How to Support a Grieving Dog

Loss can be hard to process everyone, and dogs are more than capable of feeling the loss of a loved one. They can feel the sadness and loneliness of losing a family member just like we can. While they may sometimes express this in similar ways to us, ultimately their grieving process can look very different.  

Our furry family members don’t have the verbal capacity to tell you when they’re feeling sad or frustrated, so you’re more likely to notice their grief through changes in their day-to-day behaviour. Whilst there are common signs, each pup is different and can express their loss in different ways.

Other dogs can become part of your canine companion’s family just as much as humans can. They can grieve over the loss of another dog in the home or even just a friend that they’re used to regularly meeting up with and spending time with. Going to their regular play dates or walks without their furry friend around can be a big change for a pooch who has grown attached.

It can also be more apparent when you live in a multi dog household. You’ll often find that your pups will sleep cuddled up or have regular play sessions. Losing these important interactions can be hard on our beloved pets.

While we can’t even start to fathom what our canine companions go through when they experience loss, we can see the behavioural changes and how it affects them. How they process and show their grief will be different for every dog. Some will withdraw away and spend a lot of time on their own while others will become like a shadow to you and won’t want to go anywhere without you. Both are signs of grief even though they are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Other symptoms of grief include:

If a dog is experiencing loss, they may not fully understand where their friend has gone so, you might notice them looking for them or choosing to rest in areas that they associate with them. Some can even show signs of aggression if the loss of another pet or human leaves them feeling anxious without their support.

It can be difficult to see your beloved pooch go through this process and hard to know exactly how to help them.

There is no quick fix for grief, it’s often a case of supporting your pup as they process it and it’s important to note time is a healer.

Depending on who they lose it can be different for every dog. If your pup loses their doggy friend, they will more than likely want to cling to you. You can help them through this by giving them extra love and cuddles. You might even notice that they want to jump up and sleep in bed with you if they’re used to cuddling up with their canine pal who is no longer there.

The important thing is to give them the affection and the support they need while also trying to make sure they are still enjoying some things. Going on extra walks can help, getting them new toys to fill the time they used to play with their doggy friend. More play sessions with you and play dates with their other dog friends can really perk them up.

For a pup who has lost their owner, it can be a lot of upheaval for them. Moving home and changing everything they know about their daily life can cause them to shut down. They can be anxious and want to spend a lot of time alone, so it’s vital you give them the time and space they need to process the change while slowly bonding with them to help comfort them.

Anxiety is a big factor of grief in our beloved pets, so a big part of helping them is doing what you can to minimise stressors.

You can’t be with your pup every second of the day while they’re experiencing their grief, so having supportive toys can help to occupy their minds away from their loss.

Comfort toys can be a great way to support their clingy behaviour and loneliness they may be feeling. If they’re used to having a companion to cuddle up with, then something like the Kong Cozies Marvin Moose Extra Large can fill that big empty space in their pet bed and give them something to cuddle up with. This replacement best friend can go everywhere with them, it’s durable and easily washed in the machine to freshen it up when it needs it.

If your pooch is struggling with grief and the anxiety so much change can bring about, a cuddly toy like the Pet Brands Lavender Anxiety Walrus Large Dog Toy can help to soothe them. Being infused with lavender helps to calm your grieving pet so they can get some rest and recover while keeping stress to a minimum. 

Time is the biggest factor in helping your dog to overcome grief. If they’ve lost an owner, it can take time for them to learn to trust someone new. They might not feel like themselves for weeks or months to get used to new faces, routines or life without their best friend.

It is individual to every dog but if they’re eating and physically well, all we can do as owners is support them through this transition and get them feeling more comfortable again.

For everything you need to help your beloved pets cope with loss and all your other dog and pup essentials, discover our wide range of products in-store and online.