Grief, and the whirlwind of emotions that come with it, is something we have all likely felt at one time or another, whether it’s after the loss of a friend, family member, or beloved pet. What’s harder to know is whether grief, as we understand it, is something that our canine companions feel when they lose a fellow four-legged friend.
While we can’t just ask them, we can observe them – and most evidence seems to indicate that, yes, dogs experience grief in some form. In fact, it’s likely that they feel all of the emotions that go along with grief when they lose both human and canine companions during their lives.
There are many instances of dogs grieving the loss of their owners, but there are also several studies that show that dogs grieve for their close canine companions as well. Read on to discover how dogs grieve for other dogs, how you can identify it, and what you can do to help your pup after the loss of a furry buddy.
Have you ever wondered if your furry friend understands when their doggy companion has passed away? As a pet owner myself, I’ve seen firsthand how dogs react when another household pet is no longer around. The question of whether dogs understand death is complex, touching on their emotional intelligence and social bonds that many of us have witnessed but struggle to explain.
The Sense of Loss: How Dogs Perceive Death
Dogs are remarkably perceptive creatures with abilities that sometimes seem almost supernatural to us humans. While they may not comprehend the concept of death in the philosophical way we do, evidence suggests they definitely notice when a companion is missing and react to that absence.
The Power of Scent
One of the most compelling reasons dogs can tell when another dog has died is their incredible sense of smell. Dogs have approximately 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses (compared to our measly 6 million), making their sense of smell about 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than ours!
This superior sense allows them to detect subtle chemical changes that occur in a body after death. They can smell:
- Hormonal changes
- The cessation of normal body functions
- The beginning stages of decomposition
When a fellow dog has died these scent changes are unmistakable to another dog, even if we humans can’t detect them.
Behavioral Signs That Dogs Understand Loss
When a canine companion passes away, surviving dogs often display behaviors that mirror what we recognize as grief in humans. These aren’t just random changes – they follow patterns that strongly suggest emotional processing.
Common behaviors observed in dogs after losing a canine companion include:
- Withdrawal from people and other pets – They may become more solitary
- Changes in appetite – Often eating less than usual
- Lethargy and increased sleeping – Lower energy levels overall
- Searching behaviors – Looking for their missing friend in places they used to be
- Vocalizations – Unusual whining, howling or barking
- Clinginess – Following their owners around more than usual
- Depression-like symptoms – General decrease in activity and joy
As Dr. Barbara J. King professor emerita of anthropology at the College of William and Mary explained in Scientific American, “When someone in a dog’s life dies dogs will react with behavioral changes.” While we can’t know exactly what they’re thinking, these observable changes tell us something significant is happening emotionally.
The Role of Relationship in Canine Grief
Just like with humans, not all dogs react the same way to the loss of another dog. The nature of their relationship plays a crucial role in how deeply they grieve.
Dr. Mary Burch, a certified applied animal behaviorist with extensive experience working with dogs, notes that dogs who shared a close bond will likely show more pronounced signs of depression after losing their friend. Meanwhile, dogs who merely coexisted without much interaction might show little to no change in behavior.
This difference in grieving intensity based on relationship closeness mirrors what we see in human grief patterns, suggesting that dogs form genuine emotional attachments to their canine housemates.
How Long Do Dogs Grieve?
The timeline for canine grief varies considerably from dog to dog. According to a study published in the journal Animals in 2016, most dogs’ grieving behaviors typically return to normal within two to six months after losing a companion.
However, this timeframe can be influenced by several factors:
- The age and health of the surviving dog
- The closeness of the relationship with the deceased dog
- The behavior and grieving process of the human family members
- The dog’s individual personality and emotional resilience
Some dogs may bounce back relatively quickly, while others might show signs of grief for much longer periods. It’s important not to rush your dog through this process – they need time to adjust to the new normal of their household.
Do Dogs Pick Up on Human Grief?
Here’s something really interesting – your dog isn’t just processing their own feelings about the loss, they’re also responding to YOUR emotions.
Dogs are amazingly attuned to human emotional states. They can detect changes in our:
- Body language
- Facial expressions
- Voice tones
- Scent (yes, emotions alter our body chemistry in ways dogs can smell!)
When we’re grieving the loss of a pet, our dogs notice these changes and often respond to them. This means your dog might be experiencing a double emotional burden – they’ve lost a companion AND they’re picking up on your sadness.
A study in Scientific Reports using cortisol measurements (a stress hormone) in the hair/fur of people and pets found that stressed humans tend to have stressed dogs. This emotional contagion means your emotional state directly influences your dog’s wellbeing during times of grief.
How to Help Your Grieving Dog
If your dog is showing signs of grief after losing a canine companion, there are several ways you can help them through this difficult time:
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Maintain routines: Dogs find comfort in predictability. Keep feeding times, walks, and play sessions consistent.
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Give them space when needed: Some dogs need alone time to process emotions. Don’t force interaction if they’re seeking solitude.
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Offer extra attention: When they do want company, provide additional affection, play, and quality time.
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Monitor eating habits: Make sure they’re eating enough. You might need to temporarily offer more enticing food if appetite decreases.
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Consider new activities: New experiences and challenges can help redirect their focus and build new positive associations.
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Arrange playdates: Social time with other friendly dogs can help alleviate loneliness.
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Consider a new companion: After an appropriate mourning period, some dogs benefit from having a new canine friend. This isn’t replacing the lost dog but providing new companionship.
When to Consult a Veterinarian
While grief is normal, sometimes symptoms can become concerning or may indicate other health issues. You should consult your vet if your dog:
- Refuses to eat for more than a day
- Shows severe lethargy lasting more than a few days
- Displays unusual aggression or severe behavioral changes
- Exhibits symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea
- Shows signs of depression that don’t improve over time
A veterinarian can rule out physical causes for these symptoms and might recommend medications to help with anxiety or depression in severe cases.
