Dog's Heartbreaking Cries Over Losing His Beloved Canine Sibling Are Proof That Pups Grieve Too
A poor dog grieves the loss of his brother, and our hearts hurt for him.
In a heartbreaking TikTok video, Jack the dog mourned the loss of his brother and friend, Tucker. In the video, Jack lay down on the ground and cried out for his brother. He breathed heavily and barked out for his lost brother.
@eileenalanna #RainbowBridge#unconditionallove#PetGrief#DogSoulmates#Until WeMeetAgain
original sound - Eileen Alanna
In the text overlay, his mom revealed that "when his brother Tucker crossed the rainbow bridge, Jack cried for him. That's when we realized how deeply dogs love
People in the comments sympathized with Jack and his loss, writing, "he needs to be comforted," and also sent condolences.
"This is so sad, and heartbreaking ," one person commented. "They grieve," another person said. "It takes them a little longer to realize. So sad"
Others felt "deep sympathy" for his loss, with another even saying that they "want to hug and comfort Jack so much !"
"Poor doggo. Maybe he needs a buddy," another user wrote in the comments. Jack's mom responded to the comment and revealed that the pair were "inseparable" and that "Jack passed away 2 months later ."
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How Dogs Understand Death
While it may not always be easy to understand what a dog is feeling or thinking, they know how to grieve and mourn the loss of a friend, whether it's a fellow dog or their parent.
According to VCA Animal Hospital, dogs "grieve and react to the changes in their lives," much like people do when they're mourning the loss of a loved one. During this time, dogs may exhibit behavioral changes, becoming "depressed and listless," with decreased appetite, reduced playfulness, and increased sleep.
"Since a dog may not understand death as something permanent, sometimes they will wait patiently, believing that the deceased will return," they explained. "Others suggest that the dog may just be reacting to the grief exhibited by humans in the house as they deal with the death of a family member."
When a dog is grieving, the VCA reccomends different ways to cope with grief, like spending extra time with them, trying to divert their attention, inviting friends over so they can have some company, and even ignoring "inappropriate behavior," such as howling.
"Although it is difficult, try to ignore this behavior," they said. "Resist the temptation to give your dog a treat to quiet him, which will only reinforce the behavior you want to change."
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 11:02 AM.