“It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”..... thank you and blessings
My wife battled cancer for 5 years before it took her life. Our Lab Was with my wife for those 5 years of chemo. I recently had to put him down. It was almost as difficult as losing my wife. There was not a better dog for my wife. He brought peace and comfort to her during her most painful time. I hope he is with her now. All my love to my wife. And to Beau. I will see you two soon.
8 years later and I still come back here to grieve Denali and now my first baby Yoda. No matter how many times I rewatch this, I still cry and a complete mess. I like to think that these same spoken thoughts from Denali are the same thoughts of my Yoda when he passed. There's something so different about losing a dog you've loved since they were born. An unspoken love and tie that no one can put into words but you and them.
I know !! Dogs are here to teach us love. Ben, Denali is waiting for you. Love is something that can't die as we are all pure energy. A holy man said to me " that pet is inside of you, he lives within" Love you Denali. Love you Ben
Totally. I first saw this when it came out, and at the time my dog, Eazy, was roughly 8. I dont know his exact age because I rescued hom from a bad situation, but ive never had a stronger bond with any other dog. He passed away of cancer this last year, as did my mother. Ben and Denali's story has more meaning to me than ever before.
The reason why there are 23 dislikes is because those 23 people had tears in their eyes and couldn't tell which button was the like button. That has to be the only logical explanation.
Our sweet dog died yesterday. He was only five. We did everything we could but I could not shake off the guilt. Love you to the moon and back, dearest Helios. ❤
I just had to put my dog down this morning...had him for 15 years. I had him since I was 8 years old..being 23 years now it's hard to see him gone. We grew up together,he was one of the toughest little dogs I've ever met. I thought maybe there was a way to save him,but...on the car ride there,I held him and watched him look out the window,one of this favorite things too do,but..he kept looking at the sky. That's when I knew...he was ready too go. I know they can't live forever...but it doesn't make it any easier. RIP Rusty...you we're always my rotten little monkey..
Dee Cee Its hard,you lose apiece of your family. I think it was the hardest to see how depressed my basset hound became when she understood he was gone,didn't want to eat,would lay around all day,her skin became even looser from her just being sad. We got a puppy a few weeks ago,of course he'll never be able to replace Rusty..but it's nice to see her back to her old clownish self now that she has someone to play with again.
Yeah, I truely feel like such a huge piece of me can never be healed :( But I am super happy to hear that your Basset Hound has found some joy again :D Im sure time will be of help for me but at the moment its so hard
this year i lost my son my job my sanity but I do what I do best I get up and keep going. One breath one day one moment just keep going. Tom hanks said it best tomorrow the sun will rise.
I made the mistake of watching this at work on my lunch break. When I got to the part “When someone you love walks through the door, even if it happens five times a day, you should go totally insane with joy.” I just broke down into tears. Not a cool thing for your co-workers to see, especially if you are a fifty-something year old man. But that quote fit our dog Penny to a tee. We lost her last April, and I'm still not over it. No matter how bad my day was, I knew I had Penny's welcome to look forward to when I got home. And that always made everything better. Now I have a new pup, Zenobia. And she is the same way. It's like I got our Penny back and am getting a do-over. First thing I do is hug my dog when I get home. Everyone else can wait their turn.
"There was this really smart scientist guy who said that people can learn a lot from dogs. He said that when someone you love walks through the door, even if it happens five times a day, you should go totally insane with joy." Best line of the whole video in my opinion
3 years back my wife decided we were getting a dog , decision made . That was one of the best things she's ever done for me , for us . Our dog Cali has been with us through thick and thin and always remained close . She knows when I'm upset , having a rough day , anxious , sad .. She always remains close . Thanks for the story Ben , absolutely beautiful .
This was/is the most beautiful “in memory of”...that I have ever seen. You are a beautiful man, loving his best friend. He will be waiting for you one day and you will once again feel complete.
I sympathize with this. One of the flaws of monotheistic religions is that they don't think animals go to heaven -- only humans have souls and go there.
I'm a veterinarian and surprisingly for 20 years never owned a dog. When I had to euthanize someones pet it was a sad time but I was always surprised at the depth of sadness their owners felt. That was until I got a dog of my own! He is my world, luckily for me he is still a young 'un so hopefully will have him for many more years, but just watching the first few minutes of this film had me bawling! I can't imagine life without him. My eyes have truly been opened. This was a great, great tribute to mans best friend. RIP Denali.
Just put my dog down. She was almost 5 years old. She had cancer and fought it many times for me and survived. My little Phoenix...but this time she had a brain tumor and had seizures. The night before I took her, I took care of her and we cuddled all night. It was so hard, but point is to enjoy every moment because they might have less time than you think.
Tileabylan - It will make you a better veterinarian to know the love of your own dog! More empathetic and understanding. I hope your young 'n dog is doing great!
When i was 10, at school I had a strange feeling that my dog had just died, a wave of emotion that was not much really, just different. Never thought about it rest of the day. Mum picked me up in the car and she said "Sorry son, got some bad news to tell you"...I blurted out that I knew, Husky had died and I started crying and didnt stop till I got home. Tis funy how you develop a relationship with a dog that can't (literally) talk to you, yet you know everything he says and him too. 50 years on and I still get a lump in my throat thinking about him. Films like this just choke me up something rotten and I love it, makes me feel alive again inside.
I've always rescued every animal I saw in need but after the death of my son my beautiful boy I was rescued by a pack of 12 amazing dogs. I needed them and we're our family now, we're doing life together day by day! Pack Strong In Love 💕
This was me, in April of 2013. A cold water surfer in Washington who took my yellow lab Max with me everywhere in my Tacoma. He died from kidney disease and 3 years later I still lose it from time to time. I could have a bad day at work and he would always be excited to see me. a fight with my gf? He'd always bury his head in my lap to let me know it would be ok. Goddamn I miss him.
Tim Nelson I know how u feel. My dog was the same, but we grew up together so his death was like losing a brother. He died in my arms and my other dog was howling cuz she knew he was dying. One day after school I took a nap on the floor and he snuggled up next me and had his head on my head. I had two guinea pigs and he thought they were his children. His name was "sweet puppy" he's always been there for me and I still walk in my house expecting him to be at the door greeting me
Tim Nelson I totally feel you.. I lost both my beloved rescue Pits almost 2 years ago and my heart is still broken and cries. My Xena had bone cancer and a week later my Gotti passed away in his sleep laying next to me. He missed Xena so much,, I think. his heart was broken. The. Truly they were my best friends and my babies. I sure do hope and pray we can be together together together some day
Tim Nelson thank you for allowing Denali to show his story. Me and my 12 year old dog Rocky both have fight in us still and mainly because we never left each others side. I can only prepare myself for the day he goes. It would also be the greatest life story lived myself.
It’s been 6 years for me and I still come back to watch it. It’s also my favorite short film, and has inspired me to get behind a camera myself. Everything about this story is perfect. Videography, music, everything.
We had to put our dog down today. His name was Axel, an American bulldog putbull mix. He loved everyone, he couldn't hurt anything even if he tried. He brought smiles to everyone he met. He died in our arms, he looked like he was sleeping. He was such a good dog. Such a good dog.
I loved a man once, and I adored his dog, Wilson, who adored me back.. The man didn't love me, so we parted. Funny, I don't really miss him, but I still cry for Wilson.
dog's don't have the trivial emotional bonds we form with another human...all they know is "hey this is a nice human, I like this person" very simple logic but it's all they have
I just had to put my doggy down last night. Thank you for this video. I am supposed to be the strong one in my house so I can't tell anyone that I know, just how much it hurts that I held her head as she took her last breath. Somehow, telling a bunch of random strangers online seems to help so, thank you.
