Losing a dog is one of the worst experiences you can go through. If you’re saying goodbye to a furry companion who’s been by your side for 10 or 15 years, it means a total change of routine. If you’re faced with saying goodbye to a puppy, it’s about the pain of a life cut short.

Personally, I’ve dealt with the loss of family dogs as puppies due to illness and accidents. I’ve said goodbye to my 13 and half year old labrador, Lola. And I’ve also been there when my family had to say goodbye to a beloved pet due to a medical emergency.

When I said goodbye to those dogs, I was always so touched by the messages, gestures and meaningful pet sympathy gifts I got from friends, family and even social media friends. It’s just nice to know that someone is thinking of you during the loss of a dog.

As the saying goes, “It’s the thought that counts”.

If you know someone who has recently lost a dog or another pet, you might want to show them how you’re thinking of them with dog loss gifts or loving gesture. In this blog post, I’ve curated 35 impactful gift ideas and symbolic actions that encapsulate the compassion and love you wish to convey.

*This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase something through affiliate links on my site, I may earn a small commission. Thank you in advance for supporting the work I do here at Wear Wag Repeat. 

35+ Gifts and Gestures to Show Your Compassion for Someone Who Lost a Dog

Losing a dog is one of the hardest things someone will go through. It’s an emotional and stressful time.

As society evolves to recognize pets as part of our families, people are becoming more understanding of the significance of losing a dog. The most important thing is to let someone know you’re thinking of them during this time.

Pet sitter and founder of Memory Flame Candle, Morgan Weber shared that, “The one thing I want people to know is that it is better to send or do something, anything. Don’t worry about the specifics so much that you do nothing.”

Paw Print Keepsakes

Starting off with some thoughtful pawprint pet loss gifts. These might be something you want to think about before the loss of your dog so you can immortalize their unique pawprint.

If your dog is euthanized at a vet’s office, they often have the option for a paw print impression to be made after your pet has passed. I did this with my dog Lola and had it framed in a shadow box that I look at every day.

Another friend of mine shared that her vet, “cast my girl’s paw print in a little Christmas ornament mold.” 

Paw Print Mold Kits

Clay Pawprint Making Kit: This kit includes the supplies to make 2 pawprints with name stamps in airdry clay. It also includes stands in case you’d like to display this pay print on a bookcase or table.

Hot Ones Glass Paw Print Mold Kit: Hot Paws is the Do-it-yourself kit for making a lasting glass keepsake of your furry friend’s paw right at home! You capture the paw print in the kit mold, send to Hot Sand, and our glass artists create the paw print in glass for you to treasure forever!

Heartfelt Dog Loss Gifts: Paw Print Memorabilia

Sometimes, circumstances might prevent you from obtaining an actual mold of your dog’s paw. Nevertheless, paw prints continue to be cherished emblems of remembrance. Below are a handful of keepsake ideas that would make for thoughtful dog loss gifts for someone missing their furry friend.

Paw Print Necklace: A simple yet elegant necklace that has a pendant with a paw print stamp and coordinating bone with the pet’s name. If you can’t capture the dog’s pawprint, this is a nice way to still customize something with their name.

Paw Print Memory Box: A beautifully designed box that not only has a paw print on its cover but also has space inside to store memorable items like a collar or a few photos. I would add in my dog’s tags and sympathy cards I get from loved ones. This is a really nice keepsake box. 

Paw Print Memorial Picture Frame: A frame designed specifically for pet lovers. Place a photo of your loved one’s dog in the frame, surrounded by intricate 3-dimensional paw print designs.

Customized Pet Portraits

Of course, a great way to remember a beloved pet is with a beautiful custom portrait. There are so many artistic styles and price points to choose from.

You can have a custom painting made, work with digital photos and art styles or ask an artistic friend to draw a portrait. I recommend picking a style that captures your friend and their dog and the type of life they shared.

If your friend loved to go on adventures with their dog, you might want something small, portable and rugged.

On the other hand, if your friend had a full wardrobe and made custom cupcakes for their dog, you might want to choose something more refined and elegant.

Painted portrait: A hand-painted portrait truly captures the essence of a dog, their unique features and personality. Opting for dog loss gifts like this means gifting a masterpiece that the recipient can treasure for years to come. Here’s a blog post with some of my favorite dog artists on Instagram. 

Custom illustration highlighting shared moments: This artistic take on a pet portrait allows you to remember the shared experiences and joyous moments with your dog. Whether it’s that camping trip or the daily walks in the park, this drawing is a celebration of the shared journey. Available from A Million Tiny Lines. 

Digital art composite: For those who cherish modern art, a digital rendition of a beloved dog’s photo can be a wonderful way to remember them. It merges the accuracy of a photo with the warmth of a painting

Watercolor portrait: There’s a certain softness and depth to watercolors that can beautifully capture the essence of a dog’s spirit. This portrait style is for those who love the blend of dreamy hues and realism. I’ve ordered several pet portraits from my friend Mary Evelyn Studio Art.

