When we grieve we go though many emoshions, it is a journey without a definite ending. You never stop grieving over the loss of your dog; you come to terms with it.
You miss everything about your dog, his physical presence. You feel guilty about the loss especially in cases of euthanasia or accidental death.
You miss the unconditional love they give you acceptance you received. You grieve the missed opportunities, your walks over the park, and your trips with the family. Some of us will pass through the deepest, most heart wrenching of loss in a matter of a few weeks or months. After a few months the deep pain and grief will start to soften, but you are still grieving and believe it or not this can last for a year or two and some time longer.
The First Year Of Grief
The first year is the hardest phase of grieving, this is because you are constantly reminded of your loss, for example
When your dog’s birthday comes around
When you get sent a reminder from your vet for your dogs check-up or yearly shots.
When your groomer calls to confirm your dogs next appointment.
When it’s your dogs training night
The “Firsts” Grieving Experience
There will be so many first grieving experiences in the first year without your dog. These firsts are the hardest of all especially the routines. At time you feel awkward as if you have forgotten or missed doing something
The first time you mite go to the park without your dog
The first time you don’t have to prepare food for your dog
The first weekend that you don’t have to groom or bath your dog
The first time you pass a dog’s toy in a shopping aisle
The first anniversary of your dog passing
When you come upon these firsts you will probably feel sadness all over again, no matter how long it’s been since your dog passed away. What you need to remember, you only experience a first once, the next time you experience the same event, it will be a little easier. As time go’s by you will grow stronger while your grief will softens. You will remember more of the happy times and good memories you had with your dog begin to out number the days filled with pain and sadness. But you will never really completely stop grieving.
As the days go by your grief softens and you’ll come to accept the loss, or at least learn to live in this world without your beloved dog. There will be time when you have waves of emotion. Sometime it may even feel that nothing is happening. You will have good and bad days, sometime it will feel like you are taking one step forward and two steps back, all this is normal.
It is very important that you acknowledge that you are grieving and allow yourself to feel all these emotions, no matter how painful they are. While you are going though your pain, you are in the process of healing and grow stronger in time. In time you will become accommodated to this the world you are know in. When acceptance of not having your dog around you arrives, you will be able to open your heart to love again and perhaps get a new puppy?
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