Canine Grief: A Review of Scientific Research on Dogs’ Responses to the Loss of a Companion

This article is dedicated to all the dog families who have experienced the heartbreaking loss of a beloved canine companion. The bond between dogs and their human families is profound, and the grief felt when losing a furry family member can be overwhelming. Equally poignant is the often-overlooked grief experienced by surviving dogs who have lost their canine companions.

Introduction to Canine Grief

The concept of grief in animals, particularly in dogs, has been a subject of growing interest among researchers in recent years. While it was once considered anthropomorphic to attribute complex emotions like grief to non-human animals, accumulating evidence suggests that many species, including dogs, may experience emotional responses similar to human grief when they lose a companion.

Behavioral Changes in Grieving Dogs

A landmark study by Uccheddu et al. (2022) provided significant insights into the behavioral changes observed in dogs following the loss of a canine companion. This comprehensive study utilized the Mourning Dog Questionnaire (MDQ) to collect data from dog owners who had recently experienced the loss of one of their dogs in a multi-dog household.

The researchers found that surviving dogs often exhibit a range of behavioral changes, including:

1. Decreased play behavior (57% of cases)
2. Reduced activity levels (46% of cases)
3. Increased sleep (35% of cases)
4. Heightened fearfulness (35% of cases)
5. Reduced appetite (32% of cases)
6. Increased vocalization, such as barking and whining (30% of cases)

Interestingly, the most commonly reported behavior change was attention-seeking, observed in 67% of cases (Uccheddu et al., 2022). This finding suggests that dogs may seek additional support or comfort from their human caregivers during times of loss.

Duration of Grief-Like Behaviors

The duration of these behavioral changes varies among individual dogs, highlighting the complexity of canine grief responses. Uccheddu et al. (2022) reported that:

– Approximately one-third of dogs exhibited these changes for 2-6 months
– 29.4% showed changes for less than 2 months
– 24.9% displayed changes for over 6 months

These findings indicate that, like humans, dogs may experience grief-like responses for extended periods, with some individuals showing prolonged behavioral changes lasting more than half a year.

Factors Influencing Grief Response

Several factors appear to influence the likelihood and intensity of grief-like responses in dogs:

1. **Quality of Relationship**: The study found that the quality of the relationship between the dogs was a stronger predictor of grief-like behaviors than the length of time they had spent together. Dogs with a “friendly” relationship were more likely to show reduced play and disrupted feeding patterns compared to those with an “agnostic” or “mutually tolerant” relationship (Uccheddu et al., 2022).

2. **Owner’s Emotional State**: Interestingly, the research revealed that a dog’s grief response might be influenced by their owner’s emotional state. Dogs were more likely to exhibit reduced appetite if their owners were also displaying signs of grief, suggesting a possible emotional contagion or the dog’s ability to perceive and respond to their owner’s emotions (Uccheddu et al., 2022).

3. **Shared Resources**: Dogs that used to share food with the deceased companion were more likely to show negative behavioral changes (Uccheddu et al., 2022). This finding highlights the importance of considering the practical aspects of the dogs’ daily lives when assessing their response to loss.

Neurobiological Basis of Canine Grief

To better understand the underlying mechanisms of canine grief, researchers have begun to explore the neurobiological aspects of dogs’ emotional responses. A study by Berns et al. (2015) used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate dogs’ neural responses to familiar and unfamiliar human and dog odors.

The researchers found that the caudate nucleus, a region associated with positive expectations, showed increased activation in response to familiar human scents. While this study did not directly examine grief responses, it provides evidence for the neural basis of dogs’ emotional attachments, which may contribute to their grief response when separated from familiar individuals (Berns et al., 2015).

Cross-Species Comparisons

Comparing grief-like behaviors across species can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary basis of these responses. Bekoff (2009) conducted a comprehensive review of grief-like behaviors in various animals, including elephants, chimpanzees, and dolphins. The author found similarities in how different species respond to death, such as increased vocalization, reduced appetite, and social withdrawal.

