How long do dogs grieve for?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Lost our older dog at the beginning of the week and ten month old pup is quite down.

I think she knows he's dead. We brought him back and buried him in the garden and she saw him then. I don't think she realised he was dead when she first saw his body as she was pleased to see him but she saw us bury him. I don't really know how much dogs understand about death.

She keeps walking round with his collar in her mouth. She's off her normal food but will eat treats ok. She went on some walks last week with friends and their dogs ok. Today was the first time I tried to walk her with no other dogs. We got to the point in the park where we normally meet up and she sat down and refused to go any further. We ended up coming home.

She's not her usual playful self at all. But maybe she doesn't know how to play without another dog?

[RoosterCogburnIsInTheJakes]

First of all, sympathies for you loss.

Whenever we've had a two dog family and one has died the truth is the remaining dog hasn't been 100% happy until we've got another dog.

Timespans have been 4 months, a week, and 3 months and in every case the remaining dog just hasn't been quite right. I've felt they weren't enjoying life properly. The day the new arrival came home they invariably perked up and became much more settled.

We've already agreed that we want to eventually become a single dog household and I'm already dreading the transition period even through both my dogs are fit and healthy so hopefully it's a far off happening.

[basildonbond]

I'm so sorry - was it your podengo? you've really been through the mill with him, haven't you?

When we lost our older lab, our younger lab was bereft for about 3-4 weeks and then subdued for another couple of months - she'd never been an only dog so didn't know how to be one iyswim

It will take time I'm afraid but she will gradually get used to the new status quo - and at only 10 months old herself it's probably a bit soon for her to have a new puppy in her house

[FiveHoursSleep]

We lost our older dog unexpectedly a few months ago, and our younger dog ( almost 3) went off his food, slept more, came for walks but plodded behind me rather than bouncing through the woods and was desperate to play with any dog that came our way.
It took about a month to find a second dog that matched our family/lifestyle but when our remaining dog met our new dog they played for over an hour.
He wasn't quite so thrilled when we bought him home but a month later they get on well, play together, are both eating and enjoying their walks.
We are happier as a two dog family and although the new dog is no substitution for the one we lost, it was definitely the right thing to do.

[LokiBuddyBoo1]

When my old ddog2 died old ddog1 was looking for him around the house for days was not his usual self for a couple of months,off his food and restless, uninterested in walks ect. but gradually got used to being an only dog and enjoyed 8 more years as a single household dog.
Some dogs however can't seem to cope being an only dog after having a companion.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Thanks. Yes it was my Podengo.

We're spoiling the other dog lots, new toys, treats, cuddles, etc.

I've put name down on a waiting list for another Podengo but it's likely to be a few months at least until one is available. Dh isn't keen on another dog so I'm hoping he will come round.

[DramaAlpaca]

Sorry for your loss Viva.

I sympathise completely as we lost our elderly springer very suddenly a couple of weeks ago. Our younger dog was a bit lost for the first few days, she saw the older dog before we buried her, but I don't know how much she understood about what was happening. She was quite clingy with us for the first few days, and definitely quite unsettled.

Two weeks on, it seems to be getting a bit easier for her, like yours she's getting lots of attention, treats, cuddles etc, and I think she's getting used to it, but she's never been an only dog and it must be hard for her. This is the second elderly springer we've lost inside a year, unfortunately, so we've gone from three dogs down to one. I'm sure she misses her playmate, she keeps trying to play with the cats, who of course aren't too keen on her attentions and find her a bit too bouncy!

We are on the lookout for a springer pup, but it might be a while before we find one. DH insists on working springers and is very particular about their background. I'm a great believer in having two dogs as company for each other, so the sooner we find one the better.

[FiveHoursSleep]

Someone suggested that I only walk my left behind dog in places I hadn't walk the two dogs before. I did this take their advice and although our remaining dog didn't seem any livelier on his walks, it did stop him staring into the woods hoping to see his companion.
Our older dog died away from home so our younger dog wasn't able to see his friend's body.

