Grieving the Loss of Your Dog: 10 Tips

How to Grieve Your Dog? Our 10 Tips

Grieving the loss of your dog is painful, and anyone who considers a pup a friend, a companion, or a beloved family member knows the intense pain that accompanies the loss of such a friend ✨.

Here are 10 tips for coping with this pain and the difficult decisions you must make after losing your companion.

1. Am I crazy for hurting this much?

Intense grief following the loss of your dog is normal and natural.

Do not let anyone tell you it is stupid, crazy, or overly sentimental to grieve!

During the years you spent with your dog (even if they were few), they became an important and constant part of your life.

They were a source of comfort and companionship, unconditional love and acceptance, amusement, and joy. So, do not be surprised if you feel devastated by the loss of such a relationship.

People who do not understand the bond between a dog and its owner may not understand your pain. But what matters is how you feel.

Do not let others dictate your feelings: They are legitimate and can be extremely painful. But remember that you are not alone: Thousands of people living with dogs have gone through the same feelings 🙏🏼.

2. What can I expect to feel?

Everyone experiences grief differently. In addition to your sorrow and loss, you may also feel the following emotions:

• Guilt can arise if you feel responsible for your dog's death - the "if only I had been more careful" syndrome. It is useless and often wrong to feel guilty about the accident or illness that took your pet's life, and it only makes resolving your grief more difficult.

• Denial makes it difficult to accept the fact that they are truly gone. It is hard to imagine that your dog won't greet you when you get home, or that they won't need their evening meal. Some pet owners even worry that their dog is still alive and suffering somewhere. Others find it difficult to get a new pet for fear of being "disloyal" to the old one.

• Anger can be directed at the illness that killed your dog, the driver of the speeding car, or the vet who "failed" to save their life. It is sometimes justified, but when taken to the extreme, it distracts you from the important task of resolving your grief.

• Depression is a natural part of grief, but it can leave you unarmed against your feelings. Extreme depression strips you of motivation and energy, leading you to dwell on your sorrow.

3. What can I do about my feelings?

To grieve your dog, the most important step you can take is to be honest about your feelings.

Do not deny your pain, or your feelings of anger and guilt. Only by examining and accepting your feelings can you begin to overcome them.

You have the right to feel pain and sorrow! Someone you loved has died, and you feel lonely and bereaved. You also have the right to feel angry and guilty.

Acknowledge your feelings first, then ask yourself if the circumstances truly justify them.

Bottling up grief does not make it disappear. Express it. Cry, shout, hit the floor, talk about it. Do what helps you the most.

Do not try to avoid the grief by not thinking about your companion, but instead remember the good times. This will help you understand what the loss of your pet really means to you.

Some find it helpful to express their feelings and memories in poems, stories, or letters to their dog.

Other strategies include rearranging your schedule to fill the times you would have spent with your furry friend, creating a memorial such as a photo collage, and talking to others about your loss.

4. Who can I talk to?

If your family or friends love dogs, they will understand what you are going through to grieve.

Do not hide your feelings in a misguided attempt to appear strong and calm!

One of the best ways to put your feelings into perspective and find ways to manage them is to talk about them with someone else.

Find someone you can talk to about what your best friend meant to you and how much you miss them, someone with whom you feel comfortable crying and grieving.

If you do not have family or friends who understand, or if you need more help, ask your veterinarian or local animal welfare organization to recommend a pet loss counselor or a support group like SOS bulle d'amour.

You can also check with your church or hospital for bereavement counseling. Remember that your grief is genuine and deserves support.

5. Is there a right time to euthanize your companion?

Your veterinarian is the best judge of your pet's physical condition.

However, you are the best judge of your dog's quality of daily life.

If your dog has a good appetite, responds to attention, seeks the company of their owner, and participates in games or family life, many owners feel it is not the time.

Conversely, if they are constantly suffering, undergoing difficult and stressful treatments that do not help much, not responding to affection, unaware of their surroundings, and showing no interest in life, a caring owner will likely choose to end their beloved companion's suffering.

6. Should I stay during the euthanasia?

Many believe that it is the ultimate act of love and comfort that you can offer your pet.