So sorry for your loss. I am so glad you were with her at the end, I cannot even imagine how difficult that would be. I lost one before it got to that point, and I am still not over it. It helped me to write stuff down, I kept a little journal handy and would cry and write. It helped me, maybe it will help you. Anyway, thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dennis your comments brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your vulnerability with us. You have done a great service to your dog to give such gentle reassurance during that time, as well as to your family who needs your comfort and strength. Please know that it's okay for you to mourn as well, and imo that strength is in no way diminished by vulnerability. I'm sorry for y'alls loss.
+Dennis Crouse Been in your shoes.......broken hearted......slept with Max's collar for months......laid down on the floor with him, held him in my arms as he died.....that was 4 years ago......I have Jack by my side now. All my sweet sentients live in my soul. I hug you Dennis, take the time to mourn, all that we love becomes part of us!
+Dennis Crouse I'm so sorry for your loss. I still can't talk about my dog Kayla that I lost almost 7 mos ago without tears. I just read an amazing essay about grief that I want to share with you. Maybe it wil help just a little bit: www.thatericalper.com/2015/08/16/person-is-asking-for-advice-hn-how-to-deal-with-grief-this-reply-is-incredible/
My boy Sam just passed away 3 1/2 weeks ago at only 5 months old. My fiancé had been searching for a litter of Aussies for months until we finally found him. We drove 3 hours just to meet the pups and Sam chose me right away. He had serious issues from the first 2 weeks of getting him, he was weaned too early so we literally had to nurse him back to life with a mothers milk supplement and a syringe. After a while he began eating on his own and started acting like a normal pup. We took him everywhere as soon as he finished his puppy vaccines, from overnight beach camp trips to week long road trips through the sierras. He loved every second of it. This video reminds me of him so much. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him, nights are harder. I wanted an Aussie named Sam for years, named after Samwise Gamgee (the best sidekick a hobbit could ever ask for) and he was everything I ever wanted. Although his life was short, he made an impact on me that will last forever. I'm sure Denali and Sam are out explorin the heavens together.
This video is such a wonderful tribute. My dog was there with me through my own colon cancer chemo treatments. At the beginning of July he started to not act right. He failed so quickly, after 4 days in ICU at the vets, I took him home. I was hoping he'd start eating, but I knew it was the end, and I really didn't want his last night to be in a cold kennel at the vet's. I slept with him all night, feeling the tremors, the ragged breaths, Hugging my best friend, my guide close. In the morning my friend drove us to the vets office one last time. He was gone within seconds of the vet starting the injection. Even though we didn't travel like you guys did. being a guide dog, he went every where with me. I feel lost. I feel alone.
I am really really proud to have chosen this short film for the 2015 edition of a surf film festival I co-organize here in Lisbon, Portugal. 9 years on and Denali keeps moving and inspiring people all over the place. A lot of films pass through my hands, most of them are forgotten, but I lost count of how many times I have watched Denali and how many times I have shared it with friends and family. Tonight I showed it to someone very special to me. And once again, the bond between Denali and Ben has shown how powerful it was (and is...) and how far it can reach. This is my small heartfelt tribute to Denali. And to Ben. Cheers!
I was so touched by this film, especially after losing my brother this year to pancreatic cancer and our dog watched over my brother when he would rest in the living room. Mikey the Greyhound would follow my brother outside in the heat and he hates the heat, but he knew he had a job to watch over my brother when I wasn't in the room. Dogs are so amazing an Denali was just as incredible.
I'm truly sorry for your loss my friend,I can't imagine your pain. My mom had pangreatic cancer as well and she had been to hell and back until she recovered but she had the worst 5 years of her life...why does cancer fucking exists,just why?
I lost my best friend, my heart, my soul. I lost everything two years ago when she left. We spent ten years together, and Abril touched everybody's life. Whenever people wanted to feel loved or to feel understood, they came to her to hug her or just talk to her. She just sat there, listening in complete silence, looking at them. When I had no one, she was there. She was always there. And I know she will always be. So when we knew she had terminal cancer, she let us know when it was time, when she needed to rest from so many years of just giving. Giving everything she had to everyone. You can't even imagine how special she was to the whole world. She is my angel, and will always be my guardian. The friendship and love will remain alive. I'm making sure to be happy, to love limitless, to go insane with joy whenever I get the chance. That's my way to honor her memory. She just wanted to make me happy, and I'm trying so hard to make her proud of me. That's my goal in life: spread her. She was love. So that's what I do: I spread her everywhere. She lives in me and I won't let her die as another memory in life. Because she IS my life. Wherever you are, buddy, my love. I love you. Thank you for making this awesome video. I could relate to it so much. You are so strong, and the friendship you share is so pure that it brought tears of pure joy to my eyes. Thank you so so much for sharing your story.
+LSnnow This was so eloquently written, it brought more tears to my eyes. My best friend of 10 years is getting older and sicker. I cherish every day I have with her. This video and your words have given me so much hope. Thank you. I am Incredibly sorry for your loss, I can only imagine the heartache you must feel. Our friends live for such a short time but the amount of love they give impacts us for a lifetime.
+Eve No Adam Your comment it's just beautiful. I was having a shitty day and then I read this and it just made me smile. Enjoy your best friend, enjoy your dog and when she's gone (I don't really know what humans did good to deserve these angels, so they spend a little while here, and then they are gone to wait for us, as the did every day), I'm not gonna lie, you're going to cry, you're going to be so sad and so upset that nothing we can say will cheer you up.. But suddenly you will remember her, your best friend, and you're gonna say: "nope, enough crying, she was sad when I was sad, and she just wanted to make me happy": So you're going to honor her, and keep you're amazing smile. Because she will live in you forever. Thank you so so so much for your condolences, and for your beautiful words. Give a huge hug to your friend from me, okay? Love her every single day. Peace!
LSnnow I'm so glad I was able to put a smile on your face, as you have just done the same for me :) You are right tho, it will be hard and I know I will be overwhelmed with emotion when she is gone, but by acknowledging that she would want me to be happy will be enough to keep me going. Abbie graciously accepts your hug, and she reciprocates with a thousand and one kisses! All the happiness to you and your future, and I hope you can find love again in another angel on four legs. "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make us whole"
Oh my god... Only a few people can feel what its like to struggle for your life... Surfing is a changing experience for ones life.. So is the relationship with a dog... 7 minutes full of life's meaning...
I watch this every few months, and I unconditonally cry for what you went through, not only surviving cancer but having to say the ulitmate goodbye to a best friend. My guy is 13 and I worry about the day I will have to do what you had to do with Denali What a beautifully inspiring story, and thank you for sharing your love & joy. All my love!
This is the best pet memorial ever. I cry ever time I see it because I had such a similar journey with my dog. This was so beautifully filmed and edited. A million kudos for making this!
I watch this every few months. I know it's true: "Every time your friend comes through the door, rejoice madly." Life and love are all that matter. Thank you Ben. Thank you Denali.
I've watched this beautiful video 9 times in 3 days. I haven't enjoyed a film this much in so long. I was afraid to watch it, knowing it would be a tear jerker. I literally couldn't catch my breath due to crying so hard! So many beautiful moments and words. The beautiful places, Denali narrating, his dog humor, his love for Ben, his gratitude, his loyalty, his reminiscing, his devotion, his knowing he was loved so much! It's pure love. I've gone through the grieving of losing a special pet. And it's honestly the hardest thing I've ever been through. With this film, I'm not struck so much from the loss, I'm struck by the incredible love Denali and Ben shared and how it was made so I could witness it. It's a beautiful story of a beautiful bond that I know doesn't happen everyday, sometimes not ever! Fly high Denali. And yes, you are very handsome. Both you and Ben have a permanent home in my heart.
+HMRLTL Im soooooooooo sorry. At least you know he passed away as a happy pouch. And sprits never really leave you. He knew it was his time to go and his sprit will forever watch over you, protecting you...
