{"id":12424,"date":"2020-01-26T21:57:36","date_gmt":"2020-01-26T21:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/?p=12424"},"modified":"2020-01-26T21:57:36","modified_gmt":"2020-01-26T21:57:36","slug":"death-of-a-pet-article-good-share-good-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/2020\/01\/26\/death-of-a-pet-article-good-share-good-read\/","title":{"rendered":"Death of a pet article. Good share, good read."},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"magazine\">\n<div class=\"magazine-title\">\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<header class=\"content-header-container grid-twelve large-grid-eleven\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"content-header-block\">\n<h1 class=\"legacy entry-title instapaper_title\"><strong>Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or\u00a0friend<\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2017-03-10T04:19:06Z\">March 9, 2017 11.19pm EST<\/time><\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<div class=\"content-sidebar grid-four large-grid-four grid-last\">\n<section class=\"content-authors\">\n<div class=\"content-authors-group\">\n<h3 class=\"border\">Author<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li id=\"author-148232\" class=\"vcard\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/frank-t-mcandrew-194161\" rel=\"author\"><img class=\" lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.theconversation.com\/avatars\/194161\/width170\/image-20180207-74487-3tycv9.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.theconversation.com\/avatars\/194161\/width170\/image-20180207-74487-3tycv9.jpg\" \/><span class=\"fn author-name\">Frank T. McAndrew<\/span><\/a>\n<p class=\"role\">Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology, Knox College<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"content-disclosure-statement\">\n<h3 class=\"border\">Disclosure statement<\/h3>\n<p>Frank T. McAndrew does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"content-partners\">\n<h3 class=\"border\">Partners<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us\/partners\">View all partners<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"content-translations\">\n<h3 class=\"border\">Languages<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/por-que-perder-a-un-perro-puede-ser-mas-duro-que-perder-a-un-familiar-o-a-un-amigo-100052\">Espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/li>\n<li>English<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"slot\" data-id=\"16\">\n<div class=\"promo\">\n<div class=\"republishPanel-3UFTR\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root-2 jss3 jss1\">\n<h5 class=\"MuiTypography-root-18 jss4 MuiTypography-h5-27 jss9 MuiTypography-colorInherit-40\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cdn.theconversation.com\/static\/tc\/javascripts\/components\/RepublishPanel\/cc.logo-daf1fc0e8847c0bbcb9b786c82e9d981.svg\" alt=\"CC BY ND\" \/><\/h5>\n<div>We believe in the free flow of information<\/div>\n<h6 class=\"MuiTypography-root-18 jss48 MuiTypography-subtitle1-29 jss16 MuiTypography-colorInherit-40\">Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.<\/h6>\n<p><button class=\"MuiButtonBase-root-69 MuiButton-root-52 jss50 jss49 MuiButton-contained-60 MuiButton-containedPrimary-61 MuiButton-sizeSmall-66 MuiButton-fullWidth-68\" tabindex=\"0\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"MuiButton-label-53\">Republish this article<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-twelve large-grid-eleven\">\n<div class=\"top\">\n<aside class=\"grid-two content-social-distribution\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"email\"><a class=\"email-button\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Why%20losing%20a%20dog%20can%20be%20harder%20than%20losing%20a%20relative%20or%20friend%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Conversation&amp;body=Hi.%20I%20found%20an%20article%20that%20you%20might%20like%3A%20%22Why%20losing%20a%20dog%20can%20be%20harder%20than%20losing%20a%20relative%20or%20friend%22%20%E2%80%94%20http%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fwhy-losing-a-dog-can-be-harder-than-losing-a-relative-or-friend-68207\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-id=\"68207\"><i class=\"icon-email\"><\/i> Email<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"twitter\"><a class=\"twitter-button\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Why+losing+a+dog+can+be+harder+than+losing+a+relative+or+friend&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fwhy-losing-a-dog-can-be-harder-than-losing-a-relative-or-friend-68207%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dbylinetwitterbutton&amp;utm_campaign=none&amp;via=ConversationUS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-url=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-losing-a-dog-can-be-harder-than-losing-a-relative-or-friend-68207\" data-id=\"68207\"><i class=\"icon-twitter\"><\/i> Twitter<span