DS heartbroken after losing our family dog

[bowbear]

DS (just 4) is devastated. Our very elderly dog died this week and he is just so sad. He's really struggling and has started having nightmares. I know it will take time for all us to come to terms with the loss but I would love any suggestions of how to support DS through his grief and help him to understand what has happened.

Thanks x

[ErrolTheDragon]

I'm so sorry. There are some children's books that may help explore bereavement gently - Badger's Parting Gifts is the one my DD liked when her great-uncle died when she was 3, or the last Mog one.

Do talk about your dog, let your DS know that it's ok to feel sad. When our old dog died (DD was 8 by then) it was me doing the crying but we all did a lot of hugging. The thing that helped us - which may or may not be appropriate for your family - was when we decided that we definitely would get another dog, even though we thought it would take six months or so to find a good pup (in the event we found a perfect fit for us within a month).

[HumphreyCobbler]

I was going to say about goodbye Mog.

I agree, it is important to understand that it is ok to feel sad.

Sorry you lost your dog, it is heartbreaking

[bowbear]

Thank you for your replies. We are talking about him a lot - he was a big part of our family. I will have a look at those books. He's just so little and trying so hard to understand what has happened :( No new dog on the horizon for some time, just not ready for that yet but maybe one day.

[bakingtins]

We lost our old girl last year. It really helped all of us to have a little funeral, we buried her ashes, lead and some pictures the children drew. If you didn't want a burial, how about making a memory box instead? We had 6 months of dog-less-ness and it was miserable, but we have a new dog now. We still get out the photos and talk about her fairly regularly, but now without the tears.