+HMRLTL So, so sorry for your loss! I had that day 9.4.2014, my beloved Iris (rescued from Crete, Greece). She toke her final breath at my lap. - The most hardest day in my life. But, now, I have here Luna (another rescued one from Crete) with me, but never forgotting Iris, everyday I'm talking to her - still.
Tutta Salonen I'm sorry for your loss as well and everyone else's also. There is a great song called "My Old Dog" on youtube about losing your best buddy. It's an absoutely wonderful imo.
What a beautiful and touching tribute. Im a cat owner but the same applies. My tigger is getting old but shes holding on for now. Ill be devastated when she leaves me. Thank you for this. Love from Scotland ❤❤❤
i cry like that too. it sure hurts. I can't do this happy face to the world. it's phony and like my ma said. who told you life was supposed to be happy all the time
I commented on this 6 years ago. I still watch it. Such a beautiful tribute to love between a human and their dog. I am so grateful for mine every single day. Never could’ve imagined the first time I commented, when he was 8 months old, and now almost 8 years old, how I’ve become even more bonded with him. He’s my best friend. I’ve spent all these years building such a strong relationship with him. I took him to training school where I got certified as a dog trainer. They told me I had “a lot of balls” bringing a Nordic dog into a training certification, but we left as the top tracking team, in the top of our class, and with an unbreakable bond. Shortly after that, he was with me through the complete uprising then degradation of an abusive marriage, divorce, loss of my business, loss of my whole identity, my rebuilding and all the other highs and lows since... I never take a single day for granted with him, because he’s been the best friend I’ve ever had. We seem to have formed this unspoken language between us at this point too. I don’t really know how to explain it, but he’s the “once in a lifetime” dog that people talk about. There may be others, but he’s always going to be the most special. I hate to think that he will leave me, and it’s sad, but I love this tribute you made. It makes me cry but I still watch it every now and again to remind me of what really matters through all the bullshit. To go crazy with joy for all that you love. Thank you 🙏
jeferson vera They hit over to far too the right. It's normal for some mouse clicks to be off in such a short proximity depending on screen muscle and brain interaction as well as mouse and computer resolutions and displays. I hope this helps solve your "mystery".
Dear Ben... I am in New Zealand and have just finished reading Denali, on the first day of 2021 with my senior canine snoring with complete lack of grace on the floor beside my bed. The sound of her snoring is what I will miss most, especially how it makes me sleep knowing how filled with love I am because of her. I survived a motorbike crash 10 years ago with a broken neck, back and reconstructed leg in thanks to my two dogs, Kujo my white German Shepherd who passed 2 years ago to bone cancer, and Beanie, my Beardie Collie Cross who is approaching 14 years old and is recovering from surgery for mast cell tumors. You have inspired me to finally write that book as a tribute to my two friends, who have helped me do life on my own for a total span of 14 years. And as I look to my old girl now, I know she is close to letting me know she is tired now, but she has also hung in there to make sure I am strong enough to continue without her. It took me 10 years to rebuild my life, but I finally have and she stayed with me until I was safe again. Thank you for your story, for sharing Denali with the world, and for helping me to understand I am now ready to share my story, the one that I am about to start writing again when Beanie gives me that last lick on my face after we sit at the beach watching the sun rise, she'll share a vodka with me there just as kujo did too at sunset. Forever grateful, Katie-Jane Bowen, New Zealand
Bless you good people for keeping Denali's memory alive. My dog is sitting next to me trying to figure out why I am sobbing. When I can talk I will hug him and explain. He understands more than people think he does. RIP Denali. Warm hug Ben.
dogs name was Denali-where chris mccandlrs died in alaska-bens o7her work and films are on vimeo and 7umblr ....7his film ending up sweeping 7he fes7ival circui7 and has won so many accolades...as i7 deserves i am ill i have a ralphie i am him bu7 a girl...and i was no7 cured...i have seen 7his hundreds of 7imes now my hospi7al jus7 go7 broadband..
It's difficult to make me Cry over a video, but all of a sudden it started raining in my room, and just on my face.. that's my story and I'm sticking to it...RiP Sweet Boy..
Had to bury our family's 10 yr dog today. My father in law was putting up a tough front but I knew it was hard on him. Told him to watch this video, even though it gets me everytime, because it does help me know that dogs do love us and appreciate our love we give them. Truly man's best friend
I cried at this video a lot. I felt a great sense of sadness and joy and peace all at the same time. Until something touched my knee. It was my dog Quentin, of course, resting his little face on my leg as he always does when I cry.
I lost my best friend of 10 years only 2 weeks ago and it is the most unimaginable pain I've ever gone through. Wonderful video. RIP Denali I hope Riley has gotten to meet you up in dog heaven.
I have watched this every single year for about 7 years. Each time my soul aches and my eyes are flooded. A very, very special film that I will never forget for the rest of my life.
I miss my best friend. She never knew she had grown old even when I had to carry her up and down the stairs because her wobbly, arthritic legs couldn't do it anymore. It was all worth it. I wish we could have continued growing older together. Fifteen years was just not long enough. She will forever remain the most beautiful dog and my most faithful friend until the end. My smiling girl...
+Kellyn Barnes I miss mine to Kellyn....he died 10 years ago and I still cry and was never able to get another dog...my beautiful border collie Sambo and we also camped a lot and travelled around Australia together until settling in Perth WA where we could both enjoy the beach together....I will not put myself through this heartache again for some time....so I replaced him with cats and lot's of them LOL May be one day I'll rescue another one, but for now he is in my thoughts and my heart daily....
Sometimes I come back to watch, just as a reminder to go totally insane with joy, every time my dog greets me at the door, even if it happens 5 times a day.
Amazing tribute Sir, I wish more people would remember stories like this when their dogs are locked up for hours on hours. They dont understand that you are all that animal has, they are never mad at you they are never upset with you. Love you pets they wont be around forever.
Not going to lie. I cried..a lot. I buried my best friend July 8th of this year. She was such a great dog. I hurt more over losing my dogs than relatives. I love you Abbey, I will see you again one day.
This film is amazing, and there is no doubt about that. But, if you want a deeper insight, make sure to read Ben's book about Denali as well - it's even better. Sorry for your loss Ben and I am sure that your work and story has inspired countless people.
IM back here today because I lost my sweet girl and I thought of this for comfort truth and support it still hits me like when it did when I first saw it years ago now, and to help me with my loss today I thank you very much
I wish my dog could've had a peaceful story like this but his life was cut short. He had major behaviour problems with strangers and my mom said that we could give him to the breeder we got him from or put him down. One day I came home from school and he didn't come up running and crying to see me and I asked my mom where he was and she put him down when I was at school. I didn't get to say goodbye or anything and I could feel my heart break in two. You're lucky you got to spend a full life with Denali.
I held my Georgie for two days until he passed away in my arms. This film is done for all of us who have loved and been loved by these beautiful animals - Thank you for making it.
One of the most inspirational videos I have seen on the bond between humans and canines. My face gets soaked with tears, every time I watch it. Thank you for creating this video.
That Odessa song shuffled onto my playlist and I had to come back to watch this video again - so so so good. An amazing job. The unstoppable march of waves throughout the film sets an appropriate metaphor for time and life, so it's best to make the most of it!
+Vinson Smith Took the words right out of my mouth. I have never had a closer bond with a dog in my life, and I honestly believe my dog, Abbie, was put on this earth to be by my side. She is and always will be a part of my soul.
I feel exactly the same. My best friend Obi-Wan is my soul incarnate. I've never had an unbreakable bond with anyone even remotely like I do with him. I've had dogs my whole life, but he is TRULY something much different in an aweinspiring way!! He is the most iintelligent little big man I've ever known. I cannot imagine my life without him...and don't ever want to. He is my heart, my breath, my life, my soul. He is my sanity in a funny furry package. He is Obi.