Simple pet memorial drawing: Sometimes, simplicity speaks volumes. A basic line drawing can capture the essence of a dog in its raw, unfiltered form, making it a beautiful and minimalist keepsake.

Pet Memorials Dog Loss Gifts

Classic pet memorials might include a garden stone engraved with a pet’s name. I gave that to a close friend who loved spending time in the garden with their dog. They can’t be together in the garden anymore, but having the stone there reminds him that she’s there in spirit.

When I asked the Wear Wag Repeat community for special gifts that helped them overcome the loss of a dog, an idea that came up several times was wind chimes. My friend Nicole said, “I loved my dog-themed wind chimes.”

Other’s chimed in…

• “A friend mailed me a set of windchimes that had my dog’s name written on the little ringer thing. It’s a neat reminder.”
• “I love to gift memorial wind chimes with a photo and engraved with ‘listen to the wind and know that I am near’.”

Memorial Garden Stone: Carve a lasting memory in stone. A garden stone with the dog’s name or a sweet message is a gentle reminder of the times spent playing or relaxing outdoors together. I recommend these custom pet memorial stones. They also have some pet loss support resources on their site.

Memorial plaque: Elegant and timeless, a memorial plaque is a constant reminder of the love and joy a pet brought into one’s life. I love this unique lighted acrylic plaque from CocoBananaDesigns. There’s a lot of customization options.

Pet Memorial Wind Chime: Every tinkle of this wind chime can remind the grieving heart of the jingle of a dog collar or the soft footsteps of a furry friend. This is a beautiful dog windchime option from Pet Perennials. It can be customized with a hand-stamped name. You can also choose to add a handwritten pet loss sympathy card to have this dog loss gift shipped straight to the person you’re giving it to.

Pet Perennials Memorial Garden Kit for Dogs: This kit from Pet Perennials allows you to create a blooming and lasting memorial wildflower garden in honor of a dog, cat or any type of family pet. Optionally, you can include a bit of cremated remains in the seed pods so your pet’s spirit lives on in the flowers that come back every year.

Collar in Shadow Box with Name Plate: Encasing their pet’s collar in a shadow box, along with a photo, is a poignant way to cherish those long walks and fun times. I love this option that has a beautiful matted frame with space to add a dog collar. 

Pet Memorial Jewelry and Keepsakes

A simple piece of jewelry can be a great way to remind us of our dogs who have crossed the rainbow bridge. It might be a little paw print bracelet or a custom laser etched portrait pendant.

I have a necklace featuring my old dog Lola. Although I don’t wear it often, I see it in my jewelry box every day and it always makes me smile.

Urn Necklace Pendant:  “I had a friend who liked necklaces so I did one of those urn ones that can hold ashes, fur, or the like.” This is a beautiful option that you can add a pet’s ashes to. 

Custom Morse Code Bracelet: “My favorite pet loss gift I received was a bracelet with his name in Morse code in his signature color!” Here’s a morse code bracelet that you can customize with color and the word or name of your choice.

Heart Necklace with Pet’s Name Engraved: “When my dog Mabel passed, one of my good friends gave me a really pretty silver necklace that had a little heart with her name imprinted on the back.” – Heather. Here’s a similar pet memorial necklace from Etsy.

Memorial Bracelet:  “When I lost Jake my nephew gave me a silver memorial bracelet with his name.” – Ruth Hegarty of Creature Comfort Dog Training. Here’s a similar engraved pet memorial bracelet on Etsy.

Photo locket: A classic piece of jewelry that holds a precious memory close to the heart. Gift a photo locket with the dog’s image inside, so your friend can carry a part of their beloved pet wherever they go. This is a unique option that includes an engraved pet portrait, a touching quote, and space for a small photo.

Donations and Memorials After Loss of a Dog

If your loved one’s dog was from a particular rescue or animal shelter, it can be nice to make a donation in memory of the pet.

A lot of pet parents in the Wear Wag Repeat community agreed that a charitable donation can be a really meaningful gesture after losing a pet.

• “Donation to the local shelter in memory of the pet.”
• “Donations to rescue that they support.”
• “Donation to a rescue in her memory.”

Try to find out what rescue or animal shelter your friend supports. But if you can’t figure it out, here are a few suggestions of great non-profits to support:

Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study: This is a long-term study that is making strides in research on canine cancers, especially those in golden retrievers. If you know a pet who lost their life to cancer, this is a great non-profit to support in their memory.

Red Rover: By contributing to Red Rover, you’re supporting a group that aids animals in crisis. It’s a thoughtful way to remember a pet while making a difference.

ASPCA: A household name in animal welfare, donating to ASPCA in a pet’s memory means championing for the rights and well-being of countless animals.

Pet Memorial Services

In this modern age, the concept of pet memorial services has gained traction. It offers a formal way for families and friends to congregate, celebrate, and honor the legacy of a departed pet. While some might opt for a more traditional service, others may lean towards something tailored to the life shared with the pet.

Ash Scattering Ceremony: Often held in a place of significance, this ceremony celebrates a dog’s spirit, culminating in the dispersal of ashes.

