Dogs have been humans’ loyal and faithful friends for years. They make great companions and over time, they become such an important part of our families that sometimes it can be difficult to do without them. Keeping that in mind, it is not uncommon for them to visit us in our dreams when they die.
So, what does it mean to dream of your deceased dog? Is it something you should worry about? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
General Interpretation of the Dream
Dreaming about your deceased dog could have either an emotional or symbolic meaning. Most of the time, dreams like this are linked to the emotional side and could simply mean that you miss your dog.
If they just died, it could be that you are having trouble accepting they are dead and can’t stop thinking about them. Your subconscious mind still fantasizes about the good memories you two had when they were alive.
These dreams can keep coming back especially if you didn’t have a chance to say all the things you wanted to say to your four-legged friend before they died. It’s best to let go of these thoughts and try to do things that will help you move on, as that’s the only way to stop having the dreams.
Dreaming about your dead dog could also indicate happiness or positive change. It could be a sign that your dog is finally in a better place and their afterlife is a happy, blissful journey.
But seeing your dead dog in a dream could also be a symbol of losses. It could be a monetary loss or the loss of a loved one. It is important that you think about all the aspects of your life so you can better understand which interpretation best explains your situation.
Other Meanings of the Dream
1. Emptiness
If you dream about your dead dog quite often, it could be a representation of emptiness in your life. Maybe you are not completely satisfied in your job or in your personal relationships or maybe the goals you have set seem unachievable.
A dream like this could be a sign that you need to be in more control of your life. You need to make drastic changes that will make your life complete. Spend more time with the people you cherish, go out and make new friends, or even change your career if you wish. If it makes you feel better, it makes you happier, and that’s the first step to getting rid of emptiness in your life.
2. Negativity
If you see your deceased dog in a dream and a part of you feels restless in the morning, it could be a sign that you have too much negative energy around you. The people or things you have in your life are channeling negative energy toward you or you are criticizing yourself too much about your actions.
Whichever the case, you must pull yourself out of any group of people or situations that bring the negative vibe. You may want to make changes in your life to avoid attracting a negative aura.
Doing yoga, meditation, or any other stress-relieving exercises could go a long way in kicking out negative energy and welcoming positive vibes.
3. Misunderstandings in Relationships
Dogs are usually a symbol of friendships and genuine relationships. Dreaming about your deceased dog could be a sign of a potential fight or disagreement in your relationships.
Maybe you are already in some quarrel with a loved one or you’re about to get into an argument with people that are close to you. Either way, you should be prepared both mentally and emotionally for what’s to come.
However, don’t allow yourself to have an emotional burnout. Start by finding out the things that may be causing or are about to cause a disagreement and try to find a solution. Also, think about what the other person will react to the solution, as it could make things even worse. In other words, carefully go for a solution that works both for you and the other person.
4. Loss of a Valued Possession
Having a dream about your dead dog could also represent the loss of someone or something you hold dear. It could be that you are currently dealing with a loss of a valued possession or very soon you will be experiencing one.
The personal loss could be a broken relationship, the death of someone you love, or theft of something you hold dear. If you experienced that loss just recently, the dream could be a sign that you are having trouble getting over the situation.
Be mentally prepared for upcoming losses and if they have already happened, try to move on to other better things. If the dream keeps coming back, consider seeking counseling and therapy so you can figure out the root cause.
5. Neglected Talent
If you have been undermining some of your talents and giving more priority to other areas of your life, the dream could be a sign that you should revisit these talents. Take some time off of your busy schedule to relax and reconnect with the neglected parts of yourself.
The dream could also symbolize a drift in your relationships. Try to reconnect with the people who add meaning to your life. Call them up or schedule a meeting so you can rekindle those fun moments you shared and possibly restore any lost spark of friendships.
6. Your Life Desires
When you were little, you probably dreamed about working in a certain profession, owning an expensive car, or visiting a specific place, but these desires got further from becoming true as you grew older.
