Instructions
Familiarize yourself with the stages of grief that typically outline the way a person processes a loss. People will not necessarily progress through them in any specific order, and you may bounce back and forth between stages as you deal with the death. The stages include: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The time it takes to progress through the grief process is individual; some people may progress through it quickly and others may take years.
Experience your feelings without shame or embarrassment. You lost a loved one and you feel sad; this is natural.
Talk about your feelings with people who understand, such as friends and family, or consider reaching out to special groups or hotlines that can help you grieve for your dog.
Write your feelings down. Often it is easier to write about feelings than to talk about them. Keep your writing in a special place as part of the memories you have of your dog.
Expect some guilt to be involved with the loss of your pet, especially if you made the decision to euthanize your dog. Try to let the guilt go, knowing that you loved your dog and you did everything you could to help her. In the end, if you put your dog down, know that this was a supreme act of love because the dog was suffering and there was no other way to end the suffering.
Help children cope with losing the dog. Kids feel the stages of grief also, but they may have trouble understanding why the dog died. Share your feelings of sadness with your child. Be honest and help your child understand the circumstances of the death in a way that is appropriate for the child's age. For example, a very young child of 3 or 4 won't understand euthanasia, but a child of 7 can probably handle a brief overview of the concept and why this was the loving way to care for your dog.
Create some kind of memorial to help you remember your dog. Plant a tree, place a special paving stone in the soil or carve your pet's name in wood.
How to Deal with the Loss of a Pet Dog
Grieving when a family member dies is natural and expected. When a beloved dog -- who is often considered a family member -- dies, you may grieve in a somewhat similar way. Some misunderstand the depth and breadth of love that many people have for their dogs, making the grieving process difficult. Experience the loss and work through your emotions. As painful as it is, you should eventually reach a point where you can smile and laugh at memories and cherish the time you had with your special furry friend.