A beautiful tribute. I have loved and said goodbye to five beautiful souls over the past 25 years. The pain of holding your doggy pal in their last moments is nothing compared to the pure joy of their company through the years. Denali had a full and loving life. Thanks Ben.
Ive seen this video many o' times and everytime wouldnt ya know it....im cutting onions. The irony. Us pet parents is all they know and we can never appreciate enough (or should at least) the amount of insane joy they express when seeing us after any length of time be it ten mins or ten hours. Ben Moon thank you again kindly of reminding everyone what a gift the love of a dog is truly. And the love they show in their relatively short lives outnumbers the amount of love of a thousand loving people.
I lost my everything two days ago to Cancer. He went from a perfectly healthy pup to all of the sudden stage 4 cancer. Enzo was my travel buddy and brought him everywhere with me. For all of us who lost our best friend, stay strong and we will see them again in the next after life. ✌🏻️
Very touching tribute to a beloved pet. Very creative to narrate the story from the dog's perspective. It's beautiful the way the dog responds to Ben, and how Ben shows love and affection for Denali until the very end. Not only a touching tribute, but also a valuable lesson in how to do a truly touching documentary in a very creative way.
The dog is like a human being, has sense of danger & a common sense. She's Man's best friend has Unconditional Love. She can be a rescuer & a Therapy dog. This video makes me cry. RIP for your best friend w/Unconditional Love.
I've watched this a few times and every time I ball like a baby, I love my dogs so much. They've saved me many times over emotionally thru a divorce, addiction and many other "bumps" in the road. Their unwavering loyalty and love cannot be duplicated. Thank you Dakota, Pepper and Princess may you live forever
I'm so sorry. crying uncontrollably. I don't know what I will do when it's my Clydes turn to go home. He's my best friend. literally. Thanks for the video. The most beautiful thing I've seen.
i loved the quote about if you love someone and they walk the through the door 5 times a day you should go insane with joy every time. why in the world don't we do that? dogs are truly the best creatures on earth i think--the way that love is so important to them, their human/pack. i am a cat person now, but still recogize the wonder of dogs. touching tribute--just right, not sappy, but heart touching. how does someone do a thumbs down on this?
I lost my best friend Odegaard after 12 years 2 weeks ago, just got his ashes back yesterday, i can take him back to his favourite places one last time, wonderful journey we had together.
Lost my old girl Dec 8 2023. I’ve had her since I was four and she died at 15. She had that same white stripe on her neck as Denali. She got canine dementia and I watched her slowly slip away and she began to go in circles. Thank you for posting this. It reminded me to remember the good days I had camping and going on road trips with her, instead of focusing on the the way she left. Now all we can do is learn from their love, and carry their stories and joy with us along the way as we barrel forward through the unknown. Will we ever see them again? No one knows. But what we do know is that there was a time where we were surrounded by their unending love, and that it’s ok to be sad, but continue loving.
My best friend is almost 15 years old. He is still able to get up and follow me around the yard, and can still jump on my bed, only to jump right back off to sleep by the door. Since he's deaf now, I think he does that so I can't leave without him knowing. He has been my best friend and it is so incredibly hard to see him having his bad days, but when he is feeling good it brings much joy. Now his eyes are going bad too, so life is getting harder for him. I know I will have to say good bye to him soon, but everyday he is still with me, I am blessed. I have his daughter who is 13, and we have a cat that is 16...all of our pets are aging.......Maybe I will make a video like this someday.
I saw this video a year ago and thought it was sooooo well done. It certainly was a tear jerker then. It made me reflect on my dog, who was 11 at the time, and my soul mate. Well, last week it finally happened and I, too, had to make that decision to let him go with God. Today I returned to watch this video for inspiration about making a tribute video to my dog. Its very hard to deal with this loss, but a very wise man told me last week - "They deserve the piece of you they take with them". So true.
Thank you Ben. What a beautiful tribute and gives me some strength to go through the next few years with my 18 yr old pup Nico as she is starting to wind down.
Reese Allen cherish and make the best of those years. Remind Nico how much of a good boy he is each and every single day. I did the same with my beloved boy Terry :)
This video left such an impression on me 8 years ago. I got my own first dog around when this came out, I still have her and I take her everywhere with me. We go to the beach, we go to national parks, we go to different states when we get the opportunity. She's getting older now, and while she has plenty of life left in her... you never know how long they'll be able to walk that extra mile along the beach. Never know how long they'll be able to scale and climb rocks, or fallen trees, or enjoy their favorite waterfall spot. Dogs are just something amazing. I'm glad I'm able to come back here and watch this again, Denali made waves.
So many years later I still find myself coming back to watch this beautiful film. It gets me every single time 😢
“It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”.....
thank you and blessings
I love dogs.
I dont like calling them dogs because they are my love and my will to live.
Who said that?
THANK YOU BEN MOON FOR SHARIG THE LOVE I YOUR LIFE -THIS VIDEO GOT ME TO START USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR GOOD IN 2015 ....
Who wrote that? it's amazing! ❤️
Oh this comment got me so emotional 😭.
My wife battled cancer for 5 years before it took her life. Our Lab Was with my wife for those 5 years of chemo. I recently had to put him down. It was almost as difficult as losing my wife. There was not a better dog for my wife. He brought peace and comfort to her during her most painful time. I hope he is with her now. All my love to my wife. And to Beau. I will see you two soon.
🙏🏼
Hope you're doing well, brother
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🐕🐕🐕😢😢😢💔💔💔
Peace in the mean time. We will all be there eventually.
8 years later and I still come back here to grieve Denali and now my first baby Yoda. No matter how many times I rewatch this, I still cry and a complete mess. I like to think that these same spoken thoughts from Denali are the same thoughts of my Yoda when he passed. There's something so different about losing a dog you've loved since they were born. An unspoken love and tie that no one can put into words but you and them.
I know !! Dogs are here to teach us love.
Ben, Denali is waiting for you. Love is something that can't die as we are all pure energy. A holy man said to me " that pet is inside of you, he lives within"
Love you Denali. Love you Ben
Totally. I first saw this when it came out, and at the time my dog, Eazy, was roughly 8. I dont know his exact age because I rescued hom from a bad situation, but ive never had a stronger bond with any other dog. He passed away of cancer this last year, as did my mother. Ben and Denali's story has more meaning to me than ever before.
The reason why there are 23 dislikes is because those 23 people had tears in their eyes and couldn't tell which button was the like button. That has to be the only logical explanation.
lmao no kidding!
Pretty much :P
+ronnie now its 44...
Hi Ronnie, that was beautifully said!!#
+ronnie totally!
i cry every single time i watch this video
I'm the same.
Ditto
double ditto Diane
me too
Me2
Our sweet dog died yesterday. He was only five. We did everything we could but I could not shake off the guilt.
Love you to the moon and back, dearest Helios. ❤
I come back to this vid every now and then. Still hits me in the gut after all these years.
I Cr everytime i watch it as a 34 years old man.
@@jacekwaasiewicz716 aw jeez your comment made me watch it again. Now im sad.
so do I, I CRY EVERY TIME :((( its just filmed so well
i know. me too...
I'm having a good ol' fashioned girl cry-it-out sesh tonight. Had to revisit this because it's so full of love that I've been neglected of.
I just had to put my dog down this morning...had him for 15 years. I had him since I was 8 years old..being 23 years now it's hard to see him gone. We grew up together,he was one of the toughest little dogs I've ever met. I thought maybe there was a way to save him,but...on the car ride there,I held him and watched him look out the window,one of this favorite things too do,but..he kept looking at the sky. That's when I knew...he was ready too go. I know they can't live forever...but it doesn't make it any easier. RIP Rusty...you we're always my rotten little monkey..
+Kelsey Bordeaux
+Kelsey Bordeaux ahh so sorry to hear! I lost my boy Lewis on the last day of 2015 and im still absolutely devastated.
