our family – he was a companion, a member of the family, and to me personally, like a third child. His name was Marwell, and although he was with us for only two years, he left a mark on our hearts that will never fade.

How it all began

In the summer of 2024, our family spent a lot of time at Verča Živnová's ranch, where we board two horses. Among other things, Verča also runs an Australian Shepherd kennel, so there was always something happening in her yard, with puppies running around everywhere.

One day, sometime in the second half of the summer, I was there with both of my daughters – Lili and Leia – and Verča asked if the girls wanted to go and see the puppies. Of course they did. And that was where it all began.

The girls played with all the puppies, but there was one they liked most of all – Marwik. He was the last unclaimed boy from the litter; no one had chosen him yet. And he chose us. We played with him, he splashed around in the paddling pool, and we fooled around together. Then suddenly, what you are probably expecting happened – the girls wanted to visit the horses every day. They would wake up in the morning and the first thing they would say was: “Dad, are we going to see the horses?” Of course, as soon as we arrived, they ran straight to the puppy.

A little girl in a pink dress plays with a black-and-white puppy in a yard. A little girl on a lawn watches a black-and-white puppy sniffing the ground A black-and-white Australian Shepherd puppy sits on the grass by a stone wall, with its tongue hanging out. A little girl in a garden plays on the grass with two Australian Shepherd puppies.

My friend Bára Fatková from Vítovice Ranch, where we used to keep our horses, encouraged me too. She said a dog would be great for the girls and for us. And so we gave in. Peťa was not exactly thrilled – she knew that a dog was a major commitment, unlike cats, which you can leave at home while you go on vacation. But I could simply feel it. I knew it would be the right decision.

So we signed the paperwork with Verča, did everything that was needed, and one day we put Marwik in the car. The poor thing peed on the front seat – he was frightened and had no idea what was happening or where he was going. But as soon as we arrived home, he began sniffing everything, racing around the house, and exploring his new world. From that moment on, he was ours.

A black-and-white Australian Shepherd puppy lies on the paving stones by a wooden door. A wet black-and-white Australian Shepherd puppy lies on the edge of a blue pool beside a towel. Two little girls play with a black-and-white Shepherd puppy on a terrace. An Australian Shepherd lies on the kitchen floor beside bowls and a wet floor. An Australian Shepherd puppy lies on the floor by a SWEET HOME NO.CH10-H410 shelf

The first few months: Learning, patience, and love

Like every puppy, Marwell needed to learn the basics. Especially the whole peeing thing. They say that a puppy's age in months corresponds to the number of hours it can go without needing to relieve itself – a three-month-old puppy can last three hours, a six-month-old six hours, and so on. With Marwik, that was more or less accurate.

I even got up at night for him, took him outside onto the grass, and always gave him the command “pee.” I never punished him for an accident in the house – no hitting, no rubbing his nose in it. When he pooped indoors, I cleaned it up, took it outside to the garden, and showed him where it belonged. Gradually, he made the connection, and after about a month he was going outside by himself. We made a dog door for him, and he came and went whenever he needed to. I think that calm, loving approach without punishment was the key to how quickly he learned, along with the exceptional intelligence of Aussies 🙂.

Training with Libor Šmehlík: Where Marwik became a true companion

Marwell was naturally intelligent – as is typical of Australian Shepherds, he always stayed close to his owner. He never ran far away and was always somewhere within a certain radius of me. But he had one weakness – whenever he spotted another dog or perhaps a stranger, he would simply run after them and I could not call him back. During horseback rides, it could sometimes get quite tense.

So I started taking him to dog training. I found Libor Šmehlík in Kobylnice near Brno – and in my opinion, it is absolutely the best dog training center in Brno and the surrounding area. A great guy; we chatted every time, and there were wonderful people and wonderful dogs there. His approach used no treats and was based on natural communication and praise. I loved that.

And most importantly – it worked. Within a few months, Marwell was transformed. At training, they began calling him “little bear” – because of what he was like, fluffy and with a mind of his own about everything. I did not call him Marwell very often either. To me, he was always bear, little bear, my little teddy bear. He was incredibly laid-back and had his own opinion about everything, but that was exactly what made him so wonderful.

