USA Dog Behavior Podcast · January 27, 2026 · 8 min
Do Dogs Understand Death? What Science (and Experience) Really Show
When a dog dies in a household, many owners wonder if the surviving dogs truly understand what happened. In this episode, Scott Sheaffer explores how dogs perceive death, loss, and change through their senses and routines rather than through human concepts of mortality. You’ll learn why some dogs appear to grieve while others seem unaffected, how scent and routine play a role in their behavior, and how to best support a surviving dog after a loss. This is Part 1 of a two-part series, leading ...