Talk to the dog Walk the dog {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/a/a5/Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-1Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/a/a5/Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-1Bullet2. jpg/aid8285796-v4-728px-Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-1Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Groom the dog {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/77/Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-1Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-1Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/7/77/Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-1Bullet3. jpg/aid8285796-v4-728px-Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-1Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Go on a car ride Visit the dog park Pick out a new toy together at the pet store Cuddle the dog on the couch or in bed Take the dog for a run, if the dog is healthy enough Play a game, like fetch or tug-of-war

Some older dogs may not want to play as much. Each dog is different. If the dog is uninterested in playing, you might try another way of distracting them. You can also give the dog new and interesting toys. Food puzzle toys can help keep the dog busy while you are not home, reducing the dog’s separation anxiety. [3] X Research source

Inviting people or dogs that the dog already knows may cheer the dog up. It can also introduce an element of familiarity in their new life. If the people are total strangers to the dog, invite one or two over at a time to see how well the dog handles it.

Lethargy or lack of energy. Lack of interest in playing Loss of appetite {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/99/Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-5Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-5Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/99/Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-5Bullet3. jpg/aid8285796-v4-728px-Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-5Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Unsociable behavior Increased sleeping {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/fa/Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-5Bullet5. jpg/v4-460px-Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-5Bullet5. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/fa/Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-5Bullet5. jpg/aid8285796-v4-728px-Help-an-Older-Dog-Grieve-the-Loss-of-Its-Owner-Step-5Bullet5. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Weight loss Decline in physical health[5] X Research source

If possible, keep feeding the dog the same food that the old owner fed them. You can also give the dog kibble in a kong-type dog toy or food puzzle. The dog may enjoy trying to get the food out of the toy. Add a little warm chicken broth to the dog’s dry food to make it softer and more enticing. While a few extra treats here and there may not be detrimental to your dog, you should avoid giving the dog too many treats during this period. They may learn that they will be rewarded for whining, and they may not eat their normal food. [7] X Research source

You can make even short walks more mentally stimulating for the dog by walking in areas with lots of interesting sights, sounds, and smells. For example, you might take your dog to the park, through the woods, or some place with water.

“What medical issues does this dog have? Can any of them be aggravated by the loss of their owner?” “The dog seems really depressed. What can I do to help?” “The dog has been sleeping a lot since I took them in. Is this because the dog is depressed or is there another issue?” “The dog has not been eating since their owner died. What can I do to encourage them to eat?” If you know which vet the dog’s old owner used, you should take them there. The vet can inform you of the dog’s medical history.

If you can, reach out to people who knew the dog when it was with the old owner, and see if they have an idea of what the dog’s former routine was like. If you do not know what schedule the old owner kept, you can develop a new schedule for the dog. Keep a consistent routine for the first few weeks that the dog joins you. The dog may also prompt you when they expect to be fed or taken outside. If there has been upheaval in the dog’s life since the owner died (for example, if the dog has been passed around by family members or if you adopted the dog from a shelter), setting a routine will be even more important for the dog. Make sure that you stick to the schedule to help the dog ease into their new home life. Be careful not to let the dog fall into bad habits due to grief. For example, if the dog turns up its nose at food, just let the food sit there until the dog is ready to eat it. Don’t “reward” the behavior by making a fuss.

Avoid mourning in front of the dog. Dogs are very sensitive to grief, and they may exhibit signs of mourning if they understand that you are grieving. While it is okay to cry a little in front of the dog, you may want to step into another room to mourn privately. [12] X Research source

For example, you may notice that the dog is sitting outside of your bedroom door at night and whining. Instead of waking up to comfort the dog, go back to sleep. In the morning, you can pet and talk to the dog. If they are well-behaved, give them a treat with their breakfast. Good times to treat the dog are when the dog is resting quietly, when the dog is sitting with you, or right before you leave the house.

If a friend or family member has a puppy, ask if they can be introduced to your older dog. This will show you how well the dog deals with energetic puppies. If the older dog plays, cuddles, or gets along with the puppy, you might consider getting a younger dog. Try taking the dog to a dog park when it’s not too crowded, and see if the dog seems to enjoy being around other dogs. If so, then you might consider bringing home a new dog. Another option is to adopt an older or senior dog. Try to find one with a similar temperament. See if the dogs can meet first before you adopt to see if they are friendly with one another.