Dogs and pets represent good things in life. If you are seeing your dead fur friend in a dream, it is an indication that you are drifting even further away from your ambitions.
Take it as a sign that you should reconsider your dreams. Take a break from work and visit that place you have always wanted if you can afford it. The more you wait, the more difficult it may become to achieve your dreams.
Interpretation of Different Scenarios
To better understand the meaning of your dream, it is also important that you pay attention to what you or your dog was doing in the dream. Here are some common scenarios that may determine the meaning of seeing your deceased dog in a dream.
7. Your Dog is Dying
To see your dead dog taking its last breath in a dream indicates a huge loss. It could be either personal or professional, and such dreams usually imply that you are having a difficult time dealing with the loss.
The dream could also indicate that you are not trusting your instincts in various situations. In other words, you are not making clear judgments on things and this is causing significant losses in your life.
8. You Are Playing With Your Deceased Dog
A dream like this could be a sign that you are about to reconcile with an old friend and rekindle all those good moments you shared. You may meet someone you haven’t stayed in touch with for a long time.
However, be on the lookout for such dreams, as sometimes they could mean you’re still missing your dog, and if that’s the case, you may need to seek professional help so you can get over your loss quickly.
9. Your Deceased Dog Doesn’t Want to Stay Close to You
Some people have reported seeing their dead dog running away from them or just not wanting to come close to them in a dream.
Such dreams may indicate a conflict in your life such as financial problems, huge losses in business, or just personal struggles. Be careful while interacting with your coworkers, loved ones, customers, or business associates, as this is where your conflicts are likely stemming from.
10. You Are Trying to Bring Your Deceased Dog Back to Life
A dream where you’re desperately trying to bring your dead dog back to life implies that you will be required to offer some help to someone in need in the near future.
The person could be injured or just going through emotional pain and you will be there to help. It could also mean that you will protect them from going through a similar situation in the future.
If the dream shows you succeeding in reviving your dog, it is a sign that you will also succeed in helping the person who needs your assistance.
The Takeaway
For people with deceased pets, seeing these pets in a dream is nothing new. If your dog just died and you can’t stop seeing them in your dreams, it could be a sign that you miss them or it could indicate some of the experiences you are currently having in real life. Pay attention to what you are going through right now and if the dream keeps coming back, consider seeking therapy.
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I dreamed of my sweet, beautiful Pomeranian, Mischa.
She was scratching at the French doors.
The French doors are made of glass so I could see my girl clearly.
Mischa was outside and wanted to come in.
She was so happy and excited. Her eyes were big and bright and she wearing her gorgeous puppy smile and wagging her tail.
She just died on the first day of this last October, 2021.
I miss her so very much, she is my little fur baby.
I dreamt of my girl saphire she was 6 and half years old when she passed of cancer and heart disease 2 years in June tbh I have not got over her being gone pain hurts more than first day but last night in my dream I brought her back to life but she didn’t come back as herself she was an aggressive dog so scary which is quiet the opposite of her when she was here my uncle who passed through suicide 8 years ago was also there and he was saying Where’s Laura it’s her birthday even though I could see him he could not see me these two were a great loss I never dream of them sorry to ye all going through pain of loss too x
My boxer shepherd was 12 when we had to put him down due brain problems. He was our third kid and loved beyond belief. I saw him in my dream like he was real and young again. Bright, happy and he let me know it’s all good. I woke up with peace.
I dream of my baby happy and playful and when she was sick she didn’t eat for a long time and in the dream she is eating I hope she is telling me she is happy
My dog ginger had to be put down 2 years ago I was really sad but I wasn’t dreaming about it but since two weeks ago I’ve been having a dream when I open my back door and she prances in all healthy and happy mind you she has cancer and had patches of fur missing and teeth missing because she was severely abused by her old owners and I turned to my mom and told her that she was back and then I turned back
To my dog and she was gone and my mom said no she’s not that would happen a lot that same dream every night until one night ago i did the same thing and when I turned to my mom and then told her and turned back she was still there and my mom said oh yeah and I was petting her and then I woke up.
