Inktober #34 (Bonus Pic #3) – Door When Kira lost her hearing, she followed me everywhere, often lying by my side or "blocking" doors to sense if someone moved around. I imagine her walking through that door on her own when she died. We miss her. 🖤 #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #33 (Bonus Pic #2) – Resting Day When Kira turned 16, it was clear to me that this was our last chance for a big trip together. So we went on a 3 week cycling trip through the eastern parts of Austria. Even though we didn’t know it then, it was a beautiful goodbye. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #32 (Bonus Pic #1) – Window A year before Kira died, we moved again. The new flat had an almost floor-to-ceiling window with a small ledge and a glass railing - it was the perfect dog balcony. She loved lying in the sun, watching the street below. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #31 – Hiking Buddies Kira wasn’t as fast anymore. She needed help getting over obstacles, gravel hurt her paws, and downhill parts were hard on her joints. But you could still see the joy she took in being out and about. So we kept going - just a little slower… #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #30 - Something happening? During the year Kira lost most of her hearing. This was the first new year we enjoyed without panicking.. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #29 – Fluffy Dumpling Most of the time, I didn’t call my dog by her name. Instead, I called her "Puppy" (a nickname from our first long hiking trek), "Dumpling" (because she looked like one when rolled up), "Mouse" (those ears!), or "Fluffy"… #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #28 – The Old Dog and the Sea In 2023, we planned our last hiking trip with Kira. But because she started developing arthritis and limping that year, we took our bicycles instead and cycled along the coast of Northumberland and Scotland. It was so beautiful there! #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #27 – Old Dog’s Delight The best thing in the world: lying on the balcony, letting the sun warm your aging bones. This is the image I think of most when I picture Kira growing old. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #26 – It’s a Fit! Think I can charge my phone with DogPower? ⚡ #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #25 – Dogpacking In 2021, we got new bicycles to do some bikepacking—with Kira, of course! She loved coming along and exploring after being ferried around in her dog trailer like a queen in her carriage. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #24 – Chill Out This needs no words… #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #23 – Where’s My Hat? My partner loved putting things on the dog while it slept. He’d watch for any reaction, but the dog would just be like: "Whatever, if it makes you happy. I’m sleeping anyway…" 😴 #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #22 – Scarf Not that she needs one with that coat… #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #21 – Cat or Dog? Funny story about the reference photo for this drawing: I entered it into a photo competition, and some selected photos, including this one, were displayed publicly. The woman who hung them told me, "What a nice photo of your cat." 😄 #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #20 – In the Woods The misty woods and fox calls in the distance made this scene feel almost magical. On our hike through the Ligurian Alps, we had a whole week of mist and drizzling rain—with some downpours in between. Not exactly how you imagine Italy! #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #19 – Frau Hitt This little rock needle is well-known in Tyrol. It’s part of a saga about the giant empress "Frau Hitt," who was turned to stone by God as punishment. Now, for all to see, it stands in the mountains above Innsbruck. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #18 – Corner Dog Looks comfy... Not sure why, but our dog loved to lie in corners—especially in front of the entrance door. Always made for funny poses 😄 #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #17 - Mine! Dogs and sticks.. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #16 – Dog on the Roof! The Nødbu was very small, but cozy. In 2016, we went on a longer trekking trip—this time in Norway. On our way through Hardangervidda, we slept in this small emergency hut, where we met, of all people, another couple from Innsbruck! #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #15 – Windy The wind was so strong that even breathing was hard. I wanted to call it “Windhund,” the German for “wind‑dog,” but that doesn’t work in English - ​and it leaves me a bit sad. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #14 – You Comin’? I always envied the light‑footedness and energy of a dog. Kira made the way up through the snow three times, while I was trudging along. Good thing was - it always gave an excuse to go outside, because “the dog has to.” #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #13 – Rocky Path Up there, nothing grows… This scene is from one of the most beautiful hikes - waterfalls, lakes, a glacier, and stunning views in between. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Inktober #12 – Nose in the Wind I’ve always wondered what a dog can know of its surroundings just by sniffing the breeze. Kira's favourite thing to do on our roof terrace. The flat we lived in back then was horrible and falling apart, but the terrace was wonderful… #Inktober #Inktober2025

Here’s my Inktober picture #11 – Rainy Day… This was a tricky one. #Inktober #Inktober2025

My Inktober pic #10: Panorama Dog again! Looking down the wintry slopes from Hafelekar above Innsbruck. Alpine choughs soaring overhead. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Dog on a one person chair lift? Of course! Just, you know, don't move.. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Winter again! And Kira at full speed, dashing down the mountain. This winter we tried carrying our snowboards up the mountains with snowshoes. Don’t do that—get a splitboard, or better yet learn to ski and do ski touring. It’s much easier. (We tried it all..) #Inktober #Inktober2025

Kira somewhere in the Danube River, along our trekking tour from Innsbruck to the Danube Delta at the Black Sea. She even had her own backpack. We didn’t walk the entire route, but we covered 1.400 km in total between May and July 2012. It was a big adventure! #Inktober #Inktober2025

Dog in the office - sleeping most of the time and occupying the lounge chair and/or footstool. Because why lie on the floor? It’s hard! #Inktober #Inktober2025

5th Inktober pic: Kira on the mountain. She always loved climbing up on rocks and looking down, so we dubbed her “panorama dog.” Hence, more pictures like this will follow in my Kira series. 😄 #Inktober #Inktober2025

4th Inktober pic: Our almost 2-year-old dog perched on top of a fountain (water is shut off in winter). She loved jumping on things, and I have to admit that I always encouraged her to do it because it was fascinating to see where she could go. #Inktober #Inktober2025

When visiting my mum’s house, Kira discovered a squeaky ball and instantly adopted it, carrying it everywhere she went. It only lasted for some days, but was really funny. #Inktober #Inktober2025

Second Inktober pic: Kira, nine months old and fully grown (so fast!), enjoying her first snow. We went up the mountain with her and she went wild—jumping, eating, and rolling in the snow. #Inktober #Inktober2025

It’s #Inktober time again. This August, my dog passed away, and I decided to pay homage to her. She reached the proud age of 16 years and was a loyal companion for almost all of my adult life. This first picture shows puppy Kira a day or two after she arrived at our home. #Inktober #Inktober2025