We and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. You can read more about it and change your preferences here.
We often call dogs our best friends—but to them, we are everything. A recent post by Selftrue.Journey showcases a powerful new perspective on this unshakable bond, revealing what dogs experience in the 72 hours following the death of their human companion. And honestly, it’s impossible to read without feeling a tug at your soul.
According to canine behavior experts, dogs grieve deeply—often waiting by the door, sleeping on their person’s belongings, or refusing to eat. But what’s truly astonishing is how their loyalty doesn’t just remain—it intensifies in their human’s absence. Some dogs have even been known to howl or whimper at the faintest scent of their person, as if still calling out in hope.
Without further ado, scroll down to discover what recent studies reveal and gain deeper insight into how our furry companions mourn, based on behavior observed by scientists.
We reached out to the author of the video and asked them to share the inspiration behind it. First, we wanted to know what was the most moving fact they discovered about how dogs grieve during the creation process. Here’s what they shared: “What really struck me was how deeply dogs actually grieve. I’ve seen it in real life before, dogs hiding, refusing to eat, or even disappearing completely after losing their person. At the time, I thought those were just isolated cases or strange coincidences. But when I started to research it more and saw the patterns, the numbers, and the stories… it was overwhelming. It made me realize it’s not rare at all, this grief is real, and it’s powerful.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Illustration of a dog lying down with shadow of a human figure, highlighting dogs understanding absence after human passes.
Next, the viral video creator shared their thoughts on how we, as humans, can begin to grasp the depth of our dogs’ attachment to us: “I think most people feel it emotionally, but we still underestimate it. Their world revolves around us. We are everything to them. And their love, it’s not just loyalty. It’s grief, it’s longing, it’s heartbreak when we’re gone.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Dog sitting by a window at night, illustrating what dogs go through in the 72 hours after their human passes.
When asked about the role of storytelling and media in shaping empathy toward animals and their emotional lives, the person behind the reel responded: “Stories are how we connect. When we share these emotional truths through videos or posts, it opens people’s hearts. It makes them stop and feel,maybe even understand animals a little better.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Silhouette of a dog sitting outside a house with floating shoes above, depicting what dogs go through after their human passes.
Finally, we asked whether the creator plans to explore the emotional lives of other animals in future videos—and they shared their thoughts on expanding beyond dogs: “I’ve always been especially drawn to dogs, but my audience has been asking a lot about cats too. They’re different from dogs, more independent, but still incredibly emotional in their own way. I haven’t gone deep into research about cats yet, but it’s something I want to explore. So yes, if there’s interest, I’d be happy to keep going and make this bigger, with more animals and more stories.”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A lone dog sitting in a dim hallway with paw prints, representing what dogs go through after their human passes.
I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life?
Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare.
Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter.
I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling.
In everything I do, my purpose is the same:
to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.
I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life?
Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare.
Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter.
I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling.
In everything I do, my purpose is the same:
to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.
My name is Gabriela, and I’m a Community Manager at Bored Panda. In real life, it means that every day, together with my team, I ensure that all the posts submitted by our creative pandas display their work in the best possible way. I'm always on the lookout for new artists who would like to join our community and share their content with a wide audience. In addition to that, I keep my finger on the community pulse and supervise its activity, ensuring that any problems our members experience on our website are promptly resolved.Before joining the Bored Panda team, I worked as a freelancer, offering my creative services to people around the world—starting with graphic design, photography, and finally videos. Now, I pursue these activities only as a hobby, capturing moments with my cats and documenting new places I visit during my travels.
My name is Gabriela, and I’m a Community Manager at Bored Panda. In real life, it means that every day, together with my team, I ensure that all the posts submitted by our creative pandas display their work in the best possible way. I'm always on the lookout for new artists who would like to join our community and share their content with a wide audience. In addition to that, I keep my finger on the community pulse and supervise its activity, ensuring that any problems our members experience on our website are promptly resolved.Before joining the Bored Panda team, I worked as a freelancer, offering my creative services to people around the world—starting with graphic design, photography, and finally videos. Now, I pursue these activities only as a hobby, capturing moments with my cats and documenting new places I visit during my travels.
Yea I feel for you my friend., my baby left last September, I miss her more then anything. I took her everywhere with me, work, pubs concerts. My best friend.
😢😢💔
Yea I feel for you my friend., my baby left last September, I miss her more then anything. I took her everywhere with me, work, pubs concerts. My best friend.
😢😢💔
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
43
14