Dogs are highly social animals that form strong bonds with other dogs and their human families. When a dog companion dies, it’s normal for the surviving dog to grieve the loss. Dogs communicate largely through body language and physical interaction, so the absence of a long-time canine housemate can be traumatic. Understanding dog psychology provides insight into how to help a grieving dog through the mourning process.
Do dogs understand death?
Dogs don’t have the same concept of death that humans do. They don’t foresee their own mortality or make preparations for end-of-life care. However, dogs do understand the emotion of loss. When a human or animal companion disappears from their life, they feel the absence profoundly.
Dogs are very routine-oriented, so they respond negatively when their social structure is disrupted. They often search obsessively for the lost companion and wait eagerly by the door for them to return. A dog may even temporarily lose interest in food or play. Some dogs vocalize more with whining or barking. Others grow more inactive or aloof. These behaviors reflect what human psychologists call “separation anxiety.”
How do dogs act when another dog dies?
When dogs lose a sibling or long-time canine housemate, they display all the signs of grief that humans do. They may lose interest in daily activities, become more withdrawn or clingy with their human caretakers. Physical symptoms like lethargy and loss of appetite are common. The surviving dog may search the house looking for the missing companion or wait by the door expecting them to return. The acuteness of the loss very much depends on how bonded the dogs were. Littermates or pairings that have lived together for many years suffer the most.
Some key behaviors that demonstrate a dog’s grieving for another dog include:
- Withdrawing from social interaction with people or other pets
- Loss of interest in toys, walks, or play
- Poor appetite
- Increase in vocalizations like whining or barking
- Aimlessly wandering the house in search of the missing dog
- Sleeping more than normal
- Seeking more affection from human caretakers
How long does dog grieving last?
There is no rigid timeline for how long dog grief may endure. Factors that influence the mourning process and duration include:
- The degree of social bonding between the dogs
- Whether the surviving dog witnessed the death
- The age and general temperament of the surviving dog
- The lifestyle and routine disruption caused by the loss
- If the owner also grieves openly
For example, a senior dog that has lived with the same companion for many years will take longer to recover than a lively puppy who enjoyed playing with a dog acquaintance. On average, the most acute symptoms of mourning typically resolve within 2-3 weeks. But it takes 4-6 months or longer for dogs to fully adjust to the loss of a close companion.
Do male and female dogs grieve differently?
There may be subtle gender differences in how dog companions respond to loss. A 2013 study published in Animal Cognition suggested that female dogs exhibit more overt distress and attention-seeking behaviors when mourning. Male dogs show symptoms like aggression and restlessness that are directed outward. The study compared human assessments of male and female dog reactions to the loss of another dog in the same home. The findings were:
- Female dogs were rated as showing more despair, attention-seeking, and mild separation anxiety.
- Male dogs showed more aggression and environmental distress like destruction of objects.
However, every dog has an individual personality that shapes their expression of grief. Breed characteristics and early life experiences also play a role. So generalizing behavior by gender has definite limits.
Do puppies grieve when separated from littermates?
Puppies start bonding with their mother and litter-mates at birth. By 3-4 weeks old, they initiate social play and companionship with their siblings. So puppies definitely notice and react when adopted away from their litters between 8-12 weeks old. Puppies separated earlier than 8 weeks tend to have more distress and behavioral issues.
Common signs that puppies miss their canine family include:
- Frequent whining and crying
- Loss of appetite
- Chewing destructive behaviors
- Timidity or fearfulness
- Chasing their tail obsessively
- Avoiding social interaction
These symptoms usually resolve within the first 2-3 days in a new home. Providing affection, consistency and environmental stimulation are important to help the puppy adapt.
How can you help a grieving dog?
Here are some tips for helping a dog mourn the loss of a companion:
- Maintain a consistent daily routine with regular feeding, walks, play times and affection.
- Try interactive toys and games to reengage interest.
- Introduce a new companion when the dog seems receptive – but don’t rush it.
- Use calming aids like pheromone plugins or anti-anxiety garments if separation anxiety persists.
- Talk to your veterinarian if depression or loss of appetite continues beyond 2 weeks.
- Give extra love and reassurance during the grieving period.
The key is to be patient and allow the mourning process to progress naturally. Don’t punish depressive behaviors or force interactions too soon. With time and support, most dogs bounce back after a major loss.
How does getting a new dog help with grief?
Eventually, adopting a new canine companion can lift a dog’s spirits after losing a beloved friend. But the timeframe for introducing a replacement buddy requires sensitivity. Some tips on choosing and integrating a new dog include:
- Wait at least 2-3 months before adopting so acute grief resolves.
- Select an opposite sex dog, since competition is less likely.
- Aim for an age gap of at least 3 years to avoid direct comparison.
- Start introductions outside neutral territory before allowing home access.
- Be prepared to keep dogs separated initially if there’s tension or anxiety.
- Make sure to give your grieving dog lots of individual love and attention.
With proper introduction techniques, a new sibling often rekindles interest, energy and social engagement. But there’s always an adjustment period honoring the previous canine bond.
Do dogs ever die from grief?
The loss of a beloved human or canine companion can be devastating for dogs. But grieving itself is a natural response that shouldn’t directly cause a physically healthy dog’s death. What does happen is that traumatic loss can lead to secondary life-threatening health issues in dogs if proper care isn’t provided.
Potential medical complications from dog grief include:
- Starvation or severe weight loss from extreme loss of appetite
- Dehydration from lack of drinking water
- Self-neglect and illness if depression causes a dog to stop caring for itself
- Excessive stress that contributes to or worsens disease
- Injury from destructive behaviors or refusal to move
With prompt veterinary attention and supportive care at home, though, most dogs can be nursed back to health.
When to seek veterinary help
Contact your vet if a grieving dog exhibits any of the following:
- Refusal to eat for more than 36 hours
- No interest in water for over 24 hours
- Signs of dehydration like dry gums or skin tenting
- Sudden onset of diarrhea, vomiting or coughing
- Weight loss exceeding 10% body mass
- Failure to move with paralysis or loss of balance
- Sustained whining, pacing and agitation
Left untreated, dehydration, malnutrition and self-neglect can endanger a clinically depressed dog’s health. Medications may be prescribed to stimulate appetite and relieve anxiety. Hospitalization for IV fluids and nutrition may be necessary in some cases.
Conclusion
The tight social bonds dogs form mean they deeply feel the loss when a human or animal companion dies. Common symptoms of dog grieving include lethargy, loss of appetite, destructive behaviors and seeking more human attention. Providing patience, routine and reassurance helps most dogs recover over 2-6 months. But some depressed dogs need medical intervention if health complications develop. Understanding the mourning process allows owners to give their dog the empathy and support they need to eventually accept the loss.