[Owllady]

I think it depends on the personality of the dog and how long they have been together really. I imagine with a such a young dog he'll forget soon enough. I'm sorry :( x

[MuttonCadet]

No advice, just wanted to say sorry for your loss.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Thanks everyone.

Am crying again now. Pup keeps trying to play with the cats and is frantically scanning the horizon on walks for the other dog.

[FiveHoursSleep]

Oh bless, I remember the weeks after our dog died very well. I was crying all over the place and wondered if I'd ever stop.
Losing a pet unexpectedly is really difficult. Take care of yourself.

[basildonbond]

Poor pup and poor you - he was so young himself that you must all be in shock

[RoosterCogburnIsInTheJakes]

Viva, it's so hard isn't it.

When Dog1 died we moved his bed into the utility room. I came home to find Ddog2 had picked it up and carried it back into the living room and was sitting on it.
He was a tiny terrier, and she was a huge mastiff so as you can imagine she didn't fit.
It made me cry my eyes out.

[QueenJoan3]

So sorry for your loss. I followed all your threads about your podengo because we were looking at getting a podenco, the Spanish version. We now have one from and he is the most amazing dog. No advice about dog grief, but if you are looking for another ( I realise it is very soon) my boy's brother is still in Spain- his siblings have a lovely nature and the brother is sponsored to travel - pm me if you are interested.

[Marcipex]

I know what you mean about frantically scanning the horizon

Our rescue stray did this for 2 1/2 years, always staring/straining towards elderly hatted figures with a stick, and also always looking into a particular kind of pushchair. We could only surmise he had once had an elderly owner with grandchildren. He'd been mistreated and abandoned since then.

He was very well behaved, so we knew someone had trained him once, before someone else kicked his teeth in

After 2 1/2 years, he either forgot or gave up looking. I never knew which.

[WonderIfThingsWillChange]

Im sorry for your loss

No advice to offer but we are going through a similar thing this week, our once mischievous, bouncy and super lively dog has turned into my shadow, following me around everywhere, only sleeping in my room, he's still eating but no real interest or enjoyment in walks or treats. We have no plans to add another dog to our family so I just hope his enthusiasm and cheeriness will return over time.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

My two dogs were both 6 when one of them died. They had been together since they were two are were inseparable. (Both bull terriers). She was the more nervy and sensitive of the two, the one who survived, and was totally sideswiped by his death. He was PTS at the vet's but I had been told it is best for the living dog to see the dead dog's body, and they will understand it has died. So we tried to take her down the garden to show her him, just before we buried him - but she refused, point blank. Just wouldn't go at all. We have a sort of top garden and a bottom garden and he was buried in the bottom garden. To the end of her days she never liked going in that lower garden ever again. She lived to be 14.

It took months and months for her to get back to normal. She spent most days shaking, and refused to eat for a while - maybe a few days or week or so - the shaking and being withdrawn went on for months, though.

I thought it was woo, but someone on a dog forum recommended a food supplement called Wolle 1874 from Herbaticus and I thought I had nothing to lose so tried it - I don't know whether it was just the timing or the supplement, but we noticed a big improvement.

www.herbaticus.co.uk/page6.html

She adjusted to being a only dog and we decided to keep it that way, rather than risk putting her through it all ever again. She had gone blind a couple of years before he died, so this might explain her extreme reaction - he was her best friend, and she probably relied on him more than a sighted dog would have - she felt brave enough to go out and walk and do things, so long as he went too.


A few years back, I had 2 cats who were siblings. One vanished and we assumed she'd been run over. A couple of months later, the other cat was run over. We buried him in the garden. Only for the first cat to reappear - now feral (we think she had got lost and ended up with the feral cats in a nearby farmer's barn). The first time I saw her I thought I was seeing things - I saw her standing on the very spot where we'd buried her brother.

[villainousbroodmare]

Sad for you