is it normal to still miss my beloved dog?

Question

he died about 13 months ago he was my best mate in the world he was a huge red and white boxer....some ppl think its not normal to still miss him like he is only a dog .......he wasnt just a dog he was in our family........and when he passed away i still dont what he died off well the vets gave me there thoughts but i will never know......i guess it doesnt matter know i will be interested in other ppls views on this subject thanx vonn

Answer 1

yes...dog are also a member of the family too. So it ok to miss yoru dog, i would too if that happen to me.

Answer 2

Dogs do become part of the family and it is very sad when they die. I still miss my first dog (who died about ten years ago), but he was a lovely dog, who led a good long life and a few mad adventures on the way (including running away from some kennels and coming home to check that we really weren't there and then quite happily getting back in the car and going back with the person he was staying with). I'm sure he's having a great time in doggie afterlife.
I've had other dogs since this and they never replace one another - they are all unique and have a unique place in the family heart.
If you want something therapeutic to read (which will probably make you cry), read "Marley and Me", especially the last chapter.

Answer 3

I hope its normal. I don't think I'll ever stop missing my dog. He was my best friend. he really understood me. He knew how I felt and always cheered me up. Dogs are friends and part of the family. Don't feel you you shouldn't mourn them but try to remember the the good times you had and enjoy the dogs you'll love in the future. I still don't really understand what was wrong with Sam and I felt guilty for ages wondering if there was something else I could have done. We've got a puppy now and he's lovely but I still miss Sam. A new pup isn't a replacement but it is a new different friend. Its just sad that dogs that dogs have such a short life all we can do is love them while they're with us.

Answer 4

Yup. I still miss my cat and he died unexpectedly over a year ago. I felt devastated as if I'd been hit in the stomach. I still have four members of his family in the house too so you'd think I'd be over it, but each of them have different personalities, so I can notice that he's missing. E.g. I open the door of the cupboard where the cat food is kept and no-one appears. He used to be able to hear that door from 2 flights up when he was fast asleep and would charge down the stairs at full pelt, even if he'd eaten an hour earlier! The house was sooo quiet after he'd died. I nearly put the music on one day as it was quiet, then realised the tv was on anyway!

I think I will still miss him years from now. I try not to remember the gut-wrenching pain I felt and have a stack of good photos handy that remind me of good memories. I try to remember the nice warm feelings about him, and the goofy things he used to do, like chasing the screensaver fish over the top of the computer monitor.... and getting stuck between the desk and the wall.

Answer 5

I had my first dog put down about 7 years ago and I still miss him. I think I cried for a week at the time and even now I can still get upset thinking about him. I put all his leads and collar etc in a tin and I've still got that on a shelf in my bedroom. I don't open it very often because it upsets me too much. I also had him privately cremated and his ashes are in a casket also in my bedroom. People who don't have dogs just don't understand the bond between a dog and it's owner. They can be as loved as well as any child can be and anyone who disagrees has obviously never had the companionship of a dog. You're not wrong to still miss your pet, he was a big part of your life.

Answer 6

It is fine to still miss a loved pet! We had to have a dog put to sleep about 2 years ago and i still miss her, i was very attached to her and we loved her loads and she came everywhere with us. It made it harder when we had her put to sleep because she was rescued and had a hard life from when she was born till about the age of 6 and she was found on a motor way after being there for 5 days! i still miss her now after 2 year! A dog is like a human though and is part of the family and most people best friend!

Answer 7

I think it's totally normal and healthy to still miss your dog. Make sure you do constructive things so you don't get overwhelmed -- or feel guilty about little things like telling your pet to get off the sofa, when there are so many good things to focus on. Do things where you remember the happy times. I made a photo album of my kitty for instance, and watched videos of her.
People who think that is strange are scary to me. They cannot understand someone's love for a living creature? What? I bet they would be horrified if their stupid car were wrecked and mourn something stupid like that for years. How old was he? I believe pets stay with you forever. Sometimes they also come back to you again as another pet. Good luck, and remember if you get another dog you can love it just as much, and by no means is that dog a replacement, so it's nothing to feel bad about if you need another animal in your life. You sound like a good person for pets since you care.

Answer 8

I look at dogs as being children in the family, you need to look after them and treat them right and in return they love you so much back, I still miss my childhood dogs, and always will, they are so special and you'll never forget them, but just remember the fun times and the silly little things they used to do, this helps me when i'm feeling low, I have also just lost one in the last couple of weeks, she passed away at only 5 but i'm so glad I had the time i had with her, she was myy soul mate, and i miss her so much, i still expect her to be there in the morning when i wake up but she isn't, but i do remember all thesilly things she got up to and thats the main thing she had a good life and was loved, by the sounds of things the same as your dog, thats what keeps me going, i hope this has helped

Answer 9

i had a dog who died 2.5 years ago the night before he got too playful as usual so i really told him off and sat upset afterwards because I'd been so upset with him he was a beagle cross he was really ill treated if i hadn't taken him in when i did he'd of been dead in days after seeing him go through half his recovery then him eating a mouse which is what killed him as the mouse had been killed with poison i was totally devastated more so because of that night before i still feel guilty now i still get upset when its near the anniversary of his death I'm sad when i think about him or look at his pictures his collar is still on my bedside cabinet & i've got all his toys lead etc i have a new dog i've had him 2 years who i love just as much but he'll never take the upset & guilt away that i still feel

Answer 10

Of course, my mom still misses her dog from the 60's. Some people miss their dogs more than people. Alot of people do not get dogs because they feel so bad when they die because they don't live long enough. My family's dog is getting there :( he's the best dog ever.. You don't have to worry so much about cats though.

Answer 11

Pets are part of the family and it is very normal to grieve the death of a pet. It would be very strange to not miss the animal at all, that would mean it meant notnhing to you to have a pet. Dont worry about people saying it was just a dog. These people probably never had one themselves.