Dee Cee Its hard,you lose apiece of your family. I think it was the hardest to see how depressed my basset hound became when she understood he was gone,didn't want to eat,would lay around all day,her skin became even looser from her just being sad. We got a puppy a few weeks ago,of course he'll never be able to replace Rusty..but it's nice to see her back to her old clownish self now that she has someone to play with again.
Yeah, I truely feel like such a huge piece of me can never be healed :( But I am super happy to hear that your Basset Hound has found some joy again :D Im sure time will be of help for me but at the moment its so hard
this year i lost my son my job my sanity but I do what I do best I get up and keep going. One breath one day one moment just keep going. Tom hanks said it best tomorrow the sun will rise.
I made the mistake of watching this at work on my lunch break. When I got to the part “When someone you love walks through the door, even if it happens five times a day, you should go totally insane with joy.” I just broke down into tears. Not a cool thing for your co-workers to see, especially if you are a fifty-something year old man.
But that quote fit our dog Penny to a tee. We lost her last April, and I'm still not over it. No matter how bad my day was, I knew I had Penny's welcome to look forward to when I got home. And that always made everything better. Now I have a new pup, Zenobia. And she is the same way. It's like I got our Penny back and am getting a do-over. First thing I do is hug my dog when I get home. Everyone else can wait their turn.
If your coworkers have ever loved an animal, they totally get it.
You are not alone!
I know the feeling I'm 50 and cry over animals love. We are human with huge heart brother. Peace be with you and Zenobia.🙏👍
How beautiful 💖 Yes, dogs first, then the rest 🤗🌟💞
This is the truest form of love and friendship I have ever seen.
+Dan Gough Biggest Loves of my life are dogs!
"There was this really smart scientist guy who said that people can learn a lot from dogs. He said that when someone you love walks through the door, even if it happens five times a day, you should go totally insane with joy." Best line of the whole video in my opinion
I watched this in 2015. I thought I wont be crying in 2020.....
3 years back my wife decided we were getting a dog , decision made . That was one of the best things she's ever done for me , for us . Our dog Cali has been with us through thick and thin and always remained close . She knows when I'm upset , having a rough day , anxious , sad .. She always remains close .
Thanks for the story Ben , absolutely beautiful .
I like dogs more than people
agreed
+Ryan Buckley I like SOME dogs more than SOME people. Can't blanket statement something like that.
thats so true
Nesskid4side watch out guys fun police is here
This was/is the most beautiful “in memory of”...that I have ever seen. You are a beautiful man, loving his best friend. He will be waiting for you one day and you will once again feel complete.
If there are no dogs in heaven then, when I die, I want to go where they went.
--Will Rogers
I don’t feel like going over the theology of dogs right now....
Plus that’s a cool quote so I’ll let it slide 😉
Old vid but beautiful comment!
Its not heaven if there are no dogs in there :)
I sympathize with this. One of the flaws of monotheistic religions is that they don't think animals go to heaven -- only humans have souls and go there.
I'm a veterinarian and surprisingly for 20 years never owned a dog. When I had to euthanize someones pet it was a sad time but I was always surprised at the depth of sadness their owners felt. That was until I got a dog of my own! He is my world, luckily for me he is still a young 'un so hopefully will have him for many more years, but just watching the first few minutes of this film had me bawling! I can't imagine life without him. My eyes have truly been opened. This was a great, great tribute to mans best friend. RIP Denali.
Just put my dog down. She was almost 5 years old. She had cancer and fought it many times for me and survived. My little Phoenix...but this time she had a brain tumor and had seizures. The night before I took her, I took care of her and we cuddled all night. It was so hard, but point is to enjoy every moment because they might have less time than you think.
Tileabylan - It will make you a better veterinarian to know the love of your own dog! More empathetic and understanding. I hope your young 'n dog is doing great!
❤❤❤❤
8 years…if you want a cry, this is where you get it. Absolutely awesome. What a tribute.
When i was 10, at school I had a strange feeling that my dog had just died, a wave of emotion that was not much really, just different. Never thought about it rest of the day. Mum picked me up in the car and she said "Sorry son, got some bad news to tell you"...I blurted out that I knew, Husky had died and I started crying and didnt stop till I got home.
Tis funy how you develop a relationship with a dog that can't (literally) talk to you, yet you know everything he says and him too.
50 years on and I still get a lump in my throat thinking about him.
Films like this just choke me up something rotten and I love it, makes me feel alive again inside.
Jesus Almoriandolococo thank you for sharing this story.
I've always rescued every animal I saw in need but after the death of my son my beautiful boy I was rescued by a pack of 12 amazing dogs. I needed them and we're our family now, we're doing life together day by day!
Pack Strong In Love 💕
This was me, in April of 2013. A cold water surfer in Washington who took my yellow lab Max with me everywhere in my Tacoma. He died from kidney disease and 3 years later I still lose it from time to time. I could have a bad day at work and he would always be excited to see me. a fight with my gf? He'd always bury his head in my lap to let me know it would be ok. Goddamn I miss him.
I feel you. Been there. Still there. Looking forward to the day we meet again.
Tim Nelson I know how u feel. My dog was the same, but we grew up together so his death was like losing a brother. He died in my arms and my other dog was howling cuz she knew he was dying. One day after school I took a nap on the floor and he snuggled up next me and had his head on my head. I had two guinea pigs and he thought they were his children. His name was "sweet puppy" he's always been there for me and I still walk in my house expecting him to be at the door greeting me
Tim Nelson I totally feel you.. I lost both my beloved rescue Pits almost 2 years ago and my heart is still broken and cries. My Xena had bone cancer and a week later my Gotti passed away in his sleep laying next to me. He missed Xena so much,, I think. his heart was broken. The. Truly they were my best friends and my babies. I sure do hope and pray we can be together together together some day
Tim Nelson thank you for allowing Denali to show his story. Me and my 12 year old dog Rocky both have fight in us still and mainly because we never left each others side. I can only prepare myself for the day he goes. It would also be the greatest life story lived myself.
No amount of preparing will ever be enough. No girl can ever break your heart more than your dog when he goes.
To this day, I get excited every time I walk in the front of my home and see my wife, kids and pets- because of this film.
Beautiful work. Thank you!
Five years after I first saw this- it’s still my favourite short film. Beautiful on so many levels. Thanks for making it.
It’s been 6 years for me and I still come back to watch it. It’s also my favorite short film, and has inspired me to get behind a camera myself. Everything about this story is perfect. Videography, music, everything.
We had to put our dog down today. His name was Axel, an American bulldog putbull mix. He loved everyone, he couldn't hurt anything even if he tried. He brought smiles to everyone he met. He died in our arms, he looked like he was sleeping. He was such a good dog. Such a good dog.
Every dog deserves a tribute video like this. Beautifully done.
I watched this video a million times & cried a million times after I had my dog put to sleep.
I loved a man once, and I adored his dog, Wilson, who adored me back.. The man didn't love me, so we parted. Funny, I don't really miss him, but I still cry for Wilson.
sagrammyfour election results
dog's don't have the trivial emotional bonds we form with another human...all they know is "hey this is a nice human, I like this person" very simple logic but it's all they have
I've been watching this video for years and I still cry just as hard every time. It's so beautiful. 🥹😭
I just had to put my doggy down last night. Thank you for this video. I am supposed to be the strong one in my house so I can't tell anyone that I know, just how much it hurts that I held her head as she took her last breath. Somehow, telling a bunch of random strangers online seems to help so, thank you.
So sorry for your loss. I am so glad you were with her at the end, I cannot even imagine how difficult that would be. I lost one before it got to that point, and I am still not over it. It helped me to write stuff down, I kept a little journal handy and would cry and write. It helped me, maybe it will help you. Anyway, thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dennis your comments brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your vulnerability with us. You have done a great service to your dog to give such gentle reassurance during that time, as well as to your family who needs your comfort and strength. Please know that it's okay for you to mourn as well, and imo that strength is in no way diminished by vulnerability. I'm sorry for y'alls loss.