I dreamed about my dog who died in 2017 just now in 2022 i dreamed him, my parents bought him in my dream i was petting him and giving him food and in the end i was confused why the dog is so big when my parents just brought him then i woke up, after minuets i remember my dream and i said to my mind oh my gosh i think my dream is my old doggo, i searched the meaning of this and i know the meaning now im crying i miss him so much he eat my food when i don’t like it (not the foods that are not good in dogs) and yeah thanks for this i wanna know why i have this dream….
I still dream about my dog who passed away in 2009. It is 2022 now. I moved out of my parents house because I couldn’t handle how strict they were and I left my dog with my parents. I was mad at them so I never once spoke to them or checked up on my dog the entire time. He passed away shortly after I moved out. (About 2-3 years later) As I was out running around being a young 18 year old girl. He passed away sometime and I never got to say good bye. I felt extreme guilt and pain for deserting him, and also leaving my parents the burden of caring for him. These last two years I started dreaming about him. I dream about him at least 3-4 times a month. In my dreams he is the age he was when I left home and I know, in my dreams, that he is about to die so I am “planning” to spend as much time with him. In my dreams I am trying to make up for lost time with him. It hurts so bad and I can not get over how I just ran away from home and never looked back once.
my king caviler rex died two days after charismas in 2021 when I sleep I see him and hear him barking and when I wake up I see him walking by my door and I wish I knew why I see him in my dreams and every where I go
My childhood pet dog died when I was 18, I’m now 47… I’ve never dreamt of my dog until now, as I opened a door, into a dark lit room, he was stood cowering in a corner shivering? He had done a poop on the floor… I was cleaning it up & finding him blankets to snuggle up in….
i dreamt of my pom that i had for 8 years, its the second time ive seen her in my dreams. the first time it was a split second of her smiling at me, she looked peaceful. this time it was her greeting me, her tail wagging, it was like her usual reaction when i would come home. i miss her a lot, her death was so unfair to me. we brought her to the vet after i noticed her eyes were swollen. the vet said everything seemed normal and she was just lethargic, they did a blood test and gave her so much meds, the bill was up to 700$. we went home and fed her the meds, because she was so weak, i had to hand feed her and give her water via a syringe. i wanted to bring her back to the vet that night, but they closed that my country didnt have 24 hour vets. that night, my mom had woken me up for cook supper for my brother. while i walked to the kitchen, i looked at her and she was looking at me, she smiled. i went to cook my brothers supper and after i wanted to give my dog some water before going to bed again. and while getting the stuff i needed, i held her and she didnt move. she just laid there, no response. i searched for a heartbeat but because my own heart was beating so fast, i didnt know if it was mine or hers. i checked her mouth for her tongue colour and her nose for any air, no air and purplish tongur. i sat there like an idiot, tapping her over and over again wishing for a response. i googled “dogs tongue purple” and it just said things i didnt want to see. after a few minutes i went to my mom and i didnt even know how to tell her i thought my dog was dead. i continued to tap her, even tried checking over and over but her body hardened. i knew it was over. my babys life was gone just like that and i didnt even know why. the hardest days were the first week, especially the first three days and then whenever i think of her, it goes to that night i found her. i dont know if i’ll ever recover from this, but im just glad that shes in a better place.
My old Boston terrier was scratching at the door to get in then he was in my bed trying to wake me up. I’ve been very depressed, not wanting to live any longer. I don’t know why he was trying to wake me up this morning. 🥲
All I keep dreaming is pain sadness I can’t find her or she’s bleeding out or he’s having seizures. I had two dogs I had since I was kid died between two months time span. My ex bf chocked my dog to death and he walks free and I had nightmares always or dreams where she’s alive and than in my dream I can have lucid dreams where I flip it nd go wait no they are dead. Help!
And the other one died having seizures all night from having diabetes he was a pom Mr. Panchito age 14 and Princess she was chocked to death and I had been drunk the whole time black out and he denied Everything claimed she ran super fast and had a heart attack or something. I haven’t gone to therapy and this happen in 2021!!!
