Understanding grief responses in dogs following the death of a companion animal and supporting dogs through bereavement.
Dog bereavement welfare requires recognizing that dogs form genuine individual bonds whose loss causes real emotional responses beyond simple behavioral adaptation. The grief-like responses documented in dogs — searching, reduced appetite, lethargy, and altered sleep — are not merely routine disruption but appear to reflect awareness of a specific individual absence. Supporting a bereaved dog involves maintaining the predictability of daily routine, providing additional human companionship and gentle contact, and allowing the dog to process the absence without being immediately exposed to a new animal. Monitoring for prolonged behavioral changes that suggest depression rather than adaptation, and consulting a veterinarian or behaviorist if the dog does not recover within 4-6 weeks, protects against welfare deterioration.