Yes. Our dog went through this, he couldn't seem to understand where Chad was and why I was so sad. Chad didn't pass away in our home, so the dog did not see anything. With permission from Chad's family since we weren't married, the cemetery (they have a no pets policy and Reno is 90lbs) and at the suggestion of Reno's vet I took him to the cemetery and let him smell. He started crying as soon as we pulled in, and my normally "oooo let me check the pee mail and pee on this" dog didn't even try. I got to where Chad is, and told him this is Chad, he sniffed around, laid down on top of the spot for a moment and just stared at the ground. Then he got up and started walking back to the car. It was very emotional for me, but I was grateful the cemetery granted me the limited permission to do this. May be worth a shot.

We had 2 dogs when my husband died, suddenly. The elderly chihuahua always laid with him on the couch at night. After he died she never laid on the couch anymore. I had to have her euthanized a little over a year after he died. It is hard missing her cuddles.
The young dog was the last gift he ever brought me.
She was apparently deeply affected by the paramedics coming and wheeling him away on the gurney, performing CPR on him (although she acted perfectly calm while it was happening) but ever since then has been very afraid when men come in our home. She must associate the paramedics (they were all men) with my husband never coming back. It is sad. Also, living all alone now, it is a drag not having a dog with any watchdog tendencies. This is the first dog I have ever had who completely lacks that. I do not want a 2nd dog, and can not afford one. I enjoy her companionship so very much. She is a total love, and has become very very spoiled by me, since I am alone so much.
Dogs are gifts from God. I would not have made it through the dark times of this without the love, companionship & comfort of mine.

i have three labs. The brown lab named twain was the closest to my husband and used to sleep with us. The first time my husband went to the hospital Twain started digging holes. She was 7 years old at the time and not a puppy. Never did this before. Between myself going to work, going to the hospital and taking care of the dogs i was getting upset with these holes. Everyday a new hole. Finally I blew up and yelled at Twain, "stop digging these holes, your daddy will have to fill them when he gets home and he is going to be mad at you". No more holes dug. hugs Arlene

Quincy my oldest. He is about 11 years old now. He takes thyroid pills and medication for arthritis pain. He would stay with Lyn while I was at work overnight.So the both of them became extremely close. He grieved for awhile. I've had to give him extra attention to get thru. He is better now. But if Linda were to walk in, he would loose his mind. I know he remembers her.
Sadie is the baby. Lyn picked her out last May or June, can't remember. She was eight weeks old and one of the runts which is why Linda got her. She is half mini golden retriever and half terrier. Emphasis on terrier as in holy terror. The problem is she has to be exercised daily a lot and just me I don't have time to run her the way she needs to. So when I am trying to sleep, it's hard.
But that morning she kept licking Lyn's hand hanging off the bed trying to wake her up. She had become attached to her also. Quincy just laid down beside the bed knowing something wasn't right. With him I have worried about depression and so I am watching him closely. Some folks laugh about it but animals have feelings to. They grieve and hurt like we do. Even though they are not human they are family. I am grateful for them both. So if someone comes along I meet and possible relationship, we are a package deal as of now.

Take care.
Peace, Tim

My 3 cats took turns laying next to Vic when he was at home under hospice car, Benji, our tuxedo cat and the oldest always snuggled right up next to him and Vic always petted him, even when he was so weak he could barely speak. Benji misses him the most, he is the oldest at 13 years old, Vic used to pet him all of the time, the other 2 cats sleep with me at night, Benji just stays downstairs by himself, I know he misses Vic, he always used to sleep with him.

I don't think people who do not have dogs understand how dogs sense our moods and respond to them . My dog watches every movement and seems to know when I am sad. She sleeps with me and follows me about the house. I take her for walks around the neighborhood. I talk to her and I swear she understands much of what I say and if I am having a bad day, she tries to get on my lap, roll on her back, lick my hand, etc. ( 8 lbs. Poodle mix rescue) she also verbalizes and I know how unconditional and devotedshe is. Each morning she awakes with joy and reminds me that life is to be savored. Yes, they grieve and if I had had her when Johnny was alive, she would be grieving the loss. For now, she is my companion and therapy.

