{"id":92,"date":"2026-08-16T11:04:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T11:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/britishmemory.uk\/blog\/?p=92"},"modified":"2026-08-16T11:04:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T11:04:32","slug":"why-losing-a-dog-can-be-as-hard-as-losing-a-loved-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/britishmemory.uk\/blog\/why-losing-a-dog-can-be-as-hard-as-losing-a-loved-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Losing a Dog Can Be as Hard as Losing A Loved One"},"content":{"rendered":"

For anyone who has lost a dog before, you will know it is one of the hardest experiences you can go through. It leaves a noticeable hole in your life that takes time to adjust to and makes you realize just how much that special friend enhanced your day to day life.<\/p>\n

Pet owners share an extremely close bond with their pets, part of the reason being that pets show unconditional love and expect nothing in return. In fact, it now seems science backs up what us pet owners already knew. Research suggests that overcoming the passing of a pet may be harder than overcoming the death of a human.<\/p>\n

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Now, of course, no one is saying that the death of a human is easy, but these findings are certainly interesting. So why does the loss of a pet hurt to such an extent? Let\u2019s explore the 5 main reasons.<\/p>\n

The 5 Reasons Why Losing A Dog is as Hard as Losing a Loved One<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. The Grieving Process<\/strong>\u2013 Grieving is a natural part of the process when you lose your dog, although other people in your social circle may not share the same beliefs. It is important that you don\u2019t argue the case with them as it will only make you more upset. Instead, look outside your circle to others who understand what you are going through. This will help you through the grieving process while at the same time maintain the relationships with your closest friends.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    1. Change in Routine<\/strong>\u2013 When you own a dog, routine becomes an extremely important part of your life, from specific feeding and walking rituals to sleeping habits. When they leave us it inevitably leads to a change in our routine. This is not an easy transition after years of the same routine, with even the smallest of triggers able to bring back memories and set off an emotional response. You may find yourself looking for your dog only to remember the reality of the situation. Being the creatures of habit we are, this is entirely normal, and with time will improve.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      1. Remorse<\/strong>\u2013 Depending on the circumstances of your dog\u2019s passing, it is possible that you might feel somewhat responsible, almost as if it was partly your fault. This is not the way to think because you know deep down you did what you believed to be the correct thing at the time. Instead, focus on the positives like all the joy you brought into your dog\u2019s life and how much they brought into yours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Memories<\/strong>\u2013 No matter how long you had your dog, it is inevitable that you formed many memories with each other. Unfortunately, these memories can be triggered by the smallest of things in your everyday life and evoke a sudden strong emotional response. Although this does make it more difficult to move on, try to remember what made that memory so special to you and cherish it.<\/p>\n

        Losing a dog is comparable to losing a friend or family member. It is important that you don\u2019t let others tell you any different, especially if you are to overcome and move on. You should also implement little things such as creating a small memorial and even having a funeral for your dog. This will help you move on while at the same providing the correct kind of closure that your lost buddy would surely want you to have.\/ Source: Viralhatch<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        For anyone who has lost a dog before, you will know it is one of the hardest experiences you can go through. It leaves a noticeable hole in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":93,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[38],"class_list":["post-92","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-why-losing-a-dog-can-be-as-hard-as-losing-a-loved-one"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t