You're not nuts. Some animals never seem to notice that another is gone but others do and go thru a grieving period. When my Doberman died the Chow very much missed her and started doing things that she had never done before, but it was stuff the Dobe had done.

Lisa

I don't know of any way to help a dog through their grief, except to keep any routines that you have and maybe spend some extra cuddle time with Sawyer. I'm very sorry for the loss of Beauty.

Nope, you're not nuts. Dogs are very pack oriented, especially dogs like collies.

I lost my collie Ruger in late January, and it was pretty evident that my chow-beagle-shepherd mix Nikky was missing her.

Nikky was always more independent, but it was tough for her. Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend a lot of time with her because my Father died two weeks later, and that occupied me for qhite awhile.

The best thing you can do is just spend time with him. Play with him to his abilities, and let him know that he's still your special buddy.

Belatedly I've been doing that as much as I can with Nikky.

No you are not nuts. The advice everyone is giving is wonderful. I sit with my animal and explain what happened. We have explaninations we use in our culture, I had to tell my parent's dogs that my father had died and wasn't comming home. They waited on the driveway for him to come home every day. I told them he went where they were before they came to earth, and they would see him again when it was their turn to leave. I told them they had my mother to love and take care of. You could tell them about the rainbow bridge. I know animals don't understand words but that is how we communicate and in using the words we project our thoughts and intentions in a manner they understand. (((Sawyer))) (((sheltiemom)))

You need to get a copy of Patricia McConnell's latest book. The entire book offers terrific insight into dog behavior (she's an ethologist and behaviorist), but the last few chapters are about the loss of her Sheltie Luke, and her Sheltie Lassie's reaction to the loss. 'For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend.'

You are definitely NOT nuts. We had two Siamese, an uncle and his nephew, from the same breeder. The uncle was a dog-like cat as Siamese are touted to be--he loved people, not shy at all, played with our children, was a gentleman all around. The nephew really bonded with him and, unfortunately, never with us and once we had children, the nephew clearly only tolerated us to change the litter and feed him. The uncle died at 16 years, renal failure and a stroke--heartbreaking. The nephew went into deep mourning. He stayed in the unfinished side of our basement, coming out only to eat. He would hide when he heard us coming, gained weight and went blind (no kidding.) Vet could find nothing wrong with him, and we really figured this cat was going to die from a broken heart. He was 15. After several months, we brought home a kitten. Alexander dragged his bulk over to investigate and after a few hisses... a miracle! No, he didn't regain his sight, but did lose weight and had another relatively active and happy (for him) two years with his new companion Tigger. T'was truly amazing.

My beloved Brie never recovered from the death of her brother, Danny. I feel she died a broken spirit. Most people find it hard to believe, but I lived with it and we all witnessed it. They were litter-mates and adored each other. One couldn't be without the other. One time, Danny got out of our yard and we only noticed it because he would run back and forth along the fence wanting Brie to come with him. She couldn't figure out how he got out,so he came back in the yard. Getting lose was no fun without his partner.
He died suddenly of cancer at age 9. Took us all by surprise and we were all stunned. Brie spent the next year a very depressed dog, showing no interest in anything. Couldn't get her to play, or do the things she loved to do before. In hind-site, I wish I had gotten another dog, with the hope it would have moved her out of her sadness.
She died last June of bone cancer. I know she's with her Danny.

I went through this last year when I lost my old girl.

The dog that was closest to her looked for her constantly. This only added to the misery. I did have another dog, but they have never been very close.

Things got really bad after one month. Everyone was depressed, old girl's friend looking for her tore me to pieces. The decision was made to get another dog, a pup. The perfect diversion for for all, in an incredibly difficult situation.

Good luck!

SG

Thanks for all the advice. We left Beauty's bed out, but have been slowly picking up her "things" a few at a time; saving the bed for last. Sawyer stops to sniff her bed once in a while, but otherwise ignores it. The worst time for him seems to be the mornings, when they would complete for our attention and time the most. He steps back when it would have been Beauty's turn. He also sleeps on the spot where she last was in the house.

We've decided to start the search for another rescued sheltie, with the thought that we don't want to wait too long and that finding the "right" fit may take awhile. We will never find a replacement for Beauty, but we have love to give and need to find another little someone to give it to.