Dog Memorial
Dog Memorial Portrait Guide
Sep
Short answer
If you’re asking “my dog passed away what do I do” right now: losing a dog is genuinely hard, and there’s no single right way to handle it. In the days right after, most people focus on a few practical things — deciding on aftercare for your dog’s remains and giving yourself space to grieve — before thinking about anything like a keepsake, which is something you can always come back to whenever you’re ready, if at all.
In the first few days
If your dog passed away at a vet’s office, they can usually walk you through the immediate options for aftercare, including cremation or burial, and any paperwork involved. If your dog passed away at home, a veterinarian’s office or an emergency vet can generally still help with next steps, even if your dog wasn’t currently a patient there. There’s no need to figure everything out immediately — these decisions can typically wait a day or so if you need that time.
Grief after losing a dog is real grief, and it’s common to feel it intensely even if people around you don’t fully understand why. Give yourself permission to feel it without rushing to “move on” on any particular timeline. Some people find it helps to talk to others who’ve been through pet loss specifically; pet loss support groups and hotlines exist for exactly this reason, run by veterinary schools and animal welfare organizations.
When you’re ready to think about a keepsake
There’s no timeline for this, and no obligation to do it at all. Some people find comfort, whenever they’re ready, in having something physical made from a photo of their dog — a memorial keepsake like a blanket, pillow, ornament or portrait. If and when that feels right, the same general process applies as any photo product: you upload a photo, we check it and prepare the artwork, and then it’s printed. See How It Works for the full process, and our photo guide for what makes a photo work well, since often the photo you have of your dog is one you already treasure and simply want preserved well.
There’s no urgency to any of this. Whether that’s next week or next year, the option is there whenever you want it, not on any deadline.
A few practical notes
- If you’re choosing a photo for a keepsake, any clear, well-lit photo you already have works — it doesn’t need to be a new or specially taken photo.
- If you’re ordering on behalf of a grieving friend or family member as a gift, consider checking with them first, since not everyone is ready for a keepsake gift at the same time.
- There is no proof to approve, so take your time choosing the photo — and if the one you have will not print well, we email you before anything is made rather than printing it anyway.
FAQ
My dog passed away what do I do?
Most people start with deciding on aftercare (cremation or burial, often arranged through a vet), and giving themselves time to grieve. There’s no need to decide everything at once.
Is it normal to grieve this much over a dog?
Yes — grief after losing a pet is real and valid, and it’s common for it to feel as significant as any other loss.
Is there support specifically for pet loss?
Yes, pet loss support groups and hotlines exist specifically for this, often run by veterinary schools and animal welfare organizations.
When is the “right” time to order a memorial keepsake?
Whenever feels right to you, if at all — there’s no timeline, and no obligation.
What photo should I use for a memorial keepsake?
Any clear, well-lit photo you already have and treasure — see the photo guide for what tends to work best.
Related guides: Dog Portraits From Photos: How It Works
Last reviewed: September 12, 2026
