Understanding Canine Grief
Prioritizing Your Dog's Emotional Well-being
The loss of a beloved canine companion can be a profoundly painful experience, but what about the other dogs in our homes? Do they too grieve the passing of a furry family member? This question is not as straightforward as it may seem. Having had first hand experience in helping to introduce a new pup to a home, we know first hand the challenges that come with introduction to a home where a pup just passed.
Some pet owners have witnessed their remaining dogs exhibiting behaviors that suggest they are mourning the loss, while others may be skeptical of the idea that animals can experience such complex emotions. Scholars, too, hold differing views on the subject, with some arguing that most animals do possess emotions, and others maintaining that emotions are uniquely human. Ultimately, the depth of a dog’s capacity for grief remains a topic of ongoing debate and personal interpretation.
Historical Perspectives On Animal Emotions
For ages, while many folks sensed that our furry and feathered friends had feelings, the wise heads of Western philosophers often scoffed, viewing these incredible creatures as nothing more than instinct machines. Enter the trailblazer Charles Darwin, who burst onto the scene with a whimsical idea: emotions aren’t just for humans—they flow through every creature on this planet! This delightful notion harmonized perfectly with the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries, when clever thinkers started to realize that animals aren’t just instinct-driven; they also have the brains to reason and the hearts to feel pain. Fast forward to the 20th century, and the science folks, who once held tight to their rigid views, started to catch on to the awe-inspiring concept of sentience—the super cool ability of all living beings to feel and be aware. But hold on to your hats, because along came Behaviorism in the early 20th century! Its supporters proclaimed a halt to fancy words like sensation, perception, desire, and emotion, claiming they were just figments of our imagination.[iv] For much of the century, Behaviorism held the reins, insisting that it was pseudo-science that led us to think animals had emotions. Then the mid-1980s rolled around, bringing with it a spark! Many scientists, inspired by the groundbreaking work of animal behaviorists and the delightful stories from long-term field studies done by stars like Jane Goodall, reignited the passion for animal sentience and how our animal pals truly feel.[v],[vi] And guess what? That excitement is still alive and kicking today!
Embracing Compassion for Our Animal Companions
Have you ever wondered if our furry friends, especially dogs, can feel a little heartache when they lose a buddy? Spoiler alert: studies are wagging their tails in agreement! Many doggy parents have shared stories that sniff right of love and loss. While the brightest scientists might not have all the answers about what goes on in a pup’s mind when they face the big “goodbye,” researchers are fetching some exciting insights that suggest dogs definitely do feel a bit sad when one of their four-legged pals departs. Dr. Barbara J. King, an anthropologist and author of the book How Animals Grieve, shares a playful thought: even though us humans have this knack for understanding death, our ability to grieve isn’t just for us! “We may have our own quirky ways of mourning,” she says with a twinkle, “but the bond of deep grief is truly something we share with our animal companions!”
FAQs About Helping Grieving Dogs
Supporting your grieving pup can be challenging, but you're not alone in this.
What Pups Reveal About Their Wagging Grief
Helping your dog cope with a loss involves patience and love. Offer them consistent routines, extra snuggles, and engaging activities. Create a supportive environment, and ensure they feel secure and loved during this time.
How can I ease their pain?
To help your dog find comfort, try maintaining their daily schedule and introducing pleasant distractions. Engage them in new outdoor adventures or games to help lift their spirits while they adjust.
When should I get another pet?
If your dog was very attached to their late friend, consider waiting a while before introducing another dog. This decision should feel right for both your current dog and yourself, ensuring it brings joy rather than stress.
Will my dog ever feel better?
Many dogs can heal from grief with time and love. Give them a chance to process their emotions. Your support, patience, and willingness to create new joyful experiences can lead to brighter days ahead.
Is it normal for them to be quiet?
Yes, it’s common for dogs to show changes in behavior, including increased quietness or withdrawal after a loss. Monitor their behavior closely and provide them with loving attention to help them feel secure.
How can I reassure them?
Reassuring your dog involves being present, using gentle tones, and engaging in comforting activities. Regularly connect with them and provide affection to help ease their worries and build a sense of trust.
Grief in Dogs: What Studies Show
Let’s dive into the paws-itively fascinating world of animal emotions! Researchers usually lay down two fun ground rules: first, that animals actively choose to hang out with their buddies; and second, when one furry friend takes a permanent nap, the surviving pet’s quirky behaviors often do a complete flip—sometimes dramatically! In 2022, a team of enthusiastic Italian scientists wrapped up an epic study on these changes and discovered that the emotional ties dogs have with their human companions can stretch right over to their fellow furry pals. When a doggie sidekick passes on, the remaining pooch can display behaviors that totally scream grief and mourning.
Among the doggy parents in the study, an astounding 86 percent noticed some not-so-fun changes in the surviving doggo’s antics. A little more than one-third said these behavioral quirks stuck around for two to six months, while a quarter noted they lasted even longer! The researchers tossed aside the idea that the pet parent’s own sorrow was simply bouncing onto the surviving pup, deciding instead that the changes in behavior were the real deal. Interestingly, they found out that the strength of the bond between the two dogs mattered way more than how long they had been buddies!
When one lovable canine in the pack departs, the surviving furball might not realize that their buddy is gone for good, but boy, do they feel that empty space! We can see it in their playful (or sometimes not-so-playful) behavior. Back in 1996, the ASPCA embarked on a heartwarming mission called the Companion Animal Mourning Project. They found that when a dog loses a buddy, two-thirds of the surviving pups showed all sorts of behavioral changes, like loss of interest in treats, sleepless nights, sluggishness, more vocalization, avoiding playtime, being extra clingy, a bit confused, and in extreme cases, they may even stop eating altogether. Many of these behaviors resemble the way humans mourn the loss of a loved one—just from a canine perspective, of course!
The Grief of Dogs
But here’s the catch with trying to understand our furry friends’ emotions: without a magical Vulcan mind probe, diving into animal minds remains a bit of a mystery! After all, just like our human buddies, animals keep their feelings under wraps, and they can’t exactly chat with us about how they’re doing. This fuels the fire for some old-school scientists who are quick to shrug off any theories about animal feels. Renowned biologist and behavioral ecologist Marc Bekoff points out that even if we were to someday discover that Fido’s brain lights up in the same way when he’s happy or sad as ours does, those skeptics might still insist we can never really know what animals are truly feeling. They argue such studies are pointless! Bekoff suspects that some researchers shy away from exploring animal emotions out of fear of being branded as “softies” or “unscientific.”
Bekoff and his pals believe we should take into account not just hard data but also those heartwarming stories from dog owners who witness their furry companions acting all mopey after losing a buddy. They argue that caretakers have golden insights into their pets’ behaviors—insights that wouldn’t be captured in a lab full of strangers.
“Sure, joy and grief in dogs might feel different from those in chimpanzees, elephants, or humans, but that doesn’t mean that dog joy or dog grief doesn’t exist!” Bekoff reminds us. It’s tough seeing our furry pals navigate heartbreak, but by acknowledging their grief, we can help them mend and find their happy place again—and maybe lighten our own hearts in the process!
Ultimately, we’re left pondering the question, What’s the scoop on grief? We might as well toss in another one: What’s the scoop on love? because let’s face it, they go together like peanut butter and jelly! As Barbara King thoughtfully notes in How Animals Grieve, “What stands out…is not the theories of human uniqueness, but the wonderful revelation that other animals do indeed grieve, and they do so because they have loved.”
