Dogs show mourning for other dogs

Yes, they too grieve for their canine friends. They show behavioral and emotional changes when there is the death of a canine in the household. Dogs show mourning for other dogs. This is the result of a survey of 426 Italian dog owners. It was published in the journal ‘Scientific Reports’.

Dogs show mourning for other dogs. And even more so if the owners suffer the loss as well.
Dogs show mourning for other dogs. And even more so if the owners suffer the loss as well.

Negative changes

Grieving behaviors have been observed in various animals, such as birds and elephants. But it is not clear whether domestic dogs grieve.

Researcher Federica Pirrone and colleagues at the University of Milan conducted a survey. They asked adults whose pet dog had died and who had at least one other dog. Sixty-six percent had lost their dog more than a year before the study. They inquired about any changes in the surviving dog’s behavior after the death. And they described the previous relationship between their dogs and their own levels of distress after bereavement.

Eighty-six percent of owners noted negative changes in the dog’s behavior. Thirty-two percent reported that these lasted between two and six months. Twenty-five percent reported that they lasted longer than six months.

They were asked to describe these behavioral changes. In 67% of the cases, the surviving dog sought more attention. Fifty-seven percent reported playing less. And 46% reported becoming less active.

Many of them often ask for more attention when this happens.
Many of them often ask for more attention when this happens.

Other effects

In other cases, the surviving dog slept more and became more fearful. Sometimes he ate less. Thirty percent reported increased whining or barking. The vast majority described the relationship between their dogs as friendly.

The length of time two dogs lived together did not influence the behavior of the surviving dogs. But other facts did. For example, having had a friendly relationship with the deceased dog. Or having a bereaved owner.

Dogs do show grief for other dogs, it is true. Although it is very likely to add that reaction to their owners’ grief.

These grief-type problems among dogs are potentially a major pet welfare issue. And it pays not to overlook them.

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