Can anyone help me in explaining to my 3yr old son why his dog isn't comming back home from the doctors? She got very sick so we took her to the vet and they ran tests. The tests found that she had a blood disease that was shutting down her liver. So we had to put her to sleep and now he keeps asking where she is. It was hard on the whole family, but she was his buddy they have grown up together. I was pregnant with him when we got her. She was the sweetest dog ever!!!!
First of all I would like to thank everyone for your great advice. It was such an enormous help. We sat him down and explained to him what happened and that she is in heaven now and is watching over him still. Hegets a little sad every now and then when he can't pet her or give her treats, but it is a lot better now. His grandma also just got a new puppy so he's busy playing with it too. Thank you again for all of your wonderful advice!!!!!!!
I haven't had this happen to me yet, but my advice is to be as honest as possible. Tell him his doggie went to heaven and he won't be coming home. My sister passes away before my son was born but I tell him about her and that she is in heaven and we will see her there eventually. He's three too.
I believe children at that age can understand more than we think. I would recommend telling your son that your dog wsa very sick and the doctor sent him to a better place. If you have a picture of your dog you may even want to frame it and keep it in view so he never forgots his doggy. I hope that he understands whatever you tell him and that he will be happy his doggy isn't sick anymore. Good luck with however you choose to tell him.
I have personally found that in a situation like this, it's best to just tell him the truth. Something like the dog was really sick and died, he's not going to be with us anymore, but he lives in our hearts and memories.
It may be hard on him at first, but it will be better in the long run.
I unfortunatly have had to explain death to my children several times. Our dog had to be put down when the kids were ages 2 and 3, and then a few months later my FIL (whom lived with us and we cared for) passed, 4 months after that my husband, my kids father, was killed in a car accident.
Just be honest with him, if he finds out the truth from someone else, it will be much harder on him.
Hope I could be of some help.
Maybe you could go to the library and find a children's book on death. I wish I could remember the title of the books that help explain a variety of different topics to children.
First of all I would try to not associate the death of his dog with the Dr's. You should be honest, but not go into too much depth. Tell him she was very sick and had to go to heaven. Someday when he goes to Heaven she will be there waiting for him. Don't use "put to sleep" either or else he could become scared to go to sleep (or the Dr's). Let him have a small funeral and plant something to remember her by. be sure to hear him out if he is concerned about it and wants to talk about it.
Good luck,
C.
YOU SHOULD EXPLAIN TO YOUR CHILDREN DEATH. LET HER KNOW THAT THE DOGGY WAS VERY SICK AND HURTING ALOT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE AND DOGGY IS UP IN DOGGY HEAVEN HAVING FUN OUT OF PAIN RUNNING AROUND WITH OTHER DOGGIES. SHE IS NOT TO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU GIVE IT TO HER IN HER UNDERSTANDING OF THINGS. CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN SUDDENLY AND THAT LIVING THINGS DO DIE. BE BRAVE MOMMY AND HAVE THAT TALK AND HAVE IT LATER ON AND LATER ON THEY WILL UNDERSTAND IT IN THERE OWN WAY AND EXCEPT IT BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE ARE MADE IT IS NATURAL THING WE WERE BORN TO DIE. GOOD LUCK TELL YOUR CHILDREN THE TRUTH SO THEY CAN SORT THINGS OUT INSIDE OF THEMSELFS. GREEF WILL SET HER AND YOUR FAMILY FREE TALKING ABOUT IT. DONT LET HER HOLD SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF HER HEAD IN THE DARK TO FEAR LATER ON IN LIFE OVER. HOPE YOU AND YOURS ARE HEALING AND GET A NEW PET FOR HER TO LOVE.
I am sorry about your loss. We had our family dog put to sleep due to illness also. I told my son that Hershey was in heaven with God, and Great Grandma, and Great Grandpa. This made him feel a little better knowing that there was someone to still take care of the dog in heaven. Or explain that he was sick and died. But now he will not have anymore owies, and can run and play in heaven.
My son was three when we put our dog down. Unfortunately, he had to come to the vet's office with us, when we had it done. On the way to the office we explained that the dog was very sick, and he had to see the vet.
He, of course, waited in the waiting room. He asked where the dog was, and we simply told him that the dog was so sick that he died. We told him that we would all miss White Fang(our dog), but he was never going to be sick or hurt again, but be able to rest.
Most three-year-olds can understand death, on some level. They've seen roadkilled squirrels, dead bugs, etc. So, it's not a completely new concept. Chances are, your child will take it better than most of the other family members. He will probably say that he misses the dog from time to time. Just remind him that you miss the dog too. It will pass, probably faster than you think.
We told our 3 year old that our dog was very sick and that she was now better off. We kept a picture of her around and let him know that we all miss her very much. Just stressed that she no longer has to be in pain.......because she was not happy the way she was anymore