Should You Let Your Dog See Their Deceased Friend?
This is a question many pet owners struggle with. Should you allow your surviving dog to see and smell the body of their deceased companion?
The opinions on this vary even among experts. Some believe it can provide closure and help the dog understand their friend is gone rather than suddenly missing. Others worry it might be confusing or distressing.
If you’re considering this option, here are some points to consider:
- Your dog will likely be able to tell their companion has died through scent alone
- Seeing the body might help them understand the finality of the situation
- Each dog’s personality is different – some might be upset by the experience
- Brief, calm exposure is generally better than prolonged viewing
- Follow your dog’s cues – if they seem distressed, don’t force the interaction
Ultimately, this is a personal decision that depends on your knowledge of your dog’s personality and your own comfort level with the situation.
Real Stories From Dog Owners
I’ve heard countless stories from fellow dog owners about their experiences with canine grief. One friend told me how her normally energetic Lab spent weeks sleeping in her deceased Beagle’s favorite spot after she passed. Another described how their Shepherd would carry their departed Corgi’s toy around the house, whimpering.
These stories aren’t just anecdotal – they reflect the very real emotional bonds that form between dogs who share their lives together.
The Science Behind Canine Grief
While the scientific research on canine grief is still developing, most animal behaviorists and veterinarians now recognize that dogs do experience something akin to grief. Studies of brain structure show dogs have many of the same neurological components humans use for emotional processing.
Dogs possess:
- A limbic system capable of processing emotions
- Neural pathways similar to those humans use for attachment
- The ability to produce and respond to oxytocin (the “bonding hormone”)
- Memory capabilities that allow them to recall absent companions
These biological similarities support what many dog owners have observed – that dogs form meaningful attachments and feel loss when those attachments are broken.
So, do dogs know when another dog has died? While they may not conceptualize death exactly as humans do, the evidence strongly suggests they perceive the permanent absence of their companions and respond emotionally to that loss.
Their acute senses detect the physical changes of death, their behavior changes in ways consistent with grief, and they form bonds strong enough to be disrupted when a companion is gone forever. This understanding doesn’t require human-like comprehension of mortality – it simply requires the capacity for attachment and the ability to notice when something important has changed.
As dog owners, recognizing and respecting our pets’ emotional lives allows us to better support them through difficult transitions. By acknowledging their grief, we honor the depth of the connections they form – both with us and with the other animals in their lives.
Have you ever witnessed your dog grieving? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below.
Dogs Grieve Based on the Relationship
Dogs can form emotional attachments to people and to other dogs. But, just as with people, not all dogs react the same after the loss of another dog in the household. If the pups shared a very close bond, then the dog may react with behaviors that indicate depression after a furry friend passes away, says Dr. Mary Burch, a certified applied animal behaviorist with more than 25 years of experience working with dogs.
“The signs of grieving for both dogs and people can be the same,” says Dr. Burch. “Depression is a typical sign and it is characterized by changes such as sleep problems, a decreased appetite, a decrease in activity, and increased anxiety that, for dogs, manifests itself with behaviors such as panting, pacing, and sometimes the destruction of objects.”
In general, grieving dogs who have recently lost a close buddy may lose their “spark” and suddenly seem less perky, attentive, and active, says Dr. Burch. On the other hand, if the dogs weren’t close, there may be no signs of grief. “As a matter of fact, in a case where the dogs just coexisted and really did not interact much, if the owner began lavishing attention and activities on the remaining dog, the dog might actually seem happier.”
Note that there is nothing malicious about a lack of grieving behaviors in dogs, says Dr. Bekoff. Each individual dog just grieves differently.
Dogs Pick Up on Our Grief
When you lose a furry family member, not only will your dog experience behavioral changes, but you will undoubtedly feel the devastating loss and behave differently as well.
“Dogs pick up on our mood, odors, facial expressions, and even read our postures,” says Dr. Bekoff. “They read differences in us and can feed off our own feelings, including sadness and grief.”
There have even been scientific studies that indicate owners who are feeling stressed tend to have dogs who are stressed too, according to Dr. Brian Hare, professor of evolutionary anthropology Duke University and founder of Duke’s Canine Cognition Center. “A study in the June 2019 edition of Scientific Reports using cortisol measurements in the hair or fur of people and pets argued that people who are stressed at home have dogs who show signs of stress,” says Dr. Hare. Cortisol is a chemical produced by the body in dogs and humans when an individual is under some kind of stress.
So when you’re feeling sad because you’ve lost a beloved pet, your dog is feeding off your sadness. Because dogs are genetically tuned to bond closely with their human owners, this can, in effect, double up on your pup’s emotional stress.
To avoid contributing to your dog’s grief, offer love and reassurance after the loss of another household pet. “There’s nothing wrong with trying to cheer up your dog,” says Dr. Bekoff. “Give him an extra treat, extra walk, a hug, or let him sleep next to you.”
Dogs experience a form of mourning when another dog in the household dies
FAQ
How long does it take for a dog to realize the other dog died?
What happens when you have two dogs and one dies?
Should I let my dog see my other dog died?
Yes, allowing your other dog to see your deceased dog’s body can provide them with closure and help them understand the loss, which may reduce their grief and anxiety about the missing companion. It is important to be comfortable with the idea yourself, as the body will smell differently, and to let your remaining dog grieve at their own pace without forcing interaction. A gentle sniff and investigation of the body can help the surviving dog accept the finality of the event.
Can dogs smell the ashes of another dog?