A man in a baseball cap kneels on a path and hugs a black-and-white puppy on a leash.

People with dogs on leashes stand on a path by the woods in a park. Five people stand on a path by a fence with five dogs on leashes.

The big boss of the ranch

Marwell felt at home at Verča's ranch. In fact – it was his home. He was born there, grew up there, and always loved going back. Whenever we went on vacation, Verča looked after him, and he was right at home there. The big boss of the ranch – that could easily have been his title.

He had his friends there – Verča's Australian Shepherds Miška, Inna, Fidorka, and Paloma. He loved them very much and got along well with them. I also have a special memory of Gina, who sadly passed away too. Marwell got along wonderfully with all of them – they ran around the stable together, rolled in the mud, and enjoyed ranch life to the fullest.

Three Australian Shepherds in a gravel ranch yard, one sitting and two walking Two dogs in a muddy stream, one standing on the bank and the other holding a red toy A brown horse in a meadow looks at a black-and-white Australian Shepherd in the foreground.

An Australian Shepherd watches cows in a pasture, with a basket of mushrooms in the foreground.

Water dog, mushroom hunter, and eternal adventurer

If there was one thing Marwell loved, it was water. And it made absolutely no difference whether it was a pond, a stream, a puddle, or a river – as soon as he saw anything wet, he went straight in. I would throw sticks for him and he would swim and swim, easily for an hour at a time. He did not care that the water was six degrees – he simply wanted to swim. I always touched his chest to check whether he was cold, but he was completely fine. Water was his element.

And mud? That was his second home. All it took was a puddle somewhere, and Marwell would lie in it with his typical smile. He looked like the happiest creature on the planet.

In the fall, we went mushroom hunting together. He ran around, sniffed, and explored the forest while I picked porcini mushrooms. They were those quiet, beautiful moments when it was just the two of us and nature. I will never forget them.

A black-and-white dog lies on the stable floor by a wooden gate with straw. A black-and-white Australian Shepherd with its tongue hanging out stands on gravel by a stable. A black-and-white dog lies in the middle of a muddy puddle on a forest road A wet black-and-white female dog sits on a towel, with two children in a bathtub behind her. A black-and-white dog stands in a bathtub full of bubbles, surrounded by toys and toiletries. A black-and-white dog lies among leaves and moss in a forest, with a person in the background. A black-and-white Australian Shepherd puppy stands in a rusty fire pit bowl on the grass.

A member of the family – and above all, our girls' friend

Marwell was not just my dog. He was the whole family's dog. Lili and Leia adored him, and he loved them just as much. He climbed into bed with them, cuddled with them on the couch, and watched over them. He was patient, kind, and always there when the girls needed him.

He always did everything with us. Trips to see the horses, walks to the ponds, horseback rides – Marwell was always there. All it took was one look at him and the world immediately seemed a little more beautiful. When I had been away for a few days, he greeted me with such joy that I felt as though he was about to start climbing the walls and ceiling.

A little girl sits on a black-and-white dog on a living-room couch. A black-and-white Australian Shepherd lies on a couch across the legs of a child wearing tights. A girl hugs a black-and-white Australian Shepherd and cuddles up to it. A wet black-and-white female dog sits on a towel, with two children in a bathtub. A little girl in a pink snowsuit stands beside a seated black-and-white Shepherd by a gate. A little girl in a hat hugs a black-and-white Australian Shepherd by a fence in a meadow. A girl in a pink jacket, a dog, and a man holding a phone on a wooden terrace. Two little girls pet a black-and-white dog on the paving stones, one holding a bowl A girl sits on the floor and pets a black-and-white dog with its tongue hanging out. A little girl hugs a black-and-white Australian Shepherd puppy in a white armchair; Broccoli, broccoli, A girl sits on a gray sofa and hugs a black-and-white dog in a living room. A little girl leans against a black-and-white dog in a white armchair.

A girl lies in bed and hugs a large black-and-white Australian Shepherd.

Christmas with our little bear

Christmas with Marwell was unforgettable too. He was part of every celebration, every family moment. Wearing a red bow tie or a Santa hat, he looked like the most dignified member of the household.

A black-and-white dog on a couch wearing a red Christmas hat, with cushions in the background

A black-and-white Australian Shepherd wearing a red bow tie sits on a rug indoors.