That man doesn’t deserve to breathe if he choked an animal to death. I’m sorry that happened to you. That ma is trash and psychopathic . I hope you can find some peace
My dog died in June 2021. My parents bought her before I was born. When I was somewhere between 8 and 10 I started feeding her. She was my best friend and whenever my siblings were being mean I could always sit outside with her and cry. I wish I had played with her more and been around her more. Mostly I wish I had cut her fur and gave her a bath sooner. I came home from a trip with my friend one Saturday and she had sores and a big lump on her leg and maggots were pretty much eating her from the inside out. By that night she couldn’t walk. The next morning she was throwing up blood and couldn’t eat or drink anything. That afternoon we put her down. In February or March 2022 I had a dream she was happy and alive like she had been when I was little but really quickly she changed to how she looked before she died, really sick and in pain, and I watched her die again. I thought I had come to peace with her death but I still cry when I see people giving dogs baths and when I saw a video of maggots in one of my classes. What does it mean?
In my dream I awoke to find our miniature poodle haven eaten the entire body of our Maltese. There was no blood but only the head remained. He wanted to finish consuming the head, the nose of which had already been chewed off. The dream made me wake up and I had to go and check our Maltese to make sure it wasn’t true.
My pomeranian Lola died on March 31st 2022 suddenly when I was coming home from work in the morning. My boyfriend called me saying she was acting weird. And she had a seizure and passed. I couldn’t accept it because she was my baby. I rushed her to a 24 hr vet and when I took her out of the backseat into the office she was stiff as a board.. I still dream of her. One dream was her curled up on a pillow when I reached for her she disappeared like smoke. And today June 16 2022 I dreamed I was in my dining room just hanging out with my big dog who still alive and Lola comes prancing in. I bend to pick her up and snuggle her and I woke up.
my dog gonner was put down july 25th 2019. he was my best friend. it’s now july 6th 2022 and i still sleep with his ashes on my night stand right next to my bed. i can often hear him lay down against my door (like he used to when it would be closed), i can hear him walking across my room on my hardwood floor and get on my bed. he would always lay on my bed by my feet. my dog bentley can feel his presence and gets off my bed and lays at the foot of the bed on my floor when gonner visits. (so like every night) recently i was at my cabin which was the last place i saw him. i was sleeping in my bed and i had a dream he was there with me. running around in my back yard. i was the only one who could see him. my brother, cousin and grandma were all digging a hole to burry his ashes and when he came and just laid on my lap like he used to. i was sobbing just petting him and hugging him yelling him how much i missed him. i woke up that night and the dream just felt so real.
I dreamt of me and my family and in the dream, there was a war (but not with humans) and I had 2 beautiful dogs
I think one was a massive black german shepherd.. but the other was brown and slim but just as big
they loved me and I loved them (i don’t have dogs) we were in a battle and it was just me and my dogs who were fighting, the rest of my family was too scared. at the end of the fight, my dogs were dead. I was mad at everything and everyone.. mostly my family for not helping.
when I calmed down I noticed i castle-like building in the background and I took my dogs there. inside the building the was a hallway that seemed to never end, finely it dit, and open up to a beautiful garden. there was a stone table and I lade my dogs on it. at the beginning of the table, I stabbed my sword into it (like a cross on a grave) and I walked away. I heard someone call me, and when I came back my dogs were alive……..
I woke up crying and can’t stop. I don’t know these dogs why am I having an emotional reaction????
I have been dreaming of my dog that passed away 2 years ago and it’s him being lost I just don’t understand these dreams if anyone knows please explain cause it just breaks my heart over again when I wake up
I dreamt of my Dog Bruce, walking around the corner, clearly having un-dug himself from his grave and I told him to go. That the dead cannot come back. I was SO defensive.
I woke up crying because I was so cruel. Why did I send him away like that? I am not so heartless.