Some feel a sense of relief and comfort in staying themselves: They were able to see that their pet passed peacefully and without pain, and that they are truly gone.

For many, not witnessing the death (and not seeing the body) makes it harder to accept the fact that the animal is truly gone. However, it can be traumatic, and you must ask yourself honestly if you will be able to handle it. Uncontrolled emotions and tears - although natural - risk distressing your animal.

Some clinics are more open than others to allowing the owner to stay during the euthanasia.

Some veterinarians are also willing to euthanize a pet at home. Others have gone into an owner's car to administer the injection.

Again, think about what will be least traumatic for you and your pet, and discuss your wishes and concerns with your veterinarian.

7. What should I do next?

When a pet dies, you must choose how to handle their body.

Sometimes, certain shelters accept remains, but many of them require a disposal fee.

If you prefer a more formal option for your four-legged friend, there are several available.

- Burial at home is a popular choice, if you have sufficient property for it. It is economical and allows you to design your own funeral ceremony at a low cost.

However, local ordinances generally prohibit the burial of pets, and it is not a good choice for renters or people who move frequently.

For many, a pet cemetery provides a sense of dignity, security, and permanence. Owners appreciate the serene setting and the maintenance of the grave.

Cemetery fees vary depending on the services you choose, as well as the type of dog you own.

- Cremation is a less expensive option that allows you to dispose of your pet's remains in various ways: burying them (even in the city), scattering them in a favorite spot, placing them in a columbarium, or even keeping them with you in a decorative urn (of which there is a wide variety for pets).

Check with your veterinarian, a pet store, or a phone directory for options available in your area.

Consider your living situation, your personal and religious values, your finances, and your future plans when making your decision. It is also wise to make these plans in advance, rather than in a rush in the midst of grief.

8. What should I tell my children?

You are the best judge of how much information your children can handle regarding the death and loss of their dog. Do not underestimate them, however.

You may find that by being honest with them about this loss, you will be able to dispel some of the fears and misconceptions they have about death.

Honesty is important. If you say the animal was "put to sleep," ensure your children understand the difference between death and regular sleep.

Never say the animal has "gone away," as your child might wonder what they did to make them leave and anxiously wait for their return.

This also makes it harder for the child to accept a new pet. Help them understand that they will not come back, but that they are happy and not in pain.

Never assume a child is too young or too old to grieve. Never criticize a child who is crying, and do not tell them to be "strong" or not to be sad.

Be honest about your own grief; do not try to hide it, as children might feel obligated to hide their own grief as well.

Discuss the matter with the whole family and give everyone the opportunity to work through their grief at their own pace.

9. Will my other pets be grieving?

Pets observe all the changes that occur in a family and never fail to notice the absence of a companion.

Animals often become strongly attached to each other, and the survivor of such a pair may seem to grieve their canine friend. Cats grieve dogs, and dogs grieve cats.

You may need to give your surviving pets plenty of extra attention and love to help them through this time.

Remember that if you introduce a new animal, your surviving pets may not accept them right away, but new bonds will form over time.

In the meantime, the love of your surviving pets can be wonderfully soothing for your own grief.

10. Should I get a new dachshund right away?

In general, the answer is no. It takes time to overcome grief and loss before attempting to build a relationship with a new dog.

If your emotions are still in turmoil, you may resent a new arrival for trying to "take the place" of the old one, because what you really want is to have your old companion back.

Children in particular may feel that loving a new dog is "disloyal" to the old one.

When you get a new sausage dog, avoid getting a "lookalike," which makes comparisons all the more likely.

Do not expect them to be "exactly like" the one you lost, but let them develop their own personality.

Never give your new arrival the same name or nickname as the old one. Avoid the temptation to compare your new companion to the old one: It can be hard to remember that your beloved companion also caused a few problems when they were young!

You should only adopt a new dog (puppy or adult) if you are ready to move forward and build a new relationship - rather than looking back and grieving your lost little dog.

When you are ready, choose a dachshund (from a breeder or an organization) with whom you can build a new, long, and loving relationship, because that is what it means to have a pet 🥰

- Bruno is a life coach and founding member of Teckelshop. He can support you through the process of grieving your dog. You can contact him by writing to: contact@teckelshop.fr

Last modified on 07/15/26