Losing a dog is one of the worst experiences you can go through. If you’re saying goodbye to a furry friend 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.

Having labradors for the past 20+ years and a wonderful community of dog friends, I’ve cried over the loss of many pets.

As a teenager, I faced the loss of family dogs as puppies due to illness and one terrible accident. I’ve said goodbye to my 13 and half year old labrador, Lola. I’ve also been there when my sister had to say goodbye to her beloved dog due to a medical emergency.

When I said goodbye to those dogs, it was devastating. But 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 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 pet owners who have experienced the loss of a pet, you might want to show them you’re thinking of them with dog loss gifts or a loving gesture. In this blog post, I’ve curated 35 impactful gift ideas and symbolic actions that show you care.

*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+ Pet Memorial Gifts Gifts and Gestures to Show Your Compassion for Someone Who Lost a Dog

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

As society evolves to recognize our pets as family members, most people understand the significance of losing a dog. The most important thing during this time is to let someone know you’re thinking of them.

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.”

I interviewed Morgan on my podcast, and she’s also been recognized as Pet Sitter of the Year. I’m sure her success is due in large part to her empathy and compassion for her pet-sitting clients.

To compile this list of ideas, I surveyed thousands of pet lovers in my audience. Like Morgan, most people agreed that gestures were some of the best ways to support a grieving friend. Here’s 5 examples that combine thoughtfulness with gifts:

• “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

A Go-To Gift: Paw Print Keepsakes

Let’s start this guide with some thoughtful paw print gift ideas. 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 when she passed away at 13 years old. I had it framed in a shadow box that I look at every day. It’s hanging right next to my computer where I’m writing this blog post.

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

Personalized dog mementos like paw prints will always be a treasured item for any dog owner.

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 if you’d like to display this paw 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! You capture the paw print in the mold that comes with the kit, send to Hot Sand, and their glass artists create the paw print in glass so it will last forever. This is a beautiful way to memorialize your pet.

I’ve had 2 of these kits at my house for a few years and now that my dogs are 12 years old I need to take the imprint of their paws and send them in to be turned into glass. I know I’ll regret it if I don’t do it soon.

Heartfelt Dog Loss Gifts: Paw Print Memorabilia

Sometimes, circumstances might prevent you from getting an actual mold of your dog’s paw. But paw prints care still an iconic way to represent our pets and the impact they leave behind. Below are a handful of keepsake ideas that would make thoughtful gifts for anyone missing their furry friend.

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

Paw Print Memory Box: This is a beautifully designed box that not only has a paw print on the lid but also has space inside to store memorable items like a collar or a few photos. I would add my dog’s tags and sympathy cards I get from loved ones so I can look back at them later. This is a very nice keepsake box that I plan to gift to a friend when the day comes. 

Paw Print Memorial Picture Frame: There’s a wide selection of photo frames designed specifically for pet lovers and this is a nice one. When you give this to someone, add a photo of their dog so you’re not creating any extra work for your friend. Looking at the photo and this charming frame will remind them of the happy times they shared with their pet.

If You Have More Time: Order 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. This gift requires more lead time, so keep that in mind.

When I talked to Morgan of Memory Flame Candle and Lucky Pup Adventures, she mentioned that the holidays and a pet’s birthday can be especially rough for someone who’s experienced a recent pet death. So don’t feel pressured to give them some kind of gift immediately.

A simple note or stopping by for a hug will mean a lot, then for the holidays you can plan something speical like a custom portrait. 

The options are endless! 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 you pick a personalized dog portrait style that captures 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 pupcakes for their dog, you might want to choose something more refined and elegant.

Memorial Pet Portrait Styles

Painted portrait: A hand-painted portrait truly captures the essence of a dog, their unique features and personality. A gift like this is 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. You can also browse on Etsy to find great pet portrait artists.

Custom illustration highlighting shared moments: When I found this artist, I sent a dedicated email out to my subscribers because the artwork is just so perfect. This artistic take allows you to remember the shared experiences and special moments with your dog. Whether it’s a camping trip or daily walks in the park to chase squirrels, a drawing like this is a celebration of everything you shared. And each one is 100% unique! Available from A Million Tiny Lines. 

Digital art composite: For those who prefer more modern style art, a digital rendition of a beloved dog’s photo can be a wonderful way to remember them. Digital art merges the accuracy of a photo with the warmth of a painting. I have a digital painting of Burt and Lucy that I had printed on a pillow instead of a canvas. I like that because I can cuddle the pillow with their portraits.

Watercolor portrait: There’s a certain softness and depth to watercolors that can beautifully capture a dog’s spirit. This portrait style is classic and would fit most people’s style. I’ve ordered several pet portraits from my friend Mary Evelyn Studio Art. I have one each of my dogs Burt and Lucy and I’ve also gifted a portrait of my sister’s dog to her.

Simple pet memorial drawing: Sometimes, simplicity speaks volumes. A basic line drawing might be the perfect way to capture this particular dog’s spirit. It could even be a little cartoonish depending on their personality. If you want to make this simple gift more of a statement, you can put it in a nice frame.

