<p>I am just heartbroken, we had to put our 16 year Beagle down yesterday. The past few days were very hard on me and I spent a lot of time with my sweet Lucy. We also have a 4 year old Corgi-Akita mix who has been my constant companion since the day we rescued her at 10 weeks old. But since we came home without Lucy, Stella has been avoiding me. She does not respond to me when I call her, except to go out. She will not sit beside me on the couch and turns away from me if I try to talk to her or reach out to her. She has been ok with my husband and daughter, not her normal affectionate self, but not shunning them as she is doing to me. I am trying to give her space, but it is really hard for me. Any insight into her behavior?</p>
<p>She is grieving. I would just give her space for a few weeks and try not to push it. She will come around… she just needs to cope in her own way. </p>
<p>I am so very sorry for your loss. Hugs and comfort for you and your family.</p>
<p>romani is right…she is grieving and even with dogs, this takes time. It can be very hard to watch.</p>
<p>Hugs to you and your family. Your dog is grieving. When we lost our Ellie our other dog searched everywhere for her. It was heart breaking. We did adopt a female, close to his age, and they are very close. But those first few weeks…awful.</p>
<p>When our second to last dog passed away, the cat started laying in the dog’s spots, started sleeping in the bed like our dog used to (instead of the closet where he normally slept), and started being much more affectionate. It was the exact opposite of what he was normally like and we didn’t think he even liked the dog. When he was done grieving, he went back to being a grumpy, reclusive cat. </p>
<p>Our other dog did the searching thing. Searched everywhere and would literally cry the most heartbreaking howl you’ve ever heard when she realized my other dog wasn’t there. This went on almost every day for about three weeks.</p>
<p>Animals grieve in infinitely different ways and I think it’s almost as hard to see them grieve as it is for us to grieve ourselves.</p>
<p>A number of years ago I read an article about dogs grieving and the fact that if they are present when their partner is put to sleep, they understand that and don’t search for their missing friend and the grieving process goes more quickly and easily. I mentioned this to my brother who had 2 dogs who were litter mates. They were inseparable and he worried about what would happen when one died. When he had to put the first one to sleep, the vet came to his house and did it with the other dog in the room. It was amazing how well the surviving dog handled the passing of her sister.</p>
<p>I am so sorry for your loss. I agree with the others that your dog is grieving. </p>
<p>I had to put my little lulu to sleep this summer and my oldest dog was not herself for quite a few days after. She was mopey and also did a lot of searching. My youngest dog (and newest to the family) didn’t seem to miss a beat, but the other two had been pals for 6 years.</p>
<p>Thank you all, Stella has come around a bit and is now laying beside me on the couch, but moved when I instinctively went to pet her. I wish I had known to take her with us yesterday, it never occurred to me. Emilybee, I also called Lucy my little LuLu.</p>
<p>Our Ellie died at home during the night. Her body was in the den. The weird thing? He didn’t react to the body. Walked right by her body. (Mr. Ellebud and Ellebud jr. took her to the vet at 6 a.m.</p>
<p>Ellebud, my condolences. We had to put our Sally (a golden like yours) to sleep on New Year’s Eve. She could no longer stand at all, and the time had come after a long struggle with cancer. Unfortunately, I was not there…in the midwest for the last few weeks. I was hoping she would make it until I came home, but it was not to be.</p>
<p>When Sally was much younger, our first golden died at home, during a blizzard on Valentine’s Day. She saw his body and knew he was gone. I think it helps, as opposed to having the other dog just disappear.</p>
<p>Stella is doing better today, she is still not her normal self, but not pulling away from me. Yesterday, I picked up Lucy’s collar and Stella heard the jingle of her tags and came running out of the bedroom looking for her. She looked so sad when she found me holding the collar. We are going out of town at the end of the week, hopefully the distraction will help all of us.</p>
<p>I’m glad she’s at least starting to come around, fishy. Sending more internet hugs to you and Stella.</p>
<p>Fishymom, I am so very sorry. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your precious beagle.</p>
<p>My condolences to those you who have lost your dear ones. They leave such a hole in our hearts.</p>