10 Dog Owners Share Stories About How Their Pets Grieved After Losing Their Canine Companion

It's like canines can experience the same loneliness as we do.

May

• Published in Interesting
• February 24, 2024

When it comes to the loss of a companion, dogs are also like humans. They may not grieve for years like some of us, but they act in certain ways that clearly show that they're experiencing a deep sense of absence and longing.

Understanding how dogs grieve offers insights into their emotional world. Barbara J. King, an anthropology professor, explores canine grief in her work, including her book "How Animals Grieve."

Dogs may exhibit behavioral changes after the loss of a companion, such as social withdrawal, decreased appetite, or vocalizations indicating stress. While we can't fully grasp their comprehension of death, observing these behaviors highlights the depth of their emotional connection.

These behavioral changes, as observed by King, offer us insights into the depth of emotion and connection that dogs can feel. The bond between canine companions runs deep, and when one passes away, it can profoundly impact the remaining dog's emotional well-being.

Their reactions reflect a form of grieving that, while different from human grief, is nevertheless poignant and significant. These observations by King have also been witnessed by other dog owners.

Over at Quora, someone asked this question:

Is it normal for a dog to grieve after another dog is gone?

Dog owners answered that it's normal and started sharing stories about the changes in their pets' behavior after they lost their canine friend.

1. A dog owner believes that canines also treat each other like family.

I believe it is. Dogs are like family members, to us, as well as to each other.

I know when I was away on a trip, and then returned, my dog seemed depressed….not acting normally, etc. And I realized it was more of an emotional reaction than physical.

Perhaps she felt abandoned, though she was well-cared for in my absence. I would strongly suspect it would be the same with one dog who has been used to sharing its life with another; the absence of that “family member” surely would be felt by the remaining dog.

2. Dog howls in grief.

Of course. Last February my Best Boy Ever had to be euthanized because of cancer.

I was so involved in my own grief, I never gave a thought to helping my other dog through it. They'd been buddies for 9 years, always together.

My (now solo) dog didn't get my attention much but that first night, for the first time ever, he howled in his sleep. He has howled occasionally to this day.

It's such a mournful, lonesome sound, and I know just how he feels. I want to howl too.

(We do have another dog now and she is lovely. He plays with her. Doesn't take that loss away.)

3. Broken heart syndrome

I had two female Pomeranians. They were mother (13) y/o and her daughter (6) y/o.

Snuggles, the mom, passed on Thursday. Her daughter, Twinkie. had problems breathing.

I immediately dropped everything and raced to the vet hospital taking about 10 min from notice to vets the very next Tuesday. Unfortunately, she passed away within 1/2 hour of arriving.

In tears, I asked the vet, “Why?”

She shrugged and said simply, “we call it the broken heart syndrome.”

I waited several years to get two more Poms, because I couldn’t take the heartbreak. This time they were a gorgeous Black and Tan male, and his littermate, a beautiful Blue female.

I had them for almost 9 years, but Basil became ill with heart failure. He died in my arms at the vet’s office.

We took especially good care of Bella because of the situation with Snuggles and Twinkie. She would look for him all over the house.

When we went outside to walk or go potty, Bella would call for her brother. It was a special warble they used to communicate with each other.

I played with her, let her sit on my lap as often as she wished, but she wanted to sit and look out the window waiting for Basil to come home. Finally, after 8 months she passed at home.

Yes, I KNOW dogs know and grieve just like people.

4. Dogs also lose their appetite when mourning over the loss of their best buddy.

Yes mine didn’t eat well for a month -kept looking for his lost buddy

5. User points out how humans and dogs differ when it comes to loss.

Very. They both grieve and absorb the death but they do it on a very different level than humans.

There is not a connection or recollection of time and memories with the dog. It is more basic and energetic. A life has left, an energy is gone.

I believe it comes down to fear and the unknown. A dog accepts the absence of energy and does not fear it while most humans are just the opposite.

Families collapse, packs survive, and the fear of hell or of the unknown for the human permeates everything at the end.

6. How long dogs grieve over a loss.

YES. I've owned more than 15 dogs in my life, and when a dog dies, my other dogs obviously miss that dog.

Sometimes for weeks, and sometimes for multiple months.

7. Nobody can replace her BFF.

Absolutely! We had a dog that seemed very depressed after her best buddy died.

She changes from the playful girl, to an older less active dog overnight. She was a 10 yr old medium sized dog, a husky/ sheltie cross.

We thought getting a puppy might cheer her up but she was just “don’t bug me kid”. She got a little better but was never the same after our boxer passed.

She loved him so much. She had a very special relationship with him.

8. Dogs get sad even even for a buddy that's outside the fam.

My GF brought home a pitbull about 7 month ago, she stays out for hours on sunny days, my chihuahuas are definitely indoor dog's, but walk around sad when the pitbull is outside. So yeah dog's grieve for a lost partner either humans or another pet.

9. Dogs generally grieve shorter than humans.

It would be abnormal, if they DIDN'T. Fortunately for them, the mourning-period seems to be relatively brief; -not like humans, who can wallow, sometimes for YEARS, as my mom did.

It took its toll, on HER health.

10. Dogs look for their buddy that left them.

Oh yes. Dogs grieve and often look for the dog that is gone.

Cats grieve as well. Probably would help if you adopted a new dog companion.

It is indeed normal for dogs to get sad when their best friend is gone. And although their grieving period doesn't take years, it's apparent how much they love their buddy with the behavior changes they display.

Dogs may find solace in the support and comfort provided by their human companions during these challenging times.

May