These parallels suggest that grief-like behaviors may have deep evolutionary roots and serve important social functions across species (Bekoff, 2009). This comparative approach strengthens the argument that dogs, as highly social animals, are capable of experiencing grief-like emotions.

Long-Term Effects of Loss

While many studies focus on the immediate aftermath of loss, it’s important to consider the long-term effects of companion animal death on surviving pets. A longitudinal study by Walker et al. (2016) followed multi-pet households over a two-year period after the loss of one pet. The researchers found that some behavioral changes in surviving animals persisted for several months or even years, particularly in cases where the deceased pet had a close bond with the survivor (Walker et al., 2016).

This study highlights the need for long-term support and monitoring of surviving pets, as the effects of loss may continue well beyond the initial grieving period.

Owner-Pet Relationship and Grief

The influence of the human-animal bond on canine grief responses has been further explored by Testoni et al. (2017). Their study examined how the quality of the relationship between owners and their pets affected both human and animal grief responses. The researchers found that owners who reported stronger emotional bonds with their pets were more likely to perceive intense grief-like behaviors in their surviving animals.

This finding underscores the complex interplay between human and canine emotions in the context of loss (Testoni et al., 2017). It also raises important questions about the potential for bias in owner-reported observations of canine grief.

Implications for Animal Welfare

Understanding canine grief responses has important implications for animal welfare. Dawson et al. (2019) conducted a review of best practices for supporting bereaved pet owners and their surviving animals. The authors emphasized the importance of:

1. Maintaining routines to provide stability for surviving pets
2. Providing extra attention and comfort to grieving animals
3. Considering professional support when necessary, such as consulting with veterinarians or animal behaviorists
4. Recognizing and addressing grief in companion animals to improve overall welfare

The researchers noted that acknowledging and addressing grief in companion animals can not only improve their well-being but also strengthen the human-animal bond (Dawson et al., 2019).

Challenges in Studying Canine Grief

While the growing body of research provides compelling evidence for canine grief, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges in studying this phenomenon. As Uccheddu et al. (2022) point out, “emotions are perhaps the most enigmatic sphere of animal life – the most difficult to explore” (p. X).

Some of the key challenges in studying canine grief include:

1. Reliance on owner-reported observations, which may be subject to bias
2. Difficulty in distinguishing grief from other forms of stress or anxiety
3. Ethical considerations that limit experimental designs
4. Variability in individual dogs’ responses to loss

Researchers must carefully consider these challenges when designing studies and interpreting results.

Future Directions in Canine Grief Research

As our understanding of canine grief continues to evolve, several areas for future research emerge:

1. **Physiological markers**: Investigating potential physiological indicators of grief in dogs, such as changes in cortisol levels or heart rate variability.

2. **Genetic factors**: Exploring whether certain breeds or genetic profiles are associated with more intense or prolonged grief responses.

3. **Intervention studies**: Evaluating the effectiveness of various interventions to support grieving dogs, such as environmental enrichment or pharmacological treatments.

4. **Cross-cultural comparisons**: Examining how cultural differences in human attitudes towards pets may influence canine grief responses.

5. **Long-term health effects**: Investigating the potential long-term health consequences of grief in dogs, such as increased susceptibility to illness or changes in lifespan.

Conclusion

The growing body of scientific research on canine grief provides compelling evidence that dogs experience complex emotional responses to the loss of a companion. From behavioral changes and neurobiological responses to long-term effects and the influence of human-animal bonds, these studies paint a nuanced picture of canine grief.

While we must be cautious about anthropomorphizing animal emotions, the available evidence strongly suggests that dogs are capable of experiencing grief-like states. This understanding has important implications for animal welfare, veterinary practice, and our broader conception of animal cognition and emotion.

As research in this field continues to advance, it will undoubtedly provide further insights into the emotional lives of our canine companions, deepening our understanding of the human-animal bond and informing best practices for supporting both grieving pets and their human caregivers.