Do dogs understand death and mourn the loss of a pet or person?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry about the passing of your dog. You could consider getting Billy a new housemate as that may help him now. Otherwise, you can also consider taking him for walks frequently for him to see other people and other pups which may help. I hope he gets better!

Hello, and thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear that your older dog is likely nearing the end of her life, and it's great that you're thinking about Derek and how he may cope. In short, all dogs respond a little differently. Some go through a period of obvious mourning with a decreased appetite and lethargy, while others don't. Dogs are pretty resilient and flexible, and likely Derek will do ok, even if he needs some time to mourn and adjust to the changes without his buddy there. Just give him some extra love and attention, and provide some extra stimulation through bonding activities, such as play and walks. Usually within a week or two they start to adjust to the "new normal." Here's a link to some more information on helping a grieving pet: https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/09/19/helping-surviving-pet-deal-with-loss.aspx Or a book that might be helpful: From Sad to Glad: Helping Your Dog Survive a Loss by Phoebe Lauren I hope this helps. Hugs to you.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Animals do show emotion and it very well could be that she is grieving or missing your 12 year old dog. If they were together for a long time, and now your other dog is missing, this is a big change in Kita's environment not having her friend around. I would recommend providing her with plenty of toys to play with and take her out a lot. If this is due to emotional stress, it should hopefully resolve with time. If any new symptoms develop I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Kita and test her blood for any abnormal changes. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Great question. I think this depends on how well they all get along. If you screen the new dog properly and do a meet and greet, and they all end up being great companions, I think it's a great idea and shows you are thinking ahead. A death of a companion can be very devastating not only for humans but for the other pets in the house. Having another pet around would hopefully distract from and provide some relief when one of your other dogs passes. I think if you are ready for another dog and are willing to take on the financial aspect of it, it's a great idea. Best of luck with you and I hope you have many good years left with all of them.

I'm so sorry for your loss! Pets grieve, just as we do. Try to keep your dog's daily routine as normal as possible, while giving your dog some extra attention and exercise as a distraction. Ultimately, grief takes time to process for our four legged friends, just as it does for us.

Thank you for the update. I am so sorry about your baby girl. The grief process can vary between dogs. It could be days or it could be months. What you are doing so far with Haden is great. Basically, continue with your daily routine so the rest of his life doesn't change. Dogs can also sense our grief so his sadness may improve when yours does. Again, it all takes time. We at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach are sending lots of kisses to Haden and hugs to you!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. I am sure it is very difficult to be going through this. Dogs are emotional and can become distressed / sad when a loved one passes away. Unfortunately, it just takes time. There are some things you can try to help ease the stress for Sadie. I would recommend the below products and see if these help. I would also take her out more for walks and socialize her and consider taking her to the dog park as well to interact with other dogs. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Adaptil collar 2. NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin 3. Plenty of toys to play with