With the news today that the nation’s favourite dog, Pudsey, has died at the age of 11, columnist and trained counsellor Fiona Caine offers her perspective on how one dog-owner can handle the grief that comes with the loss of a beloved pet.

The problem…

“Since my dog died, I have just gone to pieces – I miss her so much. It may seem silly to other people, but I really loved her and I can’t stop crying. When people ask what’s wrong with me, I’ve told them there’s been a bereavement in my family – I’m too embarrassed to tell the truth.”

Fiona says…

Well, in a very real sense, you have told them the truth – this is a bereavement. You’ve lost someone you love, so it’s no wonder you should feel hurt. Many people feel like you – surprised, and perhaps a little ashamed, that they can grieve for a pet perhaps even more than for a friend or relative.

Your dog gave you constant companionship, unconditional love and was totally dependent on you though. The relationship with an animal is so much simpler than it is with a human being. With a parent or a sibling there can be conflict about differing views and it can seem that their love and support has strings attached.

A generic photo of an illustration of a woman holding her pet dog (Thinkstock/PA)(Thinkstock/PA)

Pets can become an integral part of family life and there is nothing silly about loving them, so please, give yourself time to grieve. You’ll find many people have been through the same thing, so don’t feel embarrassed about saying you’ve lost your pet.

As for getting a new puppy, it may be a bit too soon for you to think about this yet, but once you’ve had an animal in your life, it can be hard to live without one. Take your time though and perhaps consider fostering a dog through an animal shelter first, to see if you’re ready to commit to owning another dog.

You may find the website Living with Pet Bereavement helpful and, if your grief becomes too difficult to manage, you could consider seeing a grief counsellor.