Grieving dog

[Itstheway]

We had to say goodbye to our girl two weeks today, we had her for 9 years. When she was 3 we got another dog (boy bulldog breed) they were chalk and cheese but loved eachother dearly. Since our girl had gone our boy is lost and I don’t know how to help. We have given extra cuddles, walks to keep him tired, he’s sleeping in our bed (they both usually did) but he just doesn’t want to be loved. Today I found him shaking on the sofa :(. I bought a camera to see how he is when we go out, he was barking for about 20 minutes out of the hours we left him for yesterday. Anyone have experience on how do you help a grieving dog? Any advice would be appreciated

Honestly, I'd get another dog. Some dogs can be only dogs, but some, especially when they've been used to being part of a 'pack' struggle to be in their own (in my experience)
I lost my old girl just before Christmas and my beagle has been lost without her. I recently took another rescue (Feb) and she is becoming herself again. Good luck 🙂

I lost my boy on Thursday and I have another who has only ever lived with said dog . So far he is coping and I've made sure I've taken him everywhere I can , dog walker also takes him out with other doggie company . Im open to getting another but I'd prefer not to right now unless he needs a companion . I also worry he has no one to play with in the garden as they were always playing tag but maybe im reading too much into it

I would get a vet check as well. It is easy to assume it may be grief but I would want to rule out any illness or pain issues just to be sure.

I would try for the short term to not leave the dog as he adjusts to being without the other dog.

I am so sorry for your loss.

My old boy grieved dreadfully when we lost our girl. He went from a really laid-back lad who took everything in his stride, to howling the house down and soiling when I was out for just 10 minutes taking the dc to school.

We kept to his usual routine as far as possible, for security, but did add in extra and novel walks and did a lot more brain training and things like scatter feeding, plus lots and lots of love.

He did improve a little, but he really wasn’t happy, so ultimately we chose to get another dog.

Oddly enough, he and the other dog were never close, but just having him there seemed to help and he stopped the howling and soiling literally overnight. They lived happily alongside each other, without ever being super-bonded and by the time we, very sadly, lost the second dog at a relatively young age, he was geriatric and that time took it in his stride, in fact he lapped up all the extra attention he had as an only dog for the last 18 months of his life.

My second dog was depressed for a good six months after we lost the older dog. Only time does it really. Poor boy was just over it and the new puppy arrived!

My girl has just lost her lifelong companion and while not best buddies she drew a lot of confidence just from him being present, when her went she just retreated into her self and was lost, she won't go up in the rear garden on her own and on a walk she just stays with 10 foot of me and has even been greeting other dogs when. she would usually scoot past them as I tried to keep them dog neutral.

We have just got a puppy 6 weeks later and whilst she isn't keen on the puppy it has given her a purpose in life and she just seems more herself.

Our oldest ddog was pts.. We had gotten a dpuppy 3 weeks previously.. The Vet said ddogs absolutely do grieve..

Our surviving ddogs missed her but we all had a welcome distraction...

Our feisty little terrier was very sad when the old spaniel died, they hadn't even got in that well. We got another puppy and he was much happier.