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<\/p>\nIs there such a thing as dog grief? There are lots of stories about dogs appearing to grieve for people, fellow dogs, and even cats and other animals when they die. However there are also skeptics who argue that just because their behavior looks like grief, it doesn\u2019t mean that emotionally they mourn in the same way people do. But regardless of which camp you fall into, if your dog is out of spirits following the loss of a loved one, you\u2019ll want to help them feel better again.<\/p>\n
So in this article we\u2019re answering lots of questions about dog grief, and also looking at how to help a grieving dog recover.<\/p>\n
Dogs\u2019 love and loyalty is so legendary, it\u2019s almost impossible to imagine them being unmoved by the loss of their owner. Lots of dogs also live in pairs with another dog, and even form unlikely bonds with cats and other animals – from elephants to guinea pigs! But sadly bereavement is as unavoidable for dogs as it is for people. When it happens, how do you know if your dog is grieving? And how long do dogs grieve for their owners or other pets?<\/p>\n
In humans, grief is the deep sadness we feel at the death of someone we loved. We don\u2019t know if dogs feel deep sadness when someone dies, because they can\u2019t describe their emotions to us. In that sense, their thoughts are completely private and unknowable.<\/p>\n
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But it is widely accepted that dogs\u2019 behavior often changes when they lose a person or animal they were close to. Some of the changes – such as a drop in energy and enthusiasm – look a lot like sadness. Some mimic the ways we behave when we\u2019re grieving – such as loss of appetite. And some even look like they\u2019re trying to tell<\/em> us they\u2019re sad – like crying.<\/p>\n Ultimately, there\u2019s a lot we don\u2019t know about whether dogs really feel things in the same way we do. But there are some fascinating accounts by people who believe that they have witnessed their dogs mourning. And it might not feel them same for them, but it that doesn’t make it any less real for them!<\/p>\n If your dog has lost a companion recently, you might have noticed some changes in their behavior too. Let\u2019s explore what that might include next, then look at how to help them feel better.<\/p>\n Different dogs can react differently to grief, but these are the most commonly behavior changes reported in bereaved dogs:<\/p>\n There\u2019s an old adage among people that grief affects everyone differently. This is true of our dogs as well – one dog may grieve differently from the next. Each dog\u2019s behavior might change a lot, or just a little.<\/p>\n Furthermore, it\u2019s not always clear whether changes are caused directly by the absence of the lost person or pet, or whether they\u2019re brought on indirectly by the change in circumstances and routine making them feel less secure. But no one knows your dog like you do. If your instinct tells you that their behavior or demeanor has changed since they lost a companion, then trust that.<\/p>\n Regardless of whether it\u2019s a direct or indirect result of losing someone (or some pet) close to them, the advice for guiding them back to better spirits is the same. So let\u2019s look at that next.<\/p>\n If your dog is experiencing grief at the loss of a loved one, these are the things you can do to help them.<\/p>\n The first decision you might have to make is whether to let your dog view the body of a companion they have lost. There are conflicting opinions about whether dogs process grief more easily by doing this. Some people think it helps them understand that their friend is gone, and won\u2019t be coming back. Other people doubt that they have enough understanding of death and mortality. Or they have tried doing it both ways in the past, and didn\u2019t notice any difference.<\/p>\n The truth is, there\u2019s no meaningful evidence either way. And in some cases it simply isn\u2019t practical for your dog to view a body. Make your own decision about what\u2019s right for you and your dog, and don\u2019t let other people worry you with their opinions of what they think you \u201cshould\u201d do.<\/p>\n Time, as they say, is the greatest healer. There are some ways of speeding the adjustment process along, but more than anything else, your dog just needs you to be there for them, and keep providing the security of your care. Try to make sure they eat enough and drink enough every day, continue going out to the toilet as usual, and get as much of their usual exercise as they can be tempted into.<\/p>\n Routine and predictability is hugely reassuring for bereaved dogs. Try to carry out the same sequence of daily activities they\u2019ve been used to in the past. If a mourning dog isn\u2019t eating, it can be tempting to change their routine so that their meals are more appetising – for example making home cooked meals, or feeding them by hand. Make changes like this judiciously though, since they can end up being counter productive – and even encourage your dog to keep up grieving behaviors for longer.