Words are hard to find when it comes to describe the feeling of losing a dog, a being so precious to us and so connected to our heart we can’t imagine a life without them.
Understanding Grief: What’s Normal?
Grief isn’t just a feeling; it’s a journey. You might feel sad, angry, or even guilty. Sometimes, you might not know why you feel the way you do. That’s okay! It’s completely normal to experience these emotions, and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise and say “it was just a dog.” Grief doesn’t follow a straight path. It can twist and turn, just like a winding road.
Creating a Space to Remember
Creating a special space can help honor your pet’s memory. This could be a small area in your home with their favorite toys or pictures. Imagine this space as a little garden in your heart, where you can go to remember the good times. Each item can bring back memories, like a flash of sunlight breaking through clouds on a gloomy day.
Talking About It: Sharing Your Feelings
Don’t keep your feelings bottled up. As much as none of us want to experience that pain, ignoring it or trying to push it aside is not the answer. The only way forward is to let yourself feel. Talking to others who have experienced similar losses and can share their own stories, will help you heal and remind you that you’re not alone.
The Power of Rituals
Rituals can provide comfort when you’re grieving. Whether it’s a small farewell ceremony, lighting a candle, or sharing your favorite memories, these actions create a sense of closure. Think of it as planting a seed in memory of your dog. Over time, it can bloom into a beautiful reminder of the love you shared.
Finding a New Routine
After losing a pet, your daily routine might feel out of sync. Consider adding new activities to bring joy back into your life. Maybe it’s going for a walk in the park, picking up a new hobby or volunteering at a local shelter to give love to animals that need it. Just like a tree shedding old leaves, you can grow new branches in your life. Embrace this change as a way to honor your pet by living fully.
Seeking Professional Help: It’s Okay to Ask
If the weight of your grief feels too heavy, I am here for you. I can help guide you through your feelings and provide support. It’s like having a flashlight on a dark path, showing you there is a way forward.
Remembering the Joy: Celebrate Their Life
Finally, take time to celebrate the happy moments you had together. Look back and smile at the silly things they did or the cozy times you shared. Create a scrapbook or a photo album filled with joyful memories. Each picture is a petal in your memory garden, reminding you of the love that will always remain.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone
Grieving the loss of your dog is a personal journey, and everyone grieves differently. Allow yourself to feel, remember, and heal at your own pace. You’re not alone in this experience. Many have walked this path, and from sorrow can blossom a new understanding of love and remembrance. Embrace the journey ahead, knowing that your dog will always have a special place in your heart.
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I’ve been rescuing and caring for senior dogs since 2009. From vision and hearing loss to obesity, dementia, kidney disease, liver issues, cardiac problems, Cushing’s, mobility challenges and more, you could say I’ve dealt with and learned a lot! In addition to my hands on experience, I’ve taken many courses and earned several qualifications to keep learning how to help senior dogs and they include: Senior Dog Enrichment, Understanding Canine Anxiety, Care of the Senior Pet and I’m a Certified Pet Loss Specialist.
Great tips, Hindy for grieving the loss of your furry buddy. You’re right, it’s never an easy path. Doing whatever feels right to you, I think is always a good idea, and taking as long as needed to walk through this journey is always fine. I’m sharing this with all dog parents so they can learn about these valuable ideas for managing pet grief.
To some, losing a pet can be worse than a human that’s how deep their connection. It is a journey and hopefully one with lots of support.
Great tips and I have found sharing one memory of Layla a day keeps me smiling and remembering the good times I had. I had a ceremony when I spread her ashes at the lake which makes me smile each time that she is free from all. Thanks for sharing all the tips and opening peoples eyes to that they are not alone
I love that idea of sharing one memory a day! We get so lost in our grief, too often we can only remember the sadness. It’s a beautiful way to honour the memory of someone we loved so much.
It’s been almost 2 years and we are still trying to find our new routine without our two oldest pups. Hugs to all who have lost a loved one
Finding a new routine can be such a challenge. For years the days revolved around walks, feeding and likely later dealing with illnesses and vets. To suddenly find ourselves a new normal isn’t easy but we all get there.
It is important for at lovers and dog lovers to know they are not alone in their grief. On Twitter when Dash died I had such a lot of support and knowing I was not alone made a huge different. We all walk this path and are there for others when they need us.
So true. It’s hard enough to deal with the hole in our heart, but to go through it alone makes it even worse. I’m glad you had so much support, and as you’ve seen, the kindness of strangers goes a long way.
This is very good advice thanks for sharing. Unexpectedly losing my Angel Phoebe 2 years ago nearly broke me. It shouldn’t have happened and I feel it was not her time. Now my 15 year old Husky is nearing the end of her natural life. It’s difficult caring for her now and I worry about what it will be like losing her. I worry more about my husband, she’s his first dog and the light of his life. It won’t be easy.
I’m sorry to read about Phoebe, and the unexpected circumstances you had to deal with. It’s hard enough when it’s expected. Caring for an older dog certainly has its challenges, and facing saying goodbye, particularly when that pet is extra special in someone’s life isn’t easy. Your husband is lucky he got to experience that kind of love, and while it will be difficult it’s the price we pay for opening our heart, so enjoy all the moments while you can. My husband struggled with the loss of Jack who was his heart dog. He still tears up when he talks about him.
Hindy, what a heartfelt, positive post about something that we pet parents all go through at some point. Losing my FiveSibes – two of them just three months apart – still fills my heart with grief. I miss them. I miss my life with them. But, as you stated, for me, the ritual of writing about them (the wonderful and the sad) tops my list of healing. I find still talking and writing about them so helps, both me the griever, and others who may be going through the same or embarking upon a new journey with a dog. So many stories and themes to still talk about that we did/they went through, etc. I find it very cathartic, heartwarming, and bittersweet (sometimes shedding tears at the memories because there are no more to make) to continue their blog and social media, which is all inspired by and based on them, but also featuring new canine news. I miss their presence every single day, and as I am on a new journey without them, I am finding my own way, but always as the FiveSibesMom. <3 This is such a wonderful post I'm sure will help others on their pet loss journey.
Dorothy, you honour them so much by keeping them alive in your blog. By writing you’re able to let go of that grief, while serving others. Your work on sharing about epilepsy has helped countless dog parents who, I have no doubt, were so scared by what they were seeing, and may not have found the support they get from you anywhere else. That’s the legacy of Gibson and the Five Sibes!