Dogs and Grief

Hi everyone,

We just said good-bye to our 14 yr old lab this week. The two boys are reacting totally different. Rocky, who grew up with her seems to be okay (he's 11yrsold) but yogi is taking it hard (he's 2 yrsold).

I have seen where dogs(even cats) look for the other animal. However, yogi has cut back on eating, he lays in her "spot" or he just sits and stares at the areas where she would lay.

Wondering if anyone has had experience with dog grief?

I am assuming every dog reacts and deals with it differently, and it will just take time for him.

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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on December 2, 2011 at 7:57am

So sorry for your loss. When we lost one of or corgis Sparty went through a grief period. I just allowed him to grieve and made sure I spent time with him regularly. I am guessing they all exhibit it differently just as people do.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on December 2, 2011 at 9:53am

So sorry for your loss. Yes, dogs can grieve...we had our 14 year old weimerainer mix put to sleep in march and although Wynn and he were best buds for 12 years Mav had been living with my daughter due to his failing health. Mav came home to spend the day before passing and Wynn "knew". He moped around for a few days and then was back to normal. Give him extra attention and hugs!

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Permalink Reply by Carry Mackenzie on December 2, 2011 at 10:01am

Sorry to hear about your Lab...I had cats when I was young & one went missing our other cat was sitting inside lifeless- so we got a new cat that looked just the same & it worked...

I know that when we lost the puppy I was so upset that it rubbed of on all the animals...

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Markley on December 2, 2011 at 10:05am

Oh, they do grieve. My newfoundland sat and looked out the window for two weeks after we put our spaniel mix down. Wouldn't eat, barely drank. We just gave him extra love and time, and he came around.

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Permalink Reply by christy fry on December 2, 2011 at 10:47am

I'm so sorry for your loss, when I lost Shuffles I quit honestly expected Cody and Jordan to greive for him what happened instead was nothing...I mean nothing...I came home from the vets office without him and they never acted different. not once did they look for him or anything. So I'm not sure why some will greive and why mine didn't but he had been sick for awhile and housebound so looking back maybe he wasn't a part of their pack long before he passed.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy, Victor & Kabu on December 2, 2011 at 11:04am

My co worker had a cat that was grieving. My co-worker's mom passed away and the cat would just lay in the mother's laundry for days with out eating or drinking. They do come around eventually. We all do.

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Permalink Reply by Alison Prasavath on December 2, 2011 at 11:59am

I'm sorry for the loss of your lab. I agree with what others have been saying...give them time to grieve and extra love.

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Permalink Reply by Zigward & Kimberly on December 2, 2011 at 4:35pm

This is sad:( I'm sorry about your lab, and I hope that Yogi feels better soon.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on December 2, 2011 at 6:44pm

Yes, dogs grieve, as do many other animal species. It's a process for them as it is for you. I'm sorry for your loss as well. As with anyone who is grieving, the best thing you can do is just to be there, a loving presence ( dogs do that so well for us).