My dog Buddy i had to put him down Aug 23 2022 he was 14, yellow lab. in the dream I was at a friend‘s house and Buddy was laying on the floor with his head up looking at me and I was just padding him and telling him I was sorry and something at the same time was telling me that you know that’s really not him that you put him down. Then I looked over and my 2 yr old chocolate lab was also laying there with his head up and she looked all mangled and deteriorated so this part of the dream does worry me. But I felt as if it was Buddy was reaching out to me that he is OK because he did not look sad or happy it was just a stare. Love you Buddy!❤️❤️🌈
My German Shepherd, Tambor, passed away two weeks ago. He was only 12 years old when he passed away. He was my best friend since I was 7 years old, the dog that I grew up with. We would play soccer or basketball together and he would always want to play together. I recently dreamt of him and I cannot stop thinking about it. He was my best friend and forever will be.
it has almost been a year now sense my dear rex has passed. i miss him every day just thinking and talking about him makes me miss him. he lived a good life and i wish i was there for him in his last moments on earth. it makes me feel like i was not there to let him know that it was going to be ok or even say i love you to my dear rex. and everyday i wish i had said good bye to him he was my best friend, my brother, my napping buddy. i was in Spokane visiting my grand parents when he had died and to hear my best friend rex had died i didn’t know what to do with myself and i fell to a great down fall of depression i never left my room and i eventually stopped eating and lost a lot of weight and became unhealthy i never wanted to get out of bed i stopped being my old self. my family, my girlfriend and friends started to get worried for my health and took me to the doctors can i found out i was less then 100 pounds and i had to start going to a counselor and a therapist and through it all i am glad my dear rex is in a better place. and am glad to have met my dog rex.
WOW, I feel bad for all of you.😢❤️I just lost my Schnauzer after twelve years. He died two weeks ago. My mom passed away last year and now this year my little buddy died. I am 66 yrs old and have never lost a pet so this has hit me pretty bad. He fought all summer and always seemed to bounce back. But on October 9,2022 I just looked at his eyes and that did it. I said he is ready. I may not be but he is. It is sad for all of us pet owners but really sad for our little babies when they are sick so I made the right choice for him. Reading the poem Rainbow bridge will help us all so please look that up and read it. Bless you all 🐾🐾🐾🐾😢❤️
thank you for the poem recommendation
Hi,
I had a dream about my cat that I lost Sept. 20, 2022. It was a slow death for her. I couldn’t put her down when I saw signs of her getting a little worse, because I knew she would let me know when it was time and she did. The dream upset me, therefore I had to look up to what it meant or what she was trying to tell me. So here I am on this site and reading what Miller’s Guide had to say about dreams and your deceased pet.
Boy, Miller has a lot to say about what he thinks it all means. Every 10 reasons that he talks about has the words ” Maybe” or “Which ever” and “However you look at it” ect. I am sure there are more I could choose, but what I am trying to say is that Miller doesn’t know, just like we don’t know. “It could be this or that” to what your dream means. Only you can pin point what your dream means.
I am reading this and the more I read, the more confused I get and then I lose my train of thought about what I was looking up in the first place. If this makes you feel good or better, then Miller did his job. I did not receive anything off this guide but confusion, but I am happy I saw my pet one more time in my dream.
I had my first dream of my dog Paris on January 2, 2023. She passed away just little over a month ago on November 6, 2022. I was having a very emotional dream about all kinds of things going wrong and crying and at very end of dream I saw my paris in a room and I felt like we were both in danger, so I picked her up and turned a corner and started headed down the stairs. Looked back up and there was a vicious dog at top growling at us and Paris was attempting to leave my arms to go after dog and I held onto her as hard as I could and then work up finally. It was heartbreaking ❤️🩹. I wish I realized in my dream and had the dream longer so I could have been with her and told her how much I loved her. She was just like my child. Still cry every day over her and not sure when it will end .
I dreamed that I moved back into my old house and as I was looking at our old rooms, I found my precious boy, Zeke, on a bed. He saw me and started wagging his tail. I went up to him and started to pet him. I told him that he’s a good boy and that I love him.