14 year old dog died, 2 year old dog grieving...advice

[lilmissame]

3 days ago my bf's 14 year old husky cross died suddenly of pneumonia. It was fairly quick from the time she started choking til the time she died was 3 hrs. We took her to the vet but all they could do was try to give her antibiotics and relax her.

My 2 year old heeler cross has been around her since we got him at 12 weeks old. She's the only companion he's ever had and he was in the car with us when we went to the vet. I held the husky in the backseat and he kept trying to sniff and lick her. I think he is mad at us now because we didn't bring his friend home.

I know he is grieving and is very sad. I'm not entirely sure how to help him. We switched out food bowls and put his food in a spot he likes to eat instead of the huskeys usual spot.We have been giving him more attention and petting him more. We've been taking him for walks and even bought him some new toys. He hasn't been eating very much or really wanting to play during the days. He usually cuddles and sits with me and he doesn't do that. He just sits in a window seal and stares outside. Everytime we call his name he runs to the window. He looks for her outside a lot in her usual hiding spots. I was wondering if there was more we could do for him to help him through this hard time.

We both work full time, I'm off work right now for summer (school teacher-aide) and I go back sept 4th. We hate leaving him home alone for so long, he's never been alone that long before hes always had her. We have decided that when we are both ready and when he is ready we will get another dog for him, he is young and isn't around a whole lot of dogs and he needs a friend to play with.

[lilmissame]

I thought maybe being around my mom's dog whom he plays with often would help distract him but it did just the opposite. He was scared and and very stressed. I left to talk on the phone away from my family and  the entire time he was looking for me

[Irene5353]

my service dog was only 7 years old.  We had been together 3 days shy of 5 years.

[Irene5353]

Like with humans it takes time.  I lost my Golden R. Service Dog in July.  My 17 y.o. cat yowled for days and occasionally still does... I placed some of the toys with my Golden's scent around her and gave her a lot of attention and told her what was happening.  I still have not had the heart to put away many of his toys, etc.  even the food bowl with the kibble he did not eat is still present - it is a little over a month - time will help and I will discard the kibble when I fully realize that he is really not coming back ever.  Service dogs occupy a special place for everyone - not just their owners.  

I hope the heeler does better with each day passed.