Separation by death

barbaraNcolin

barbaraNcolin

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I've never posted in here before but I'm really hoping someone will be able to give me some hints and tips for this horrible subject.

Up until about half 10 this morning we had a healthy happy brother and sister pair of golden retrievers. Whilst fighting and chasing round the garden our little girl passed away at age 4 1/2. We think she may have had a heart attack but until the p.m. results come back we won't know for sure. She had no known health conditions.

Now, my worry is our boy. He was with her when she passed away but he's never ever been on his own. When we got back from taking Skye to the vets he was howling. Has anybody got any advice on how to make this easier on him?

Many thanks.

As a pup
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Last year's snow
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With her brother, Harley
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Rest in peace Skye bells xxxx 13/03/2006 - 12/11/2010
 
I am so so sorry. It is a dreadful shock when you lose them so suddenly, and she was so young too. We lost a rotty to a suspected heart attack which left our ridgey on her own. She was devastated and missed her badly. As chance would have it we ended up rehoming a 6 month old rott a couple of days later. Although she wasn't Mattys buddy she helped her cope with the loss. So other than getting a companion dog I can't offer any advice.
 
Sorry for your loss. I would suggest perhaps a new companion (an older rescue, maybe?) and not to over fuss or stress yourself, the dog will mirror this and become even more stressed, as hard as it will be, try your best to act normal and as if nothing has happened.
 
I think unless you are willing to get another dog, which will depend on your dogs temprament and my not help if he takes against it which could happen. Give him lots of love and reassurance, it may be better that he was there when it happened some times if they see whats going on they handle it better. Really sorry its hard enough to lose them when they are old but such a shock when they are so young and full of life.
 
I lost my GSD suddenly on Tuesday in similar circumstances except he was in his bed and suddenly died. His pair bond is distraught and like yours howled the place down. She is very quiet and subdued although is eating. She has never been an only dog so we have no option other than to find another.

We are going to see tomorrow a 4 month old GSD bitch and hope they will get along.

It's so heartbreaking when we lose them and then have to help their companions try and understand it as well.

Sorry for your loss.
 
Thank you for your kind words and advice. Harley is a big soppy softy, more than happy to socialise and is fine when my sister's dog comes to stay. But how he'd be with a new dog in his environment 24/7/365? I don't know.
At the moment, word on the street is no more because of the heartache but we said that when we were last left with only one, and we ended up with two more, so had three golden retrievers running about the place!

Puppies046.jpg
 
You do not neccesarily need to go traight out and get another, it's pretty normal for him to be a little confused as to where she is, but you may find he does not dwell as such, I rehomed a DDB x into a home with a doberman bitch, both young, they became inseperable, and the bitch diet at only 2 1/2 years old a few weeks ago of liver disease it shocked us al inc me, I was distraught for the dog and for the owner as OH had walked her as part of his doggy walking team since she was 9 weeks old, the dog howled for the first day then pretty much accepted it, they have occupied his time by keeping him busy and lots of walks and extra attention and he is doing fine, they will get another but it will not be any time soon.
They do cope better than we expect, the moping would not worry me for now or whinging, maybe if they went of food and looked like they lost the will to live I would re think.
Im so sorry for your loss, it msut have been a huge shock:( sleep tight little girl xxx
 
I'm really sorry, thats terrible news. I've got now advice just wanted to say I'm sorry.

We had a mongrel bitch when we first got married, we then got a GSD who died when he was 6 1/2 enlarged heart/spleen was gone in a week after diagnosis, we had her first so she had been a couple of years on her own, when he died she didn't seem to give 2 hoots, although I did let her come upstairs the first few months after, but she was fine. If it was the other way around I think the GSD (boy) would have been more upset. However she outlived him and was pts on her 16th birthday. RIP Gemma & Max x

If he is good natured perhaps you could look at getting an young adult dog from rescue ?
 
So sorry to hear this, RIP Skye. It may help Harley that he was with her, but it is understandable that he will miss her if they have never been separated. When my GSD bitch lost her mother she pined terribly, really fell apart. Even though she was 6 years old I started taking her to training classes, it helped her develop self confidence (she had really relied on her mum), and I think the extra attention helped her too. If you feel you want to get another it sounds as if he is a sociable dog who would accept a new companion, but don't feel you have to get one for him if you aren't ready.
 
What a horrible shock for you - I am so sorry :(

Don't be surprised if someone doesn't offer you a dog almost straight away - it always seems to happen. After Badger died I got given another dog within days and I have to say it was such a help for me and my family to focus on the new puppy which helped to stop us dwelling too much.
 
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