Do Dogs Understand Death?

[Loving my Oldies]

My first two dogs had never been alone. First they had their litter mates and then they had each other. The little girl, Calypso, died young (3 and a half) and the boy was a total and absolute wreck and could not be left alone. I left him with a friend's dogs through the day and if I had to go out on the weekend, I'd race through whatever it was I had to do and when I came home, Nammu would jump into the car leaping all over the seats sniffing and crying.

Visitors would get the same treatment.

There was an elderly bull terrier in the next block who was madly in love with Calypso and the first time I walked past his yard with just my boy, "Dog" went totally crazy. He was crying and howling and whimpering and throwing himself at the fence.

We can't know how they process the absence, but many sure as hell know something has changed forever.

I guess Nammu's reaction was so extreme because he'd always had a mate. But I haven't had such an experience since and I now have 10 little urns on my bookcase.