Damnnn thats deep
+Dennis Crouse Been in your shoes.......broken hearted......slept with Max's collar for months......laid down on the floor with him, held him in my arms as he died.....that was 4 years ago......I have Jack by my side now. All my sweet sentients live in my soul. I hug you Dennis, take the time to mourn, all that we love becomes part of us!
+Dennis Crouse I'm so sorry for your loss. I still can't talk about my dog Kayla that I lost almost 7 mos ago without tears. I just read an amazing essay about grief that I want to share with you. Maybe it wil help just a little bit:
www.thatericalper.com/2015/08/16/person-is-asking-for-advice-hn-how-to-deal-with-grief-this-reply-is-incredible/
My boy Sam just passed away 3 1/2 weeks ago at only 5 months old. My fiancé had been searching for a litter of Aussies for months until we finally found him. We drove 3 hours just to meet the pups and Sam chose me right away. He had serious issues from the first 2 weeks of getting him, he was weaned too early so we literally had to nurse him back to life with a mothers milk supplement and a syringe. After a while he began eating on his own and started acting like a normal pup. We took him everywhere as soon as he finished his puppy vaccines, from overnight beach camp trips to week long road trips through the sierras. He loved every second of it. This video reminds me of him so much. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him, nights are harder. I wanted an Aussie named Sam for years, named after Samwise Gamgee (the best sidekick a hobbit could ever ask for) and he was everything I ever wanted. Although his life was short, he made an impact on me that will last forever. I'm sure Denali and Sam are out explorin the heavens together.
Amazing. I just hug and kissed my dog for the last hour.
Andrew Lee I went to hug and kiss mine after watching this video, he's 11 so I know that one day he's gonna have to leave me :(
Yup me too🙈
+Bakugan Girl whaaattt xDDDDD
Bakugan Girl um u mean piss**
and i though it was funny how u told someone he smells like poo xD i mean wtf lol
Bakugan Girl make me, bum bitch
literally sitting here crying at work in front of everyone. the fact that it ended with odesza just took my soul..
This video is such a wonderful tribute. My dog was there with me through my own colon cancer chemo treatments. At the beginning of July he started to not act right. He failed so quickly, after 4 days in ICU at the vets, I took him home. I was hoping he'd start eating, but I knew it was the end, and I really didn't want his last night to be in a cold kennel at the vet's. I slept with him all night, feeling the tremors, the ragged breaths, Hugging my best friend, my guide close. In the morning my friend drove us to the vets office one last time. He was gone within seconds of the vet starting the injection. Even though we didn't travel like you guys did. being a guide dog, he went every where with me. I feel lost. I feel alone.
I am really really proud to have chosen this short film for the 2015 edition of a surf film festival I co-organize here in Lisbon, Portugal. 9 years on and Denali keeps moving and inspiring people all over the place. A lot of films pass through my hands, most of them are forgotten, but I lost count of how many times I have watched Denali and how many times I have shared it with friends and family. Tonight I showed it to someone very special to me. And once again, the bond between Denali and Ben has shown how powerful it was (and is...) and how far it can reach. This is my small heartfelt tribute to Denali. And to Ben. Cheers!
I was so touched by this film, especially after losing my brother this year to pancreatic cancer and our dog watched over my brother when he would rest in the living room. Mikey the Greyhound would follow my brother outside in the heat and he hates the heat, but he knew he had a job to watch over my brother when I wasn't in the room. Dogs are so amazing an Denali was just as incredible.
+dawn ann Gallagher Sorry for your loss! Dogs are amazing!
+dawn ann Gallagher Very sorry for your loss, fellow human. Prayers from Cochin, Kerala.
I'm truly sorry for your loss my friend,I can't imagine your pain. My mom had pangreatic cancer as well and she had been to hell and back until she recovered but she had the worst 5 years of her life...why does cancer fucking exists,just why?
I love that the nurses let him keep his dog in his room with him. That, friends, is patient-centered care.
I lost my best friend, my heart, my soul. I lost everything two years ago when she left. We spent ten years together, and Abril touched everybody's life. Whenever people wanted to feel loved or to feel understood, they came to her to hug her or just talk to her. She just sat there, listening in complete silence, looking at them. When I had no one, she was there. She was always there. And I know she will always be. So when we knew she had terminal cancer, she let us know when it was time, when she needed to rest from so many years of just giving. Giving everything she had to everyone. You can't even imagine how special she was to the whole world. She is my angel, and will always be my guardian. The friendship and love will remain alive. I'm making sure to be happy, to love limitless, to go insane with joy whenever I get the chance. That's my way to honor her memory. She just wanted to make me happy, and I'm trying so hard to make her proud of me. That's my goal in life: spread her. She was love. So that's what I do: I spread her everywhere. She lives in me and I won't let her die as another memory in life. Because she IS my life. Wherever you are, buddy, my love. I love you.
Thank you for making this awesome video. I could relate to it so much. You are so strong, and the friendship you share is so pure that it brought tears of pure joy to my eyes. Thank you so so much for sharing your story.
+LSnnow Bless you and your wonderful, precious dog. May she RIP always.
Lisa McR thank you so much for your words. It really means so much to me.
+LSnnow This was so eloquently written, it brought more tears to my eyes. My best friend of 10 years is getting older and sicker. I cherish every day I have with her. This video and your words have given me so much hope. Thank you.
I am Incredibly sorry for your loss, I can only imagine the heartache you must feel. Our friends live for such a short time but the amount of love they give impacts us for a lifetime.
+Eve No Adam Your comment it's just beautiful. I was having a shitty day and then I read this and it just made me smile. Enjoy your best friend, enjoy your dog and when she's gone (I don't really know what humans did good to deserve these angels, so they spend a little while here, and then they are gone to wait for us, as the did every day), I'm not gonna lie, you're going to cry, you're going to be so sad and so upset that nothing we can say will cheer you up.. But suddenly you will remember her, your best friend, and you're gonna say: "nope, enough crying, she was sad when I was sad, and she just wanted to make me happy": So you're going to honor her, and keep you're amazing smile. Because she will live in you forever. Thank you so so so much for your condolences, and for your beautiful words. Give a huge hug to your friend from me, okay? Love her every single day. Peace!
LSnnow I'm so glad I was able to put a smile on your face, as you have just done the same for me :) You are right tho, it will be hard and I know I will be overwhelmed with emotion when she is gone, but by acknowledging that she would want me to be happy will be enough to keep me going.
Abbie graciously accepts your hug, and she reciprocates with a thousand and one kisses! All the happiness to you and your future, and I hope you can find love again in another angel on four legs.
"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make us whole"
Oh my god... Only a few people can feel what its like to struggle for your life... Surfing is a changing experience for ones life.. So is the relationship with a dog... 7 minutes full of life's meaning...
I watch this every few months, and I unconditonally cry for what you went through, not only surviving cancer but having to say the ulitmate goodbye to a best friend. My guy is 13 and I worry about the day I will have to do what you had to do with Denali What a beautifully inspiring story, and thank you for sharing your love & joy. All my love!
This video helped me with my grief 8 years ago, and today I just sent it to a friend to help with her grief. Thank you Ben.
Too beautiful for words, Ben. Thank you. My wife and I have a saying: "Dogs are people, too, only kinder."
dogs are the best people
Das schönste und traurigste Video das ich je gesehen habe
This is the best pet memorial ever. I cry ever time I see it because I had such a similar journey with my dog. This was so beautifully filmed and edited. A million kudos for making this!
I watch this every few months. I know it's true: "Every time your friend comes through the door, rejoice madly." Life and love are all that matter. Thank you Ben. Thank you Denali.
