Although we observe that dogs do grieve for other dogs, they may not fully comprehend the concept of death and all of its metaphysical implications. In my experience, this isn’t necessarily so. During times of loss, normalcy can be key. When another pack member dies, this may leave your dog feeling uncertain about his role and how he fits in.
When the dogs are socially bonded together, there will more often be signs of depression in the surviving dog, and they may last for longer periods of time.
Helping your healthy dog be present during the other dog's passing allows your dog to see and understand that the other dog is not coming back. Since they may not actually understand death as something permanent, sometimes a dog will wait patiently, believing that the deceased will return. Dog Behavior Before Death: Recognizing Your Pet’s Last Moments.
No two dogs are the same, so it may be hard to know what your dog might do if he or she is grieving the loss of another household pup. Keep Routine.
Another part is our desperate hope that they understand when it’s time to say goodbye. Then she started sitting at the front door for long periods of time, waiting for her I guess. That animals understand death and grieve for their losses is no longer the question. How animals perceive death has been a longstanding puzzle. And because dogs cannot tell how they feel, there is no general agreement as to whether dogs understand the death of another dog. I have lived with dogs all my life, in fact my best friend is a dog and they certainly know a lot more than some people give them credit for.
Here are a few signs to help you recognize that your canine friend is close to death. Many dog experts and owners, however, notice changes in behavior when a death occurs that belie an emotional state.
How do dogs feel about death? Because dogs cannot tell us in words how they feel, and because different dogs have different personalities, there is no consensus as to whether they understand the death of another. On three seperate occasions I could see it in their eyes that they were on their way out. But dogs generally do seem to react to any major change in their environment. Passing away of a pet can be really painful, although pet owners know they will have to face such a situation at some or the other point of time.
If your dog kills another dog, and you were not at fault, there’s probably nothing for you to do. Probably most people assume that if housemate dogs are friends and one dies, the surviving dog will feel grief, or a canine equivalent. Signs of Grief in Dogs.