


Your grief will probably not be gone in a few weeks or even months. It is, after all, ‘just a dog.’ You may even tell yourself that and try to avoid working through your grief by keeping busy or attempt to ‘get rid of it’ as soon as possible. This grief is completely normal, and may be misunderstood by the people around you. You may be surprised to have so much grief from the loss of your dog, or to be experiencing grief before your dog is even gone. Is my grief normal? How long will this last? It is my hope that while an article can’t get rid of the sadness or fill the empty hole in your heart, it may encourage you to find a way to grow from this experience and see it as yet another gift from your dog. This article will help you understand some of the common feelings, behaviors, and thoughts that may come with the loss of your dog. Chances are, though, you’re just experiencing the agony of grief. Some of the things that you might do or think while grieving may make you think you are having a permanent mental crisis. Every experience of grief is unique, so you can’t really be prepared for the loss of your dog. If you were lucky enough to share your life with a dog, especially a ‘ soulmate dog’ who has passed or is nearing the end of life, then you also have the flip-side of such a strong relationship: grief. To love a dog is to truly know the meaning of unconditional love.
