Recent research carried out by the University of Milan has concluded that dogs feel sadness when a furry family member dies. Specifically, 86% of the dogs that were analysed, did you know? We explain it better!
Maybe you've read this on some occasion or someone has told you about it, does it sound a little familiar? At Ownat we did not doubt in the least that this was real, but a recent study by the University of Milan has shown it, and now we can say it with certainty. The study recruited 426 people who had owned at least two dogs, and one of them had died, in order to focus on the emotions that all this entailed.
The humans were made to fill out a scientifically validated questionnaire where they were asked many and very diverse questions about how the furry ones had reacted to the death of the death of the other dog: their behavior, appetite, character, physical changes, attitudes, new needs... In addition, they had to describe in depth the relationship that existed between the two dogs, and how they reacted to everything that happened at the time it happened.
The result? In most cases, humans perceived obvious changes in their furry friends after the death of the other dog. And not only that! 86% of those surveyed (a very high figure!) said that they noticed that they were much more subdued, sad and lacking.
In this study, many other interesting conclusions were drawn such as: 67% of the furry ones sought more attention, 57% decreased their desire to play, 46% completely decreased their activity in general. In addition to that, 35% of humans commented that since what happened, the furry ones spent more time sleeping and were more afraid.
With all this, the university concluded that "The results indicate that a dog can show emotional and behavioral patterns related to grief when a close conspecifics die, and that some aspects of the latter may be related to the emotional state of the owner." And it is that a grief is not easy for anyone, so why would it be any different for our four-legged best friends?
At Ownat we hope that you never have to face something like this, and that your furry friends do not suffer from a loss. But if it ever happens, remember that they also need to be taken into account, loved, cared for and pampered throughout the mourning.
