What happens when a dog loses someone they love?

Whether it’s the death of a human family member, the loss of another pet, or a major change in the home, many dogs seem different afterward. They may eat less, sleep more, search familiar places, or simply become quieter than before.

But are they actually grieving?

In this episode of The Recall Room, we explore what science can—and can’t—tell us about grief in dogs. We’ll look at the research behind behavioral changes after loss, the emotional lives of dogs, and why this question is more complex than it first appears.

Because understanding grief isn’t just about knowing what dogs feel.

It’s about learning how deeply our lives become intertwined with theirs.

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References & Further Reading

• The Emotional Lives of Animals by Marc Bekoff
• How Animals Grieve by Barbara J. King
• Barbara J. King’s articles and interviews on animal grief
• Research by the Dog Aging Project on behavioral changes in dogs
• The Mourning Dog Questionnaire study by Morris Animal Foundation researchers (2022), which surveyed thousands of owners about dogs’ behavior after the death of a companion animal
• Work from the Center for the Human-Animal Bond on the human–animal relationship