I've watched this beautiful video 9 times in 3 days. I haven't enjoyed a film this much in so long. I was afraid to watch it, knowing it would be a tear jerker. I literally couldn't catch my breath due to crying so hard! So many beautiful moments and words. The beautiful places, Denali narrating, his dog humor, his love for Ben, his gratitude, his loyalty, his reminiscing, his devotion, his knowing he was loved so much! It's pure love. I've gone through the grieving of losing a special pet. And it's honestly the hardest thing I've ever been through. With this film, I'm not struck so much from the loss, I'm struck by the incredible love Denali and Ben shared and how it was made so I could witness it. It's a beautiful story of a beautiful bond that I know doesn't happen everyday, sometimes not ever! Fly high Denali. And yes, you are very handsome. Both you and Ben have a permanent home in my heart.
One of my favourite pieces of film I've ever seen
My dog died just 3 days ago. I had him for 16yrs. I really miss him...
+HMRLTL Im soooooooooo sorry. At least you know he passed away as a happy pouch. And sprits never really leave you. He knew it was his time to go and his sprit will forever watch over you, protecting you...
FUN FACTS/RANDOM QUESTIONS thank you very much for that
+HMRLTL So, so sorry for your loss! I had that day 9.4.2014, my beloved Iris (rescued from Crete, Greece). She toke her final breath at my lap. - The most hardest day in my life. But, now, I have here Luna (another rescued one from Crete) with me, but never forgotting Iris, everyday I'm talking to her - still.
+Tutta Salonen PS. Iris left 2 months before her 15'th birthday.
Tutta Salonen I'm sorry for your loss as well and everyone else's also. There is a great song called "My Old Dog" on youtube about losing your best buddy. It's an absoutely wonderful imo.
What a beautiful and touching tribute. Im a cat owner but the same applies. My tigger is getting old but shes holding on for now. Ill be devastated when she leaves me. Thank you for this. Love from Scotland ❤❤❤
Is it normal to cry so hard that you throw up?
This was so beautiful. But so sad. I hate crying.
Thank you, Ben-for sharing Denali with us. 😪🐾
i cry like that too. it sure hurts. I can't do this happy face to the world. it's phony and like my ma said. who told you life was supposed to be happy all the time
I commented on this 6 years ago. I still watch it. Such a beautiful tribute to love between a human and their dog. I am so grateful for mine every single day. Never could’ve imagined the first time I commented, when he was 8 months old, and now almost 8 years old, how I’ve become even more bonded with him. He’s my best friend. I’ve spent all these years building such a strong relationship with him. I took him to training school where I got certified as a dog trainer. They told me I had “a lot of balls” bringing a Nordic dog into a training certification, but we left as the top tracking team, in the top of our class, and with an unbreakable bond. Shortly after that, he was with me through the complete uprising then degradation of an abusive marriage, divorce, loss of my business, loss of my whole identity, my rebuilding and all the other highs and lows since... I never take a single day for granted with him, because he’s been the best friend I’ve ever had. We seem to have formed this unspoken language between us at this point too. I don’t really know how to explain it, but he’s the “once in a lifetime” dog that people talk about. There may be others, but he’s always going to be the most special. I hate to think that he will leave me, and it’s sad, but I love this tribute you made. It makes me cry but I still watch it every now and again to remind me of what really matters through all the bullshit. To go crazy with joy for all that you love. Thank you 🙏
How can some one dislike this video?
They don't have feelings or they don't have a heart..
They are clearly blind and missed the like button.
I really don't know how😢❤
They have to be complete sociopaths?
jeferson vera They hit over to far too the right. It's normal for some mouse clicks to be off in such a short proximity depending on screen muscle and brain interaction as well as mouse and computer resolutions and displays. I hope this helps solve your "mystery".
Dear Ben...
I am in New Zealand and have just finished reading Denali, on the first day of 2021 with my senior canine snoring with complete lack of grace on the floor beside my bed. The sound of her snoring is what I will miss most, especially how it makes me sleep knowing how filled with love I am because of her.
I survived a motorbike crash 10 years ago with a broken neck, back and reconstructed leg in thanks to my two dogs, Kujo my white German Shepherd who passed 2 years ago to bone cancer, and Beanie, my Beardie Collie Cross who is approaching 14 years old and is recovering from surgery for mast cell tumors.
You have inspired me to finally write that book as a tribute to my two friends, who have helped me do life on my own for a total span of 14 years. And as I look to my old girl now, I know she is close to letting me know she is tired now, but she has also hung in there to make sure I am strong enough to continue without her. It took me 10 years to rebuild my life, but I finally have and she stayed with me until I was safe again.
Thank you for your story, for sharing Denali with the world, and for helping me to understand I am now ready to share my story, the one that I am about to start writing again when Beanie gives me that last lick on my face after we sit at the beach watching the sun rise, she'll share a vodka with me there just as kujo did too at sunset.
Forever grateful, Katie-Jane Bowen, New Zealand
Bless you good people for keeping Denali's memory alive. My dog is sitting next to me trying to figure out why I am sobbing. When I can talk I will hug him and explain. He understands more than people think he does. RIP Denali. Warm hug Ben.
i don't even own a dog but for real this is touching
175 dislikes from 175 people that have never really loved a dog or had a dog love them back
OMG this tore my heart right out of my body.
+Clem It will get back in better than before tho
I know ,I am about to adopt a shelter dog .
AND WHERE IS SHE/HE??? HOW OLD? NAME? PHOTO!!! ;) KRIS
I ADOPTED A SHELTER DOG, TOO. PHELIX KNOPPH ;) IS HIS NAME ....
dogs name was Denali-where chris mccandlrs died in alaska-bens o7her work and films are on vimeo and 7umblr ....7his film ending up sweeping 7he fes7ival circui7 and has won so many accolades...as i7 deserves i am ill i have a ralphie i am him bu7 a girl...and i was no7 cured...i have seen 7his hundreds of 7imes now my hospi7al jus7 go7 broadband..
It's difficult to make me Cry over a video, but all of a sudden it started raining in my room, and just on my face.. that's my story and I'm sticking to it...RiP Sweet Boy..
Had to bury our family's 10 yr dog today. My father in law was putting up a tough front but I knew it was hard on him. Told him to watch this video, even though it gets me everytime, because it does help me know that dogs do love us and appreciate our love we give them. Truly man's best friend
I cried at this video a lot. I felt a great sense of sadness and joy and peace all at the same time. Until something touched my knee. It was my dog Quentin, of course, resting his little face on my leg as he always does when I cry.
I lost my best friend of 10 years only 2 weeks ago and it is the most unimaginable pain I've ever gone through. Wonderful video. RIP Denali I hope Riley has gotten to meet you up in dog heaven.
I have watched this every single year for about 7 years. Each time my soul aches and my eyes are flooded.
A very, very special film that I will never forget for the rest of my life.
I miss my best friend. She never knew she had grown old even when I had to carry her up and down the stairs because her wobbly, arthritic legs couldn't do it anymore. It was all worth it. I wish we could have continued growing older together. Fifteen years was just not long enough. She will forever remain the most beautiful dog and my most faithful friend until the end. My smiling girl...
+Kellyn Barnes I miss mine to Kellyn....he died 10 years ago and I still cry and was never able to get another dog...my beautiful border collie Sambo and we also camped a lot and travelled around Australia together until settling in Perth WA where we could both enjoy the beach together....I will not put myself through this heartache again for some time....so I replaced him with cats and lot's of them LOL May be one day I'll rescue another one, but for now he is in my thoughts and my heart daily....
Sometimes I come back to watch, just as a reminder to go totally insane with joy, every time my dog greets me at the door, even if it happens 5 times a day.
I just lost my animal spirit soulmate and have been crying so hard but watching this video made me feel at peace ❤️
Beautiful is an absurd understatement! Thank you Ben, thx Denali!
