As much joy Frenchies give us as heartbreaking it is when we have to say the final goodbye. Losing a pet is a tough topic, but we can’t ignore it. In this article, we talk about how to deal with the loss of a puppy, and how to go on with life.
The lifespan of French Bulldogs
The average lifespan of French Bulldogs is 10 to 15 years, according to the AKC. The breed is still considered to be the healthiest of all bulldog breeds, with old-age being in the top three causes of death. By adopting your puppy from a trustworthy breeder, – who carefully select the parent dogs, and give high-quality food and vitamins to the puppies, – you increase the chances of spending wonderful years with your happy and healthy furbaby.
Give yourself permission to process the grief of your puppy
But in any case, all Frenchies die – their only fault really – and dealing with the loss of a dog is a tough process. Puppy parents often go through the same stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) as when a human family member dies, which is completely normal. Some people even struggle with the feeling of guilt, especially if the puppy died of toxication, an accident, or if the parent had to make the decision to euthanize their furbaby.
It’s absolutely normal to be sad and depressed about the loss of a puppy and it can help to share your feelings with like-minded puppy parents. People who have never had a dog not always understand that losing a well-loved puppy is not less sad than losing a human family member. Give yourself time to process the grief, as suppressing your feelings is unhealthy.
Help the grieving child and the surviving puppy
If there are children in the family, make sure you help them process the loss of their beloved furry friend. Depending on their age you can use books that help you with what to say when a pet dies. Think back to the memorable moments you shared with the four-legged family member.
Some people find it hard to believe that animals can also form firm attachments with each other. The surviving pet might get anxious, lose appetite, or might have sleeping issues as a result of losing their buddy.
The best is to keep their routine and don’t try to compensate them for the loss, as it will be hard to switch back to the normal routine.
Organizing the funeral service
In the midst of your grief, you should also decide on the service for the funeral. You have a few options: you might want to consider a pet funeral home, who help with the arrangements.
You can also organize a private service with friends and family to share their favorite memories and stories of the sweet puppy. Some people put together a slideshow of photos, and videos to celebrate the Frenchie’s life and all the wonderful moments she or he gave to the family.
When it’s the right time to adopt a puppy after the loss of your dog
Life goes on and life without a puppy is no life. First of all, nobody can tell you when it’s the right time, you know when you’re ready for that. In our experience, the sooner the better. Nobody replaces your lovely friend who is lost, but a sweet furbaby will help heal the wound.
Adoption takes a few months anyway, so it’s best to start as soon as possible. (Read our article about this topic here.)
Finally, let us share here a loss of a dog poem that touched the heart:
Waiting at the Door
I was just a pup when we first met, I loved you from the start,
You picked me up and took me home and placed me in your heart.
Good times we had together, we shared all life could throw,
But years passed all too quickly, my time has come to go.
I know how much you miss me, I know your heart is sore,
I see the tears that fall when I’m not Waiting at the Door.
You always did your best for me
Your love was plain to see,
For even though it broke your heart
You set my spirit free.
So please brave without me,
One day we’ll meet once more,
For when you’re called to Heaven
I’ll be Waiting at the Door.
The article was written based on the experience of the TomKings Puppies Team. TomKings Puppies have been breeding French Bulldogs for 12 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and show a puppy from their breed. If you have any questions or comments let us know below the article.
