How to Help a Dog Whose Mate Has Died

Dogs are pack animals, and although they have become domesticated over the centuries, the pack mentality still prevails. The family dog̵7;s pack consists of his human and canine housemates, and could also include other pets in the home. When a dog has a close relationship with another dog and one dies, your pet may be inconsolable. Dogs are extremely adaptable creatures, however, and few will be able to mourn for long if you take steps to ensure that he is not lonely or ignored.

  1. Viewing the Body

    • Dogs are intelligent enough to realize when their mate has disappeared, and understand about death. To avoid the dog racing around the house in a state of panic for several hours looking for his mate, allow him to see and smell the other dog̵7;s body if possible. He will immediately understand what has happened, and although this discovery may make him sad and depressed, he will at least know that his mate has died.

    Love and Attention

    • Giving your dog extra love and attention during the first few days after his mate̵7;s passing will help to reassure and comfort him. He may experience a state of concern similar to separation anxiety for the first few days, and could be particularly worried whenever he is left alone. Help him to understand that you love him as much as ever by being exceptionally gentle with him and by giving him extra cuddles and attention. Try to avoid leaving him at home alone until he has recovered from the death.

    Keep Him Busy

    • Keep your dog as busy as possible, which ensures that he does not have time to mourn excessively or to sink into a depression. Introduce exciting new activities into his day, such as an extra walk, a car ride with you, or a visit to a friend̵7;s house where he will be the center of attention. This will keep his mind off the loss of his companion, and tire him out so that he sleeps well during his rest periods. Avoid over-stimulating or exercising an elderly dog, which could lead to exhaustion and stress.

    Positive Training

    • Whether your dog is well-trained or is only familiar with basic behavioral activities, positive training using rewards will help to keep him happy, busy and stimulated. Depending on the dog̵7;s age and physical condition, choose either a training class or a private instructor to help you perform the training. A young, healthy dog may benefit from group activities, but an older or less active dog is likely to do better on his own. Handle the dog during the training exercises yourself, because giving control of his leash to a stranger could increase his anxiety under the circumstances.

    Add Another Dog

    • Some dogs do well if they have another companion fairly soon after the death of their mate; others, less so. If your dog is under 5 years of age, outgoing and sociable with few health issues, he may benefit from having a new companion. For an older dog, you will need to gauge whether he will get along with another dog, and if so, what age the new dog should be. Elderly dogs of 12 years and older are unlikely to be impressed by the addition of a boisterous puppy into their lives, although in some instances this has been known to rejuvenate an aging, depressed dog.

    Medicate

    • As a very last resort, your veterinarian may prescribe anti-depressants for your dog to help him through the difficult period. These medicines commonly take a week or two to affect the dog, however, so you may still need to support him with reassurance and exercise at first. Flower essences such as Rescue Remedy may provide some temporary relief, but consult your veterinarian first to check that it will not interact badly with any other medications the dog takes regularly.