Life can change drastically for a dog who loses the companionship of another dog. We don't know how much dogs understand about death, but many dog lovers have experienced a dog who became lethargic, upset, or even ill after a dog companion dies. It can be heart breaking, just when you are also grieving the loss yourself. Read more »

Whenever we experience grief, past losses come back to our minds and hearts. Grief is like an illness or injury, with an acute stage that heals but still leaves us forever changed. Proper care during the acute stage can lead to better healing and perhaps even a strengthened ability to heal from future grief. Read more »

What does a dog experience at the loss of a beloved human? People tell poignant stories of dog behavior such as waiting by a grave, but we don’t know what a dog feels in such a situation.

Certainly the dog shares the frequent human dilemma at such a loss, that of fear at how life will change without that person. The dog is unlikely to know the person is not coming back but may fear that, especially if the dog has lost a previous home. Read more »

Dogs give us so much. The occasional dog is a real trial, through no fault of the dog’s, because of choices humans have made in breeding, placement in a home, upbringing, management and training. The problems surrounding such dogs cause us to have especially mixed feelings at the end of their lives. Read more »