<\/p>\n Another example like this would be allowing a grieving dog into your bed at night. Think hard about whether this is a route you want to go down. Returning them to their usual sleeping place might cause a relapse of \u201cmourning\u201d behaviors, not because they\u2019re still sad, but because they associate them with being allowed under the duvet!<\/p>\n That being said, there\u2019s no harm in reigniting their enthusiasm for life by reminding them of the thing they love. Go on a favorite walk, take them to the beach, get out their favorite toys or visit a friend they love.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to see our canine friends feeling sad, and compassion tells us to respond to their sadness. Unfortunately as we\u2019ve seen, that can have the result of making sad behaviors rewarding for your dog, so that they do them to gain rewards, not because they\u2019re still grieving. So try to focus on rewarding their normal behaviors instead. Be there for them when they\u2019re sad, but celebrate when they\u2019re happy.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a case of trying to ignore or suppress their grief, but helping them to navigate it in a way which complements how their thought processes work.<\/p>\n Most dogs recover from grief in their own time. But some dogs really struggle to recover, and that\u2019s when medicines might help. Over the counter collars and diffusers containing dog appeasing pheromone (such as Adaptil) can help manage the anxiety felt by bereaved dogs. And in the most severe cases, a vet may recommend antidepressants.<\/p>\n Whenever your dog\u2019s behavior becomes a worry, always consult your vet for advice and support.<\/p>\n Grief is unique to the individual experiencing it, so there\u2019s no rule for how long it lasts, or when you can expect it to be over. If you\u2019re worried that your dog is trapped in a protracted state of mourning, ask your vet for advice.<\/p>\n On the other hand, don\u2019t be alarmed if your dog doesn\u2019t appear to grieve for another dog at all. In multi dog households, some dogs are just as likely to enjoy the increase in attention from their owners when a fellow dog dies. It\u2019s also possible that they simply don\u2019t understand the significance of what has happened. They might just think the other dog is \u201csomewhere else\u201d.<\/p>\n Lots of people are familiar with the famous story of Hachiko, the Akita who used to wait for his owner at the train station at the end of every working day, and continued to do so for over 9 years after his death.<\/p>\n Stories like this capture our imagination, but a much larger proportion of dogs eventually move on with their remaining family members, or in a new family. Which is really an altogether happier outcome, even if it makes us feel a little pang inside. However, there\u2019s no hard and fast rule for how long it takes them to reach that point.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re worried that your dog has been carrying their grief for so long that it\u2019s harming their well being, ask your vet for support.<\/p>\n Do dogs grieve? When all\u2019s said and done, it\u2019s a bit of a philosophical point. There\u2019s an increasing amount of documented evidence that dogs\u2019 behavior changes when their owner or another pet in the household dies. And whilst that evidence is based upon gathering anecdotes at the moment, some researchers<\/a> have expressed hope that it will spur on the search for more tangible neurological evidence.<\/p>\n Perhaps you\u2019ve found us because you\u2019re worried that they\u2019re grieving at the moment. The Labrador parents over on our forum have a wealth of experience between them, and always offer warmth and support to grieving dogs and their owners.<\/p>\n Bekoff, Animal Emotions: Exploring Passionate Natures: Current interdisciplinary research provides compelling evidence that many animals experience such emotions as joy, fear, love, despair, and grief<\/a>, Bioscience, 2000.<\/p>\n King, How Animals Grieve, Chicago University Press, 2013.<\/p>\n Schwartz, Separation anxiety syndrome in dogs and cats<\/a>, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2003.<\/p>\n Walker et al, Owners\u2019 Perceptions of Their Animal\u2019s Behavioral Response to the Loss of an Animal Companion<\/a>, Animals, 2016.<\/p>\n Coren, Do Dogs Grieve Over the Loss of an Animal Companion?<\/a> Psychology Today, 2016.<\/p>\n The Elephant Sanctuary – Tara and Bella: A Match Made in Ele-Heaven<\/a>, Youtube, 2009.<\/p>\nIs it ‘real’ grief?<\/h4>\n
How Do Dogs Grieve?<\/h2>\n
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How Do You Know If Your Dog Is Grieving?<\/h2>\n
How To Help A Grieving Dog<\/h2>\n
Viewing the body<\/h4>\n
Focus on maintaining the basics<\/h4>\n
Keep routine the same<\/h4>\n
Do things they love<\/h4>\n
Reward \u2018normal\u2019 behavior<\/h4>\n
Medicines<\/h4>\n
How Long Do Dogs Grieve The Loss Of Another Dog?<\/h2>\n
How Long Do Dogs Grieve For Their Owners?<\/h2>\n
Dog Grief Summary<\/h2>\n
Has your Lab experienced grief?<\/h4>\n
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References<\/h2>\n