Two little girls at a set table, with a black-and-white dog lying on a rug.

A woman with two children and an Australian Shepherd by a Christmas tree glowing blue.

The final days: Walks I did not know would be our last

Four days before it happened, we went on a long horseback ride together. We covered about ten kilometers through the forest and the beautiful countryside of the Moravian Karst, and then we went to Jedovnice for lángos – in my opinion, they have the best in the entire country. We played together by the water, I threw him a stick, and he swam for about an hour. The water could not have been more than six degrees, but he did not care. He was completely happy.

On Wednesday, we went for a walk together by the ponds here in Hostěnice. The ice had just melted, so he could finally swim. He was absolutely thrilled – racing around, swimming, and rolling everywhere. Normally, a walk like that takes no more than an hour, but we were outside for at least two hours, if not longer. As I drove away, I thought about how beautiful it had been. That spring was finally here, the sun was shining, and soon we would be hunting for porcini mushrooms, visiting the horses, and running around together everywhere.

But I did not know that it was our last walk.

A view from horseback of a forest road, with a black dog running ahead. A view from horseback of a country road, with a black dog ahead.

A black-and-white Australian Shepherd lies on the paving stones beside a towel and a wooden floor

A wet black-and-white Australian Shepherd sits in the trunk of a car, looking to the side.

A black-and-white dog with an orange collar holds a stick by the water

A black-and-white Australian Shepherd sits on a forest road, with its tongue hanging out and an orange collar.

A black-and-white Australian Shepherd with its tongue hanging out stands on a forest path.

A black-and-white dog stands on the shore of a frozen pond by a tree in a small woodland

Friday the thirteenth

On Friday, March 13, 2026, a tragic accident happened. Peťa had taken Marwell for a walk near Holubice while I was at Rockwall Ranch training with the girls and the horses. She called me – and for about half a minute, I could not get her to tell me what had happened because she was crying so hard. Then she told me that Marwell had been hit by a train. It happened on a walking trail used by many dog walkers every day. He ran after a hare and onto the tracks just as a train was passing – trains do not even run there very often – but he simply did not see or hear it, even though he normally always came when called. It was an unfortunate combination of coincidences and circumstances that simply should never have happened, but did.

I immediately sprang into action. I called Verča – she was the first person who came to mind. She could not believe it at all and thought I was joking. But it was not a joke. Verča immediately dropped everything and drove to Peťa. On the way, I called the veterinary clinic – I managed to arrange for them to postpone a non-emergency operation at Vetuni, prepare a trolley, open the examination room with a veterinary surgeon, get the X-ray ready, and so on. As always, everyone at Vetuni was completely professional.

When I saw Marwik in the trunk of the car – crumpled, battered, with a torn eyebrow – my heart clenched. But he was not whimpering. He kept trying to get up on his front paws, so I stroked him and told him that everything would be all right, that we would get through it.

The doctor began examining him. She took a pair of forceps and pinched his hind paw hard. He did not move at all. He could not feel anything. The result was immediately clear on the X-ray – even without the doctor's explanation, I could see it myself. His spine was completely broken, with the vertebrae displaced downward by two to three vertebral widths. I broke down right there. I sat on the floor and cried. I could not get up.

The decision was clear, even though it was the hardest one of my life. We would not let him suffer. Verča was watching the girls in the car, so I went out to ask whether she wanted to say goodbye to him too, and she came in. I went to say goodbye to him as well. I hugged him, kissed him, and told him everything I could – that we loved him and would never forget him. He looked at me, poor thing, completely confused, not knowing what was happening. And then they put him to sleep.

I had a mental breakdown unlike anything I had ever experienced in my life.

Buried at the ranch

I wanted him to rest where he had been happy. Where he was born. Where he loved going most. At Verča's ranch. I asked her, and she agreed – several of her own dogs are buried there too.

At night, beneath the stars, wearing a headlamp, I dug a grave for someone I loved so terribly much. I have no idea how I managed to dig a hole a meter deep with a pickaxe – I do not think I had ever even held one before in my life. My hands were bleeding and covered in blisters, but I did not notice.