Celebration of Life Party: This isn’t a mere party; it’s a celebration of memories. Invite friends, family, and other pets to reminisce, celebrate, and bask in the joy that the pet brought into countless lives.

Unique Personal Gestures to Help a Friend Grieving The Loss of A Dog

The continuous thread through many of the suggestions I got from the Wear Wag Repeat community about this topic is that you don’t need to buy elaborate dog loss gifts. Often it’s a meaningful personal gesture that will make the biggest difference for your grieving friend.

When my chocolate labrador Lola passed away several years ago, my friend took me out to get our favorite pizza and let me cry while I ate it. He also picked up her ashes from the vet’s office when they were ready. I couldn’t bring myself to do that.

I had another friend send me an iTunes gift card so I could buy an entire season of Grey’s Anatomy and watch TV while I was still too sad to leave the house. That was such a kind gesture, I’ll never forget it.

One of the most meaningful personal gifts I’ve received was a handmade card from my aunt. She used a photo of Lola to make a beautiful collage and wrote a heartfelt note. That card still accompanies Lola’s ashes in my bookcase.

A gesture as humble as planting a tree can symbolize the everlasting presence of a departed pet. It’s a living tribute, growing, thriving, and continually reminding you of the love you shared.

Whether you choose to do this in your backyard or collaborate with organizations like One Tree Planted to make an environmental difference, it’s a beautiful gesture.

5 more special pet loss sympathy gestures that came from my community’s recommendations include:

• “I took someone a couple quarts of soup the day of their pet passing so they didn’t have to think about dinner.” – Stacy
• “My good friend brought me a cake, saying she wanted us to have some sweetness during an otherwise bitter time.” – Michelle Stern of Pooch Parenting
• “A friend had a tree planted in my dog’s memory.” – Sam
• “A few friends gifted me a star named after my dog, which was very sweet because she will always be shining over me.” – Paige
• “A friend gifted me a fifteen-minute session with her animal communicator.” – Terry

Unique Home Items that Remind You of a Lost Pet

We spend so much time at home with our dogs. When they’re gone it can be hard to walk around the house without feeling sad.

Nice dog loss gifts might be home decor that makes them feel like their pet is still with them in spirit. I really love the idea of a personalized blanket with photos of their pet. That way they can still cuddle on the couch together. It won’t be the same, but it’s a grat way to keep their memory alive.

Here are 3 thoughtful and unique home decor items to think about:

A sun catcher: My friend Stacy shared that she, “recently sent a sun catcher to a friend that had a cat figure on it. It makes rainbows through the window that her other cat can lay in when the sun shines through.” Order this sun catcher from Pet Perennials and they can include a handwritten sympathy card.

Personalized Pillow with Dog’s Image: A soft, cuddly pillow that has a high-quality print of their dog. Every time they hug it, they can reminisce about the times they cuddled with their pet. There are pet memorial pillows out there, but if it were me, I would pick a timeless and joyful one like this custom pet photo pillow on Etsy. 

Flameless Memorial Candle from Memory Flame: This is safe to leave on all the time. The creator, Morgan, told me that some people think blowing out a memorial candle is sad. With a Flameless Memorial Candle, you don’t need to blow it out. You can let the faux flame flicker as long as it provides comfort.

Christmas Time Memorials

The holidays can be a really hard time for anyone who has lost a pet. When I pull out my Christmas ornaments every year, I have a stack of ornaments featuring photos of my dogs past and presents. I also have paw print ornaments that myself and others have made.

It can be emotional to go through your first holiday season without a pet.

If you want to let your loved one know that you’re thinking of them during this time, here’s a couple of ideas:

Pet memorial Christmas ornament with a photo: A Christmas ornament featuring a beloved dog can add a touch of warmth and remembrance to the festive season. There are a lot of custom options for dog memorial ornaments on Amazon.

Rainbow Bridge ornament: A beautiful ornament showcasing the iconic Rainbow Bridge where pets wait for their owners. It’s a heartwarming reminder that they’ll meet again. I love this beautiful angel ornament with pawprints and the rainbow bridge. 

Thoughtful Gestures Help the Grieving Process

The bond between humans and their pets is profound and unique. When a pet departs, a void is left, and the grief can be as intense as losing any loved one.

Losing a pet is not just about bidding farewell to an animal. It’s about saying goodbye to a friend, a confidant, and a part of the family.

In times of such profound sadness, even the smallest gestures can provide a great deal of comfort to our friends. Every act of kindness, whether it’s a heartfelt note, a donation, or a personalized memento like the dog loss gifts mentioned in this post, serves as a gentle reminder that we’re not alone in our grief.

As you’ve read through these various ways to express sympathy and love after the loss of a dog, remember that it’s not the monetary value or the size of the gift that matters. It’s the thought, the sentiment, and the genuine compassion that means the most.

Being there for someone in their time of need is a gift in itself, one that can help heal the wounds left by a beloved pet’s departure.

If you’ve ever given or received a dog loss gift that brought comfort during such a time, or if you have ideas I missed in this post, please share your story in the comments below. Your insights might provide the very comfort someone else is seeking.