How to Support Pet Grief: A Gentle Guide for Coaches, Parents and Educators

When someone loses a beloved pet, the grief is real.
But too often, it’s quietly dismissed.

You might hear:

• “It was just a dog.”

• “They can get another one.”

• “At least it wasn’t a person.”

But for many children—and countless adults—the death of a pet is their first experience of loss, and one of the most emotionally significant.

As a grief coach, teacher, or parent, knowing how to support this type of grief with sensitivity and structure can make a profound difference.

Why pet grief matters

Animals aren’t “practice runs” for real relationships.
They are real relationships.

Pets often provide:

• Emotional safety

• Routine and regulation

• Unconditional connection

When that bond is broken, especially suddenly, the emotional shock can be immense.
Grief for a pet often carries confusion, guilt, or shame, especially when others minimise the loss.

How children grieve animals differently

For children, pets may feel like siblings, protectors, or best friends.
They may:

• Blame themselves

• Worry the pet is lonely or scared “in heaven”

• Mimic adult language (“He’s in a better place”) but feel deep sadness

The role of the adult isn’t to correct or explain—it’s to hold space.

A trauma-informed coach or carer might say:

“You don’t have to be okay right now.”
“I miss them too. Would you like to tell me your favourite memory?”
“It’s okay to feel anything at all.”

5 ways to support pet grief with care

1. Name it without shrinking it

Use clear words: “Your dog died.”
Avoid euphemisms like “put to sleep” unless the child already uses them.

2. Use creative remembrance

Grief coaching tools like drawing, storytelling, or creating a memory box can help children externalise emotions they can’t name.

3. Validate unusual reactions

Some may laugh, become angry, or want to replace the pet immediately.
Don’t rush the process—grief isn’t linear.

4. Anchor routines

If a child walked the dog daily, keep the walk—but with a new meaning (music, nature, quiet time).
Loss disrupts patterns; trauma-informed care restores rhythm.

5. Include pets in grief coaching

If you’re a coach, ask:

“Have you ever lost a pet?”
“Would you like to include them in our memory work?”

Many adults will respond with surprising emotion—because no one ever asked.

New FREE Module: Pet Grief Support

We now include a bonus module on pet grief in our Grief Coach Training course.

It covers:

• How to support clients of all ages after pet loss

• Tools to work with animal-related trauma or guilt

• How to honour pet grief within group sessions and coaching plans

Whether you work with adults or children, this module ensures you’re equipped to hold grief of every kind—with dignity.

Want to explore grief coaching further?
Our accredited training is fully online, trauma-informed, and includes this new pet grief module at no extra cost.

Download the course guide or enrol today

Because all grief deserves to be witnessed.
Even the kind that has fur, feathers, or scales.