Do dogs grieve? If so, what can we do?
- Thread starter YorkieLover
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As all the others have stated, dogs do grieve.
I am a trained volunteer for a pet loss support hotline (yes they do exitst. If you want the number or more info, pm me). We have been told/taught that the best way to help a pet, as well as yourself, come to terms with a loss is to maintain a routine. This will help her get back to normal (meaning: the way she was before the loss) quicker.
Like people it will take time, so give her plenty.
I am sorry for your loss.
I am a trained volunteer for a pet loss support hotline (yes they do exitst. If you want the number or more info, pm me). We have been told/taught that the best way to help a pet, as well as yourself, come to terms with a loss is to maintain a routine. This will help her get back to normal (meaning: the way she was before the loss) quicker.
Like people it will take time, so give her plenty.
I am sorry for your loss.
I don't mean to hi-jack as they do grieve but they also can be con artists ! Our Rufus was kicked badly by one of our horses and just lay there . All of us were around making over him and though not knocked out or any blood he wouldn't respond ..... finally I yelled call the vet that we're coming in and get the car ! The minute I said car he jumped up all happy and fine ...." OOOOO we're going car-car ! " Silly boy was fine and milked it !
My dog, Summer, is still not herself after over 3 months. I have a feeling this is her "new normal" but I have seen her age more in the three months then her whole 13 years since her "canine sister" died on the first of the year.
Unfortunately even though we tried to keep her routines the same she adamently refused this. She loved her back yard and would beg to go out first thing in the morning and stay out as long as we'd let her. She hated the back yard for quite a while after and even still just doesn't like being back there. She likes to spend time in the garage, under "her desk" and that is basically it. We try to spend as much time with her as she'll allow it and encourage her to be active and spend time with the family and she loves to go for walks now more then ever.
We did end up trying a natural remedy called Rescue Remedy that was suggested from a holistic vet asst that I know that I think did help her. I had to call around to the health food stores to find it in my area.
Unfortunately even though we tried to keep her routines the same she adamently refused this. She loved her back yard and would beg to go out first thing in the morning and stay out as long as we'd let her. She hated the back yard for quite a while after and even still just doesn't like being back there. She likes to spend time in the garage, under "her desk" and that is basically it. We try to spend as much time with her as she'll allow it and encourage her to be active and spend time with the family and she loves to go for walks now more then ever.
We did end up trying a natural remedy called Rescue Remedy that was suggested from a holistic vet asst that I know that I think did help her. I had to call around to the health food stores to find it in my area.
Perhaps in your case a new friend would be good for your dog. But not a puppy or even too young a dog - if she's 13 it may be too much for her and make things worse.
I'm sad to hear about that, poor girl. Yes, dogs do grieve, and I think we need to treat them the way we would our human friends. Love, support, affection, treats, company. But definitely routine and normalcy in life too. We can't let them wallow in it.
It's so sad though. Dogs have a family, pack mentality that is so profound and that I don't believe we can even begin to understand. I cannot imagine the sense of loss that they would go through with losing a member of their pack. It must be utterly bewildering, because you can't explain to them what has happened, so the shock and confusion involved must just make things that much worse
I'm sad to hear about that, poor girl. Yes, dogs do grieve, and I think we need to treat them the way we would our human friends. Love, support, affection, treats, company. But definitely routine and normalcy in life too. We can't let them wallow in it.
It's so sad though. Dogs have a family, pack mentality that is so profound and that I don't believe we can even begin to understand. I cannot imagine the sense of loss that they would go through with losing a member of their pack. It must be utterly bewildering, because you can't explain to them what has happened, so the shock and confusion involved must just make things that much worse
Rubylove, We did get a new pup a few weeks ago. We went back and forth about the age and breed of a new family member and we were lead to a 14 week old pup that needed a new home. Summer literally ran up to him while we were getting ready to introduce them like she was just waiting for when he would come home. I have seen improvements in her activity but there is still a major difference then when she had "her" dog. She has even initiated play with Jordan while in the backyard and shares her space with him without problems.
We've lost pets before but this seems to have been the hardest hit to our family, especially Summer. She was never the only dog in the family and just didn't seem to come to terms with this and find her place in the family even after 13 years. Hopefully the improvement will continue while she bonds with her new family member.
We've lost pets before but this seems to have been the hardest hit to our family, especially Summer. She was never the only dog in the family and just didn't seem to come to terms with this and find her place in the family even after 13 years. Hopefully the improvement will continue while she bonds with her new family member.
yes. dogs grieve.
sophie and daisy grew up together. Daisy was a maltese mix with a rough attitude and plenty of energy, sophie is a mastiff mix with not much energy and a mega-high tolerance level.
Sophie aged ten years the day daisy died. it was like part of her just disapeared. she hardly moved from her bed. stopped doign the WHOO OOOH noises she makes and never smiled or wagged her tail.
we got mac only a couple of weeks after. it was very soon but it helped take our mind of the pain. both sophie and buster rejected her at first. i think it was too soon for them. neither of them would have anything to do with her. i think its becase they knew that mac was there because daisy wasn't.
sophie has started coming good, she's not the same as she was but she's got many of her old habits back and she's happy again which is good.
its hard for dogs to loose their best friend, like it is for people.
sophie and daisy grew up together. Daisy was a maltese mix with a rough attitude and plenty of energy, sophie is a mastiff mix with not much energy and a mega-high tolerance level.
Sophie aged ten years the day daisy died. it was like part of her just disapeared. she hardly moved from her bed. stopped doign the WHOO OOOH noises she makes and never smiled or wagged her tail.
we got mac only a couple of weeks after. it was very soon but it helped take our mind of the pain. both sophie and buster rejected her at first. i think it was too soon for them. neither of them would have anything to do with her. i think its becase they knew that mac was there because daisy wasn't.
sophie has started coming good, she's not the same as she was but she's got many of her old habits back and she's happy again which is good.
its hard for dogs to loose their best friend, like it is for people.
Yes I would say they do grieve! I have even seen first hand of a dog getting so sick over the death if his companion that he became so depressed and would not eat , another companion was brought into the situation and he got some what better, but he's personality did change alot.. I think it's really hard on them maybe more than we know.. Andrea