class=\"data-count\">1.2k<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"facebook\"><a class=\"facebook-button\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fwhy-losing-a-dog-can-be-harder-than-losing-a-relative-or-friend-68207%3Futm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_medium%3Dbylinefacebookbutton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-url=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-losing-a-dog-can-be-harder-than-losing-a-relative-or-friend-68207\" data-id=\"68207\"><i class=\"icon-facebook\"><\/i> Facebook<span class=\"data-count\">697.3k<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"linkedin\"><a class=\"linkedin-button\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;source=The+Conversation&amp;summary=Recently%2C+my+wife+and+I+went+through+one+of+the+more+excruciating+experiences+of+our+lives+--+the+euthanasia+of+our+beloved+dog%2C+Murphy.+I+remember+making+eye+contact+with+Murphy+moments+before+she...&amp;title=Why+losing+a+dog+can+be+harder+than+losing+a+relative+or+friend&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fwhy-losing-a-dog-can-be-harder-than-losing-a-relative-or-friend-68207%3Futm_source%3Dlinkedin%26utm_medium%3Dbylinelinkedinbutton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-url=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-losing-a-dog-can-be-harder-than-losing-a-relative-or-friend-68207\" data-id=\"68207\"><i class=\"icon-linkedin\"><\/i> LinkedIn<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"print\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-losing-a-dog-can-be-harder-than-losing-a-relative-or-friend-68207#\"><i class=\"icon-print\"><\/i> Print<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-ten large-grid-nine grid-last content-body content entry-content instapaper_body\">\n<p>Recently, my wife and I went through one of the more excruciating experiences of our lives \u2013 the euthanasia of our beloved dog, Murphy. I remember making eye contact with Murphy moments before she took her last breath \u2013 she flashed me a look that was an endearing blend of confusion and the reassurance that everyone was ok because we were both by her side.<\/p>\n<p>When people who have never had a dog see their dog-owning friends mourn the loss of a pet, they probably think it\u2019s all a bit of an overreaction; after all, it\u2019s \u201cjust a dog.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, those who have loved a dog know the truth: Your own pet is never \u201cjust a dog.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many times, I\u2019ve had friends guiltily confide to me that they grieved more over the loss of a dog than over the loss of friends or relatives. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ehbonline.org\/article\/S0162-3095(99)80001-4\/abstract\">Research has confirmed<\/a> that for most people, the loss of a dog is, in almost every way, comparable to the loss of a human loved one. Unfortunately, there\u2019s little in our cultural playbook \u2013 no grief rituals, no obituary in the local newspaper, no religious service \u2013 to help us get through the loss of a pet, which can make us feel more than a bit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/lifestyle\/9467927\/Why-like-Ben-Fogle-are-we-embarrassed-to-show-grief-over-our-dead-pets.html\">embarrassed to show too much public grief over our dead dogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps if people realized just how strong and intense the bond is between people and their dogs, such grief would become more widely accepted. This would greatly help dog owners to integrate the death into their lives and help them move forward.<\/p>\n<h2>An interspecies bond like no other<\/h2>\n<p>What is it about dogs, exactly, that make humans bond so closely with them?<\/p>\n<p>For starters, dogs have had to adapt to living with humans over the past 10,000 years. And they\u2019ve done it very well: They\u2019re the only animal to have evolved specifically to be our companions and friends. <a href=\"http:\/\/brianhare.net\/\">Anthropologist Brian Hare<\/a> has developed the \u201cDomestication Hypothesis\u201d to explain how dogs morphed from their grey wolf ancestors into the socially skilled animals that we now interact with in very much the same way as we interact with other people.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps one reason our relationships with dogs can be even more satisfying than our human relationships is that dogs provide us with such unconditional, uncritical positive feedback. (<a href=\"https:\/\/img1.etsystatic.com\/155\/0\/13618223\/il_340x270.1142491229_fvka.jpg\">As the old saying goes<\/a>, \u201cMay I become the kind of person that my dog thinks I already am.