Before I lowered him into the ground, I sat beside him for another fifteen or twenty minutes. I stroked him and told him everything I wanted to say.

The next day, I went to a flower shop, bought some pansies, and planted them there with the girls – Leinka and Lilianka. Since then, I have brought him flowers every day, watered the pansies, and told him what we have been doing. Once, some roe deer came and ate the pansy blossoms – but that does not matter, it was for a good cause, and fortunately they leave the bouquets alone, and even if they did not...

A bouquet and planted pansies by a small tree on freshly dug soil

A colorful bouquet of pink and white chrysanthemums with a fuchsia gerbera indoors. A hand holds a colorful bouquet of gerberas and chrysanthemums by an open car door.

What I wrote on Facebook and Instagram

Shortly after it happened, I wrote a post on social media. It was difficult to write, but I needed to get those thoughts out:

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I never imagined that one day I would be standing beneath the stars at night ✨, wearing a headlamp… silently digging a grave for someone I loved so terribly much.

And I certainly never imagined that it would happen on Friday the thirteenth, even though I am not superstitious.

On Friday, our beloved Marwik tragically passed away in an accident. 🐾

My little bear. My companion. A member of the family. 🤍

From the moment we brought him home as a little puppy, he was part of every day of my life. I raised him, trained him, and he went with me to see the horses 🐎, on walks, into the forest… and in fact, he got me outdoors almost every day, even when I really did not feel like going.

All it took was one look at him and everything in the world immediately seemed a little more beautiful.

When I had been away for a few days, he greeted me with such joy that I felt as though he was about to start climbing the walls and ceiling.

He loved life. He loved our family. He simply loved everything.

And I loved him. ❤️

He was like a third child to me, literally; that was how I saw him.

I will never forget that moment at the veterinary clinic when I held him… and saw him take his last breath. 🕊️

At that moment, my entire world collapsed.

There are dogs… and then there are dogs like Marwik. 🐾

Individuals. Souls that leave a deep imprint on your heart and never leave it again.

That was exactly who he was.

I do not know how long it will take before I can somehow come to terms with it, or whether I ever will. Right now, all I know is that I miss him terribly.

And that the emptiness he left behind cannot even be described in words.

You were the most beautiful thing that ever happened to us. 🤍

Rest in peace, my friend. 🕊️

One day, we will meet again ☁️.

For a long time, I wondered whether I should share this at all.

But Marwik was part of my life and also part of my world here online. And he deserves to have at least this memory remain here after him.

Those of you who knew him know how exceptional he was.

And those of you who did not know him… believe me, someone truly exceptional and wonderful has gone, and living without him will be hard for me.

Thank you for reading to the end and perhaps taking a moment to remember my little bear 😭😭😭🖤

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A black-and-white Australian Shepherd stands in a red paddling pool filled with water in a garden.

Forever my little bear

It has been some time now, stretching longer day by day, since Marwell passed away. I have accepted that he will no longer be with us – but accepting it and stopping thinking about him are two completely different things. I still think about him. Every day. I dream about him. During the first few days, every time I heard a rustle, I went to look at the door to see whether he was coming.

Peťa blamed herself, but I told her – it was not your fault. It could have happened to anyone, even me. It could have been a car, a horse could have kicked him, anything could have happened; otherwise, he would never have been able to go anywhere. He simply raced around everywhere, he was happy, always smiling, grinning, and thrilled to be outside. And we loved him and gave absolutely everything we could to our relationship with him.

You could see how content he was. Everyone around us said it – that he was an incredibly happy dog. And he was. He loved life. He loved our family. He simply loved everything.

Marwik, my little bear

You were like a third child to me. Literally. That was how I saw you, and that is how I will always see you. I raised you, trained you, and we went together to see the horses, into the forest, to the ponds, and mushroom hunting. You got me outdoors every day – even when I really did not feel like going. Thanks to you, I experienced moments I otherwise never would have had.

Lili and Leia adored you. You were their great friend, their protector, their cuddly companion. They miss you. We all miss you.

I know that you are at peace on your ranch up above, surrounded by your friends and plenty of water where you can swim to your heart's content. And I believe it is only a matter of time before we meet again.

I will never forget you, my little bear.

You will be in my heart forever. 🐾