Social media users have been left in tears after a dog owner revealed the heartbreaking way her pup mourns his late brother in a Reddit post that has since gone viral.
“My dog sleeps in his older brother’s bed ever since we had to put him down, am I doing more harm than good here?” she wrote in the post.
The poster, Anabel Yupanqui, had to put down her 14-year-old dog, Capri, on January 17 due to a ruptured tumor on his liver, and once he passed, she allowed her other dog, Saturn, to smell his brother and say goodbye to him too.
“He did for a second and then walked away. Ever since then, I let him sniff out older dog’s collar, and even his little Hawaiian shirts as I put them away for safekeeping. But as of lately, I wake up to him sleeping in his bed. I don’t have the heart to throw away my older doggie’s bed or even wash it.
“The other morning Saturn woke up all excited and ready to play outside but once outside he just circled around a bit and came back inside all sad. My mom says he might’ve dreamt of him? I don’t know, is keeping Capri’s bed doing more harm than good to Saturn?”
Yupanqui told Newsweek that the night before Capri passed, they were allowed to take him home, to spend his last night all together as a family, before the veterinarian came the next morning to put him down.
“Since then I’ve been seeing Saturn sleep in Capri’s bed and it just makes me sad. He has this enormous bed but chooses to sleep in Capri’s,” she said.
Dr. Nita Vasudevan, veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance, told Newsweek that dogs can mourn the loss of another dog, especially if they had a close bond.
“Dogs are social animals, and losing a companion can cause noticeable behavioral changes,” she said.
Signs that your pup is mourning include increased lethargy, loss of appetite, restlessness, searching for their friend, or even sleeping in the deceased dog’s bed as a way to feel close to them.
According to Vasudevan, the best way to help a grieving dog is by keeping their routine as consistent as possible.
“Structure can provide comfort. Increase quality time through walks, play, or gentle affection to help them feel supported. If they find solace in their late sibling’s bed, it’s OK to let them keep using it until they’re ready to move on. You can also introduce new activities or toys to help stimulate their mind and slowly redirect their focus.
“Sometimes, dogs benefit from meeting new dog friends, but it’s important not to rush the process. If their grief seems prolonged or severe, a veterinarian or animal behaviorist can offer more tailored support. Just like with people, patience and love go a long way in helping a dog navigate loss.”
If you decide to introduce a new dog in your pup’s life remember to take it slowly and give them all the time they need to adapt to the new circumstances.
The two should be introduced in a controlled situation, on a leash, and in a neutral territory, like at the dog park, to avoid territorial tension.
According to a Dogster article medically reviewed by Dr. Chyrle Bonk, owners should keep intervention to a minimum and only get involved when strictly necessary. Forcing their relationship will most likely end up having the opposite results.
Anabel Yupanqui
For some users in the comments, getting a new pup has helped their dogs get over their loss and heartbreak.
Miss_Rowan, commented: “Our dog has been doing this, too. Switched to using his big brother’s favorite bed instead of his night, we said goodbye to the old man in the fall. It’s touching but also pretty sad. We got a puppy recently, and he’s doing so much better.”
LvBorzoi added: “Yes…this exactly. When we lost our senior statesman a few years ago the other 3 were all sad and mopey for almost 3 months. I decided we needed to shake things up to get everyone out of the doldrums so I went to rescue and they had a dog a little older than the rest of the crowd. I brought him in and he was just the ticket. Everyone perked up with a new friend and we got back on track.”
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