Sounds like you all know exactly what I mean ....Martha, our Lil'bit is a rescue pup and they are differently different. Don't get me wrong my Gracie is really smart but Lil'bit she just Knows and I talk to both of them all the time, and I swear they understand but Lil'bit she just is in tune with everything

Sienna, we have had a cat once, she was smart. She got that disease cats get in the uninary tract and everything vet tried didn't work.she died in my arms :( she was a orange flamed simease cat and she was Beautiful! That's sad how your cat stays downstairs, you think he's waiting on him?

Tim, yep totally agree about the package deal cause these are my 'Kids' :) and honestly ....shhhhh, don't say it to loud, Gracie has no ideal she is a DOG .... lol

Arlene :) that's sweet how all you had to do was tell her ...not to do that and she stopped. Labs are very smart, my brother raised a few and they were very intelligent

After mom, I agree that they are gifts from God. I never thought about how it would effect them with paramedics here but now that I think about I unconsciously shut them in the other bedroom with other child that nite :( and now that you reminded me, I thank God I did cause I don't know what it would have done

MissingHim , I can only imagine how emotional that was but what a sweet testimony of the love between them :)

I have seen my favorite dong howled and go to the spot where his companion (our girl dog) had died. My recent dog had been willing to come and stay indoor with me after my husband died. He used to come in check on us then would go to the garage for the evening..

Since losing my husband a year and a half ago I have lost two of our cats, both over 15 years old, and then just this week our dog Chloe. We lived in the mountains and Chloe was a rescue who had been born in the woods and her litter had been picked up by a sheriff's deputy and taken to the shelter. She was a year and a half old when we got her and she was always very timid and shy, but as gentle as a lamb and very loving. She was a daddy's girl through and through and missed my husband very much. After a year I moved from the mountain to town and had a privacy fence put up for Chloe but she stayed inside with me most of the time. She had started having severe grand mal seizures and had begun medication but after a really bad cluster of seizures Thursday morning she wasn't recovering and I guess she had a stroke. I had to take her to the vet and have her euthanized. Having to make that decision for all three of the pets was awful on so many levels. Each one was a precious part of my life with my Don that I had to let go of. If it had not been for my animals and my responsibilities to care for them, I don't know if I would have even gotten out of bed for months. God and my fur babies pulled me through, with a lot of help from my mom and my best friend. Now there's fresh grief, but I'm kind of too numb to experience it. I feel guilty for having her put down but I feel relieved that she won't be going through those horrible seizures any more. It's been a rough row to hoe for a while, but I'm so grateful for each furry one of them.

Dog misses his Mom, I'll always be a second best substitute.

My 8 year old golden retriever has not shown many signs of grief except that he seems attached to my side more then ever. There was one time that broke my heart. My husband who was a logger would occasionally drive his skidster around home to do work. About two months after he died the county road crew went down the road with a piece of large equipment. Odin got so excited and went to the window and was running back and forth to the door. I know he thought it was daddy home with the skidster, still makes me cry. My husband has only been gone 6 months.

The dogs we had are gone now and I hope they run with him as they did here. My new little guy is happy and content with me and my new life. Sharon

Our pets truly missed my husband when he could no longer go outside. His special cow dogs that helped him move cattle were looking for him to get to work. Our oldest dog sat under my husband's truck for 3 weeks and would only come out to eat and walk around. He was waiting for his ride to the feed store.
Our other dog I saw in a picture was standing in front of my husband as he was getting petted and I saw him licking my husband's t-shirt, on his chest where he had cancer.
Our cats, the oldest was hubby's buddy. ALWAYS with my husband. This beautiful cat of 17 years died last week. I was so very sad and miss him ...my hubby's kitty. Our last cat is one who loved my husband but is always with me. My husband said he would cry and roam around when I'd leave the house. When my husband was sick my cat did sleep with him several times on his bedside.
Animals know a lot more than we can imagine. If only they could talk to us.

My dog definitely went through a grieving process for many months. He was not his normal self. He was obviously depressed - but also started snapping at us which he hadn't done before. So grateful I still have him.

Yes, my cat (Tiger) was totally lost for months after Joe passed. Her evening routine was this: I would get up to go to bed and feed her on my way to bed. When she was done eating (and I was in bed), she would lay on the bedroom floor. Joe would come up to bed, then she would jump onto the bed with us. She would never jump onto the bed unless he was in bed. It probably took her 6 months before she would jump onto the bed with me in it at night.

We would sit on the couch at night, Joe on one end, me on the other, Tiger in the middle. That what we did. Tiger has just started coming up onto the couch with me and it's been nearly 11 months now.

Sheila