Rehoming a Dog After the Loss of a Loved One

When someone you love passes away, you may find yourself needing to rehome their dog in addition to that loved one's belongings. Adding a grieving dog to your family may seem overwhelming, but there are a few simple steps you can take to help you and the dog adjust to life after death.

The First Few Days

The first few days after a loved one dies are the most difficult for humans and also for dogs. Like humans, not all dogs grieve the same way. As one might expect, after the death of their pet parent, dogs may withdraw and refuse to eat. Although most people may experience a grieving dog interacting less and not eating, other unexpected behaviors sometimes happen, says PetHelpful. It's not uncommon for these dogs to become irritable, while others may become nervous or anxious. Unfortunately, rehoming a dog has to happen immediately, and it can be difficult to know the best way to help the dog grieve while also adjusting to a new home. The biggest thing to keep in mind for the first few days is to keep the dog on the same routine as much as possible. Use the same leash, food, food bowls, bedding, etc., and keep to the same time routine for eating, playing and sleeping. Consistency is key to successfully rehoming a dog. Dogs are very intuitive and can sense that something has changed. Reassuring them that things will be OK can go a long way in helping them cope. Showing them the same amount of love as their previous parents did can help them get through the grieving process a little easier — you might even find it helps you cope a little easier too.

Preparing Others in Your Household

The grieving dog is not the only one who needs help during the transition. Your family members and other pets may feel overwhelmed with the sudden addition. One way to help your family adjust is by making them aware of the new dog's schedule and typical behaviors. As a whole family, sit down and discuss the adjustments everyone will need to make, and create a plan of how you will all work together to support each other, your pets and the new dog. Creating a team mindset early on may help everyone feel supported, and your current and new pets may feel a sense of calm and peace. It is also important to have your family members help you look for signs of depression that may last longer than a week or two, says PetMD. Early on, or even a week or two after, you may need to separate your current pets and the new pet at least once a day until everyone fully adjusts. Some pets may just need alone time. In most cases, everyone adjusts within a month.

One other thing to watch for, in all the pets, is negative and positive behavior. Be sure to reinforce all positive behaviors of all the pets in the house, and try to ignore negative behaviors. It is very common for pets to "act out" when they are anxious or stressed. The death of a loved one, a new addition to your household, or a change in routine are all things that can make a dog feel stressed out. If you ignore the negative behaviors for a day or two and they don't go away, be sure to get your dog out for more exercise or get some new play toys. It is important to keep your dog busy and distracted as much as possible the first week or two after the death of a loved one. While keeping your new pup busy, also continue to keep to his old routine as much as possible, and you will likely see the negative behaviors stop.