Amazing tribute Sir, I wish more people would remember stories like this when their dogs are locked up for hours on hours. They dont understand that you are all that animal has, they are never mad at you they are never upset with you. Love you pets they wont be around forever.
179 people have never experienced the complete and utter unconditional love our dogs give us.
Not going to lie. I cried..a lot. I buried my best friend July 8th of this year. She was such a great dog. I hurt more over losing my dogs than relatives. I love you Abbey, I will see you again one day.
+Rob Brian Very sorry man.
This film is amazing, and there is no doubt about that. But, if you want a deeper insight, make sure to read Ben's book about Denali as well - it's even better. Sorry for your loss Ben and I am sure that your work and story has inspired countless people.
i come back to this video every now and then when i want a good cry. it’s still beautiful, six years later
IM back here today because I lost my sweet girl and I thought of this for comfort truth and support it still hits me like when it did when I first saw it years ago now, and to help me with my loss today I thank you very much
I wish my dog could've had a peaceful story like this but his life was cut short. He had major behaviour problems with strangers and my mom said that we could give him to the breeder we got him from or put him down. One day I came home from school and he didn't come up running and crying to see me and I asked my mom where he was and she put him down when I was at school. I didn't get to say goodbye or anything and I could feel my heart break in two. You're lucky you got to spend a full life with Denali.
I held my Georgie for two days until he passed away in my arms. This film is done for all of us who have loved and been loved by these beautiful animals - Thank you for making it.
One of the most inspirational videos I have seen on the bond between humans and canines. My face gets soaked with tears, every time I watch it. Thank you for creating this video.
That Odessa song shuffled onto my playlist and I had to come back to watch this video again - so so so good. An amazing job. The unstoppable march of waves throughout the film sets an appropriate metaphor for time and life, so it's best to make the most of it!
I have a friend like this too. His name is Zip and it scares the life out of me thinking about these days and when they come. My dog is truly my soul.
+Vinson Smith Took the words right out of my mouth. I have never had a closer bond with a dog in my life, and I honestly believe my dog, Abbie, was put on this earth to be by my side. She is and always will be a part of my soul.
I feel exactly the same. My best friend Obi-Wan is my soul incarnate. I've never had an unbreakable bond with anyone even remotely like I do with him. I've had dogs my whole life, but he is TRULY something much different in an aweinspiring way!! He is the most iintelligent little big man I've ever known. I cannot imagine my life without him...and don't ever want to. He is my heart, my breath, my life, my soul. He is my sanity in a funny furry package. He is Obi.
A beautiful tribute. I have loved and said goodbye to five beautiful souls over the past 25 years. The pain of holding your doggy pal in their last moments is nothing compared to the pure joy of their company through the years. Denali had a full and loving life. Thanks Ben.
Ive seen this video many o' times and everytime wouldnt ya know it....im cutting onions. The irony. Us pet parents is all they know and we can never appreciate enough (or should at least) the amount of insane joy they express when seeing us after any length of time be it ten mins or ten hours. Ben Moon thank you again kindly of reminding everyone what a gift the love of a dog is truly. And the love they show in their relatively short lives outnumbers the amount of love of a thousand loving people.
After 7 years still the most beautiful video on TH-cam. I never make it through without crying. So much love
I lost my everything two days ago to Cancer. He went from a perfectly healthy pup to all of the sudden stage 4 cancer. Enzo was my travel buddy and brought him everywhere with me. For all of us who lost our best friend, stay strong and we will see them again in the next after life. ✌🏻️
I watch this often! It hits me every time and makes me think of my fur babies that have passed on and how much I love and miss them!
best thing on the internet right here
No matter how many times I watched this...... 😭
Very touching tribute to a beloved pet. Very creative to narrate the story from the dog's perspective. It's beautiful the way the dog responds to Ben, and how Ben shows love and affection for Denali until the very end. Not only a touching tribute, but also a valuable lesson in how to do a truly touching documentary in a very creative way.
The dog is like a human being, has sense of danger & a common sense. She's Man's best friend has Unconditional Love. She can be a rescuer & a Therapy dog. This video makes me cry. RIP for your best friend w/Unconditional Love.
I've watched this a few times and every time I ball like a baby, I love my dogs so much. They've saved me many times over emotionally
thru a divorce, addiction and many other "bumps" in the road. Their unwavering loyalty and love cannot be duplicated. Thank you Dakota,
Pepper and Princess may you live forever
Just viewed this today, six months later for the first time. Hopefully Ben has healed both physically and emotionally. Beautiful story of love.
The most beautiful, heartfelt story of love and devotion I've ever seen! Absolutely beautiful.
9 years later and still coming back to this. It makes me cry just as hard as the first time. Hands down my favorite thing on youtube
I'm so sorry. crying uncontrollably. I don't know what I will do when it's my Clydes turn to go home. He's my best friend. literally. Thanks for the video. The most beautiful thing I've seen.
i loved the quote about if you love someone and they walk the through the door 5 times a day you should go insane with joy every time. why in the world don't we do that? dogs are truly the best creatures on earth i think--the way that love is so important to them, their human/pack. i am a cat person now, but still recogize the wonder of dogs. touching tribute--just right, not sappy, but heart touching. how does someone do a thumbs down on this?
I lost my best friend Odegaard after 12 years 2 weeks ago, just got his ashes back yesterday, i can take him back to his favourite places one last time, wonderful journey we had together.
Lost my old girl Dec 8 2023. I’ve had her since I was four and she died at 15. She had that same white stripe on her neck as Denali. She got canine dementia and I watched her slowly slip away and she began to go in circles. Thank you for posting this. It reminded me to remember the good days I had camping and going on road trips with her, instead of focusing on the the way she left. Now all we can do is learn from their love, and carry their stories and joy with us along the way as we barrel forward through the unknown. Will we ever see them again? No one knows. But what we do know is that there was a time where we were surrounded by their unending love, and that it’s ok to be sad, but continue loving.
So beautiful thank you so much for sharing
I've watched 100's of youtube videos. This was the best one ever.
This is beautiful and amazing. Rest in peace Denali💖
My best friend is almost 15 years old. He is still able to get up and follow me around the yard, and can still jump on my bed, only to jump right back off to sleep by the door. Since he's deaf now, I think he does that so I can't leave without him knowing. He has been my best friend and it is so incredibly hard to see him having his bad days, but when he is feeling good it brings much joy. Now his eyes are going bad too, so life is getting harder for him. I know I will have to say good bye to him soon, but everyday he is still with me, I am blessed. I have his daughter who is 13, and we have a cat that is 16...all of our pets are aging.......Maybe I will make a video like this someday.
I saw this video a year ago and thought it was sooooo well done. It certainly was a tear jerker then. It made me reflect on my dog, who was 11 at the time, and my soul mate. Well, last week it finally happened and I, too, had to make that decision to let him go with God. Today I returned to watch this video for inspiration about making a tribute video to my dog. Its very hard to deal with this loss, but a very wise man told me last week - "They deserve the piece of you they take with them". So true.
What an absolutely beautiful tribute to your best friend. RIP Denali ❤
Thank you Ben. What a beautiful tribute and gives me some strength to go through the next few years with my 18 yr old pup Nico as she is starting to wind down.
Reese Allen cherish and make the best of those years. Remind Nico how much of a good boy he is each and every single day. I did the same with my beloved boy Terry :)
This video left such an impression on me 8 years ago. I got my own first dog around when this came out, I still have her and I take her everywhere with me. We go to the beach, we go to national parks, we go to different states when we get the opportunity. She's getting older now, and while she has plenty of life left in her... you never know how long they'll be able to walk that extra mile along the beach. Never know how long they'll be able to scale and climb rocks, or fallen trees, or enjoy their favorite waterfall spot.
Dogs are just something amazing. I'm glad I'm able to come back here and watch this again, Denali made waves.