Classic Pet Memorial Gifts Ideas: Beautiful Ways to Celebrate Life

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 his dog is there in spirit.

I was just at their house and the garden stone is still there. I was happy to see it and know they think of their dog every time they pass it.

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.”

Others 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’.”

Something that you can hear every day is a special way to remember a pet’s life and think about them often. My top pick for windchimes is a few gifts down from here.

Memorial Garden Stone: This is something that I’ve gifted to friends a few times. A garden stone with the dog’s name or a sweet message is a reminder of time spent playing in the backyard or relaxing on the porch together. I recommend these custom pet memorial stones. They also have some pet loss support resources on their site.

Memorial frames or plaques: A memorial plaque is a classic way to honor a pet’s life. You can get very traditional ones, but I love this unique lighted acrylic plaque from CocoBananaDesigns. There’s a lot of customization options for the pet’s name, a nice message or quote, photo, dates, etc.

Pet Memorial Wind Chime: According to the survey of my audience, windchimes are a cherish pet memorial gift. Every twinkle can remind you of the jingle of a dog’s collar or how they loved to bark at the wind.

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 gift shipped straight to the person you’re giving it to.

Pet Perennials is a woman-owned brand, and I talked to the co-founder Remy on my podcast a while back. She’s also from Pittsburgh and loves labradors and rescue dogs (we have a lot in common!).

Pet Perennials Memorial Garden Kit for Dogs: Another wonderful gift from Remy’s company, this kit by Pet Perennials allows you to create a memorial wildflower garden in honor of a dog, cat or any type of family pet. the flowers will come back every spring or summer as a lasting memory of your pet. Optionally, you can include a bit of cremated remains in the seed pods. Then your pet’s spirit really will live on in the flowers!

Collar in Shadow Box with Name Plate: Our dogs usually have a favorite collar that when you see it, you think of them. Or maybe it’s the tags on that collar. That’s why adding a pet’s collar in a shadow box, along with a photo, is a lovely way to cherish their memory. Each time you see it, you’ll remember the long walks and fun times you had together. This option 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. It’s something you can wear every day for as long as you need that reminder of your dog’s love.

I have a necklace featuring a laser-etched portrait of my old dog Lola. Although I don’t wear it often anymore (she passed more than 7 years ago) I see it in my jewelry box every day and it always makes me smile.

Urn Necklace Pendant:  Someone who replied to my audience survey shared, “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: Another survey responder shared, “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: My friend Heather replied to the gift idea survey and shared, “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.” 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.” That’s from my friend Ruth Hegarty of Creature Comfort Dog Training. Ruth is also certified as a Pet Loss Grief Specialist. Here’s a similar engraved pet memorial bracelet on Etsy.

Photo locket: A locket is a classic piece of jewelry that holds a loved one close to the heart. For pet lovers, add a photo of the dog or cat that is being remembered. They will always be close to your heart.  This locket 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.

A lot of my pet loss gift idea survey responses said:

• “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. If you want to learn more about what they do, I had an awesome conversation on my podcast with Dr. Kelly Diehl, the Senior Director of Science and Communications at Morris Animal Foundation.

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. They have a special initiative called The Purple Leash Project that supports survivors of domestic violence and their pets. I donate to them quarterly, you’ll see their logo on the sidebar of this post.

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. This is always a great organization to donate to.

Plan Pet Memorial Services or a Celebration of Life

Lately, the concept of pet memorial services is gaining traction. Planning some kind of small event is a way for families and friends to get together, celebrate, and honor the legacy of a departed pet. While some might opt for a more traditional service, others may prefer towards something tailored to the life shared with the pet. For example, instead of a church service, you might want to go on a favorite hike.

Ash Scattering Ceremony: Something like this is usually held in a place that holds special significance for the pet. It could be a lake they loved to swim in, a hike they went on weekly, or someplace that you wish you had taken your dog to like the Pacific Ocean. Most places have regulations about scattering human cremated remains, but technically I’m not sure those rules would apply to pets. Check with local ordinances before you do this. 

Celebration of Life Party: This isn’t a just party, it’s a celebration of memories. Invite friends, family, and other pets to honor your pet. Being surrounded by friends, family and other pets can be very comforting. It’s always very touching to hear stories that other people remember about your pet.

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 or expensive 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 pet. A tree is 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.

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 consider

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 cute photo of their dog can be very comforting. Every time they hug it, they can think about the times they cuddled with their pet. There are pet memorial pillows out there, but if it were me, I would pick one like this custom pet photo pillow on Etsy. 

Flameless Memorial Candle from Memory Flame: What’s cool about this flameless candle is that it’s 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 for our Pets

The holidays can be a 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 present. 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 few Holiday ideas:

Pet memorial Christmas ornament with a photo: A memorial ornament featuring a beloved dog, cat or other pet is always a lovely gift. While it can be sad to think that your pet is not longer here, looking through the ornaments each year and admiring them among the Christmas lights is heartwarming. 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. This represents 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. Studies show that the loss of a pet is comparable to the loss of a close family member.

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

During sad times like these, 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 pet rememberance 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.