\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>This is no accident. They have been selectively bred through generations to pay attention to people, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/blog\/canine-corner\/201608\/do-your-dog-love-you-more-food\">MRI scans show<\/a> that dog brains respond to praise from their owners just as strongly as they do to food (and for some dogs, praise is an even more effective incentive than food). Dogs recognize people and can learn to interpret human emotional states <a href=\"http:\/\/cdp.sagepub.com\/content\/25\/5\/339.full\">from facial expression alone<\/a>. Scientific studies also indicate that dogs can understand human intentions, <a href=\"http:\/\/cdp.sagepub.com\/content\/25\/5\/322.full\">try to help their owners<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/blog\/canine-corner\/201508\/dogs-avoid-people-who-are-not-cooperative-their-owners\">even avoid people<\/a> who don\u2019t cooperate with their owners or treat them well.<\/p>\n<p>Not surprisingly, humans respond positively to such unqualified affection, assistance and loyalty. Just looking at dogs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/blog\/canine-corner\/201609\/just-looking-dog-can-make-you-smile\">can make people smile<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/blog\/canine-corner\/201607\/stop-the-presses-dog-owners-are-happier\">Dog owners score higher on measures of well-being<\/a> and they are happier, on average, than people who own cats or no pets at all.<\/p>\n<h2>Like a member of the family<\/h2>\n<p>Our strong attachment to dogs was subtly revealed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychonomic.org\/news\/311582\/Roll-calling-the-dog-but-not-the-cat.htm\">a recent study<\/a> of \u201cmisnaming.\u201d Misnaming happens when you call someone by the wrong name, like when parents mistakenly call one of their kids by a sibling\u2019s name. It turns out that the name of the family dog also gets confused with human family members, indicating that the dog\u2019s name is being pulled from the same cognitive pool that contains other members of the family. (Curiously, the same thing rarely happens with cat names.)<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s no wonder dog owners miss them so much when they\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/psychcentral.com\/lib\/grieving-the-loss-of-a-pet\/\">Psychologist Julie Axelrod has pointed out<\/a> that the loss of a dog is so painful because owners aren\u2019t just losing the pet. It could mean the loss of a source of unconditional love, a primary companion who provides security and comfort, and maybe even a prot\u00e9g\u00e9 that\u2019s been mentored like a child.<\/p>\n<p>The loss of a dog can also seriously disrupt an owner\u2019s daily routine more profoundly than the loss of most friends and relatives. For owners, their daily schedules \u2013 even their vacation plans \u2013 can revolve around the needs of their pets. Changes in lifestyle and routine are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.simplypsychology.org\/SRRS.html\">some of the primary sources of stress<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1090513816301088\">According to a survey<\/a>, many bereaved pet owners will even mistakenly interpret ambiguous sights and sounds as the movements, pants and whimpers of the deceased pet. This is most likely to happen shortly after the death of the pet, especially among owners who had very high levels of attachment to their pets.<\/p>\n<p>While the death of a dog is horrible, dog owners have become so accustomed to the reassuring and nonjudgmental presence of their canine companions that, more often than not, they\u2019ll eventually get a new one.<\/p>\n<p>So yes, I miss my dog. But I\u2019m sure that I\u2019ll be putting myself through this ordeal again in the years to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or\u00a0friend March 9, 2017 11.19pm EST Author Frank T. McAndrew Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology, Knox College Disclosure statement Frank T. McAndrew does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Partners View all partners Languages Espa\u00f1ol English We believe in the free flow of information Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. Republish this article Email Twitter1.2k Facebook697.3k LinkedIn Print Recently, my wife and I went through one of the more excruciating experiences of our lives \u2013 the euthanasia of our beloved dog, Murphy. I remember making eye contact with Murphy moments before she took her last breath \u2013 she flashed me a look that was an endearing blend of confusion and the reassurance that everyone was ok because we were both by her side. When people who have never had a dog see their dog-owning friends mourn the loss of a pet, they probably think it\u2019s all a bit of an overreaction; after all, it\u2019s \u201cjust [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12424"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12424"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12425,"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12424\/revisions\/12425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiopetexpert.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}