When I lost my own heart dog, a woman who ran a large and successful dog-sitting service in Dallas sent me a children’s book titled Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant.
At that point in my life, I found it extremely comforting. Since then, I’ve sent this book to many people who have lost their dogs. And almost every time, they tell me the same thing: “It helped more than I expected.” Sometimes healing comes from simple stories, even childlike stories, not explanations.
Why We Revert to Childlike Grief
When a dog dies, we don’t just lose an animal. We lose:
That’s why grief can feel overwhelming and strangely innocent at the same time. We want reassurance in the same ways children do. We want to know that our deceased dog:
-
is not gone, but in a different place.
-
is safe in their new home.
-
is happy.
-
will be reunited with us.
This isn’t weakness. It’s attachment.
So… Do Dogs Go to Heaven?
Here are the most honest answers I can give you. No major religion definitively says no. Many suggest yes, directly or indirectly. All agree that animals matter deeply to God or to the universe’s moral order. And every grieving dog owner already knows these undeniable truths:
Love is not temporary.
Love is not disposable.
Love does not vanish.
Whether heaven is spiritual, symbolic, or mysterious, the belief that our dogs are at peace and waiting for us brings comfort, and sometimes that is exactly what the human heart needs.
Final Thought
If there is a heaven that reflects mercy, joy, and reunion, it is hard to imagine it without the beings who taught us about loyalty, presence, and unconditional love.
And if our dogs are not there yet, then heaven will have to wait until they are.
Prefer listening? This blog post is also available as a podcast episode on the USA Dog Behavior Podcast.
© 2026 Scott Sheaffer. All rights reserved. Original content. Reproduction prohibited.