Signs Your Dog Knows Someone is Sad
Your pup is very intuitive to energies – be it good, bad or sad. They are sponges for our energy and normally reflect our energy back to us.
When a dog notices you are sad, for example, you may see them lower their ears, lie down and stare at you with big old puppy eyes. Your sadness has affected them and they are concerned. Within a few minutes, your pup may come over to you and sit quietly by your side.
They are there for you to pet, hug or cry on. They will normally not leave your side until your energy changes or you are, at the very least, not quite as sad.
If you are ever on the receiving end of a Dogs empathetic attempt to cheer you, let them know they are a good boy or girl – because they really are!
If a dog notices someone crying, for instance, they will approach slowly with their head down, their tail tucked and will sit silently by the crying persons side. Until the crying person acknowledges the Dogs presence by either saying hello or petting them, the dog will stand, waiting.
Once the dog receives a greeting, a pet or cuddle, the dogs tail will begin to wag, they become more alert and sometimes dogs will even lick the face of the person, perhaps even trying to lick the tears from that persons face. It really is very sweet – but hey, thats dogs for you!
Some other signs a dog is zoning in on someone who is sad or grieving are simply laying at the grieving persons feet and waiting for the grieving person to acknowledge them. This is a dogs way of letting grieving people know they are here for them and they will wait patiently until that grieving person is ready to reach out to the dog through a stroke, a kiss or a verbal thank you.
These are signs that your pooch knows youre feeling blue:
Further signs your pup feels your sadness are:
The History of Dogs Helping with Grief
Our dogs have always been there for us – ever since the time ancient canines/wolves starting hanging around human camps to forage for food over 10,000 years ago! Take for example the 12,000-year-old grave in Israel that was recently discovered with the remains of a woman holding the skeleton of a puppy.
Our dogs want nothing more for us to be happy and will always be there to cheer us when we are sad or grieving.
Case in point – take into count the millions of therapy dogs throughout the country. When there is a local or national tragedy where there is loss of life, therapy dogs can be called upon to help humans mourn their loss and to comfort them when they need it most.
Some funeral homes, retirement villages, hospitals and schools even have therapy dogs on hand to help families and friends grieve the loss of a loved one or to be there for a youngster who is perhaps experiencing their first cruel lesson in life – that loved ones die.
★★★★★ HelpGuide is a top-rated nonprofit
Our mission is to provide empowering, evidence-based mental health content you can use to help yourself and your loved ones.
How To Help A Grieving Dog? | Ask Bondi Vet
There are countless reasons why dogs are considered to be man’s best friend. They offer love, loyalty, and companionship, and anyone who has ever formed a special bond with a dog can attest to the symbiotic relationship between humans and canines. But what happens to a dog when he loses his best friend?
“When an owner passes away before her pet, it can be a confusing, sad, and difficult period, even if arrangements have been made for the animal to be taken care of by someone else,” says Russell Hartstein, a certified behaviorist and dog trainer based in Los Angeles.
It’s not unusual for dogs to grieve the loss of a person they’ve bonded with who is no longer present. While they might not understand the full extent of human absence, dogs do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who’s no longer a part of their daily lives.
Because we can’t communicate with our dogs to explain when a loss occurs, certain indicators — such as a change in routine, or the absence of their owner’s sensations (sight, sound, smell) — convey that something is different.
“My definition of grief is that a surviving animal shows distress through behavior that is markedly divergent from his routine,” says Barbara J. King, professor emerita of anthropology at the College of William and Mary and the author of “How Animals Grieve.”
While we can’t say for sure whether the feelings a dog has when experiencing an emotional loss mirror that of a human’s, Dr. Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado Boulder, says there is now solid evidence from brain imaging studies that similar areas of dogs’ brains light up when they’re feeling parallel emotions to those of humans.
No two dogs are alike, so the way in which they grieve — and for how long — can differ. In order to decipher a dog’s emotional state after losing a loved one, it’s important to keep an eye out for certain signs, as they can affect a dog’s health. Although there is no concrete way of knowing exactly how a dog processes grief, there’s no denying the sadness expressed through behavioral changes. Anxiety and stress can present themselves in a variety of ways. Signs to be aware of include:
In June 2014, Constable Dave Ross, a Canadian general duty officer and police dog handler, lost his life in the line of duty. His service dog, a German Shepherd Dog named Danny, stood alongside him during his time on the force. Throughout Ross’ funeral, the loyal canine whimpered next to his master’s casket. This is just one example of many that speaks volumes to the feelings a dog experiences after losing his owner.
Like us, dogs go through a grieving period. While there isn’t one specific approach, being sensitive to a dog’s needs can go a long way:
“I have no doubt that dogs miss us as much as we miss them, and like us, they need time to heal from a deep emotional loss,” says Sally Morgan, a holistic physical therapist for animals and humans.
How long a dog grieves varies, but with time, most recover emotionally. At the first sign of decline in physical or emotional health, consult a veterinarian to ensure the symptoms of grief aren’t masking those of another illness. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook
AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.