How to Comfort A Girl Whose Dog Died - Cheer Her Up!

Losing a pet can be especially hard for anyone, especially if they were really close to it. Losing a dog can be especially heartbreaking because, as the old saying goes, dogs are a man's best friend.

When comforting a girl whose dog died, you want to be as compassionate and empathetic as possible. It may be hard if you're someone who has never owned a pet before or have never experienced the loss of a pet, so here are some tips on how to comfort a girl whose dog died.

1. Safe Initial Reaction.

   Start with a simple "I'm sorry for your loss" or "my condolences." Let them know that you're acknowledging the fact that she's just lost her dog.

2. Listen.

   Sometimes you don't know what to say to a grieving person, and sometimes that's okay. Let her talk to you about how she's feeling and just be there to listen to her. Even if you think she's overreacting or you just don't have anything nice to say in general, then it's better to not say anything at all and just listen. It's also important not to bring up your own experience with losing a pet, because you don't want it to become a grieving competition.

3. Ask Questions.

   If she doesn't want to talk about her grief, then don't push her. Eventually she'll come around when she's ready to talk about it, but if you have some questions then it's okay to ask. For example, you can ask her about her favorite memory with the dog to recall happy and fond memories.

4. Remind Them of the Good Things

   Remind her that she was a good parent to her dog, that her dog lived the happy life they deserved with the owner. For example, if the dog died of a disease that was unpreventable, remind her that she did her best to get her dog the best treatment they could get.

5. Use the Dog's Name

   Address the dog by its name and not just by "your dog." Be courteous, because she gave the dog a name for a reason.

Aside from the things you could do when comforting a girl whose dog just died, there are also several things you should avoid when comforting her so you don't accidentally push her away (also read how to get a girl to text you back when she is ignoring you for days and how to know if your crush is not into you.)

1. "He/She is in a Better Place"

   Even if the dog was incredibly sick, it might come off as if you're trying to say that they're better off dead without their owner, which can come off as insensitive if they didn't die of a disease.

2. "When Are You Getting Another One?"

   This can upset her even more, especially if she was really close to her dog. Lots of people think of their pets as their own children, meaning they're not interchangeable. It would be incredibly offensive because it's as if you had just lost a child and you're asking them when they're making another one. Don't make it seem as if her dog was just a pet, because they might have been her best friend.

3. "You Didn't Like When They ... Anyway"

   Don't remind her of the bad things the dog did when it was still alive. Like any other animal (or even person) she might have complained about the dog at one point, but that doesn't mean she didn't love the dog.

4. "Get Over It. It Was Just a Dog"

   This is undoubtedly the most offensive thing anyone can ever say (though if she's someone you like and you're trying to get closer to then obviously you'll know better than to say something like this. Here's some things you can say to your girl crush and the fastest ways to make a girl have a crush on you.)A dog is still a living breathing thing with emotions, something she might have had a close emotional connection to. Though grieving over the loss of a dog can be a hard thing to grasp, it's hardly any different from losing a person.

5. "It Was Old/Sick, It Was Probably For the Best Anyway"

   If you don't have anything nice to say, then it's better that you don't say anything. This is similar to the first point, because even if you think it's true, you might not understand the connection she shared with the dog.

Everyone deals with loss in different ways, but generally everyone is open for support and a shoulder to lean on when in grief. Remember that someone can be just as close to a pet as they are to a person, so be more understanding when comforting them.

Also, if you plan on getting closer to the girl, make sure that you say all the right things so that when the time comes that you want to tell her you want to be more than friends, she won't turn you down.