Losing a beloved pet is one of the most painful experiences any dog owner can face. Carrying on without your best pal can feel impossible, and it’s important to give yourself the time and patience you need to grieve this loss. But when you’re ready, honoring your pet’s life and the adventures you had together with a memorial tribute can be a valuable and healing process.
You know your dog better than anyone. You’re the perfect person to honor their life and memory. We’re offering 10 dog memorial ideas so you can choose the tribute that feels right for you, your family, and your old pal.
1. Buy or Make a Gravestone
Whether you plan to bury your beloved friend or simply want to have a space in the garden to honor them, a gravestone is a great way to ensure your pup always has a place in your home.
There are independent merchants on sites like Etsy or eBay that create custom gravestones for pets. You can also opt to DIY your own gravestone or marker using concrete or wood (keep in mind that wooden markers won't last as long).
2. Commision a Professional Pet Portrait
One great way to keep your pup’s memory alive is to commission a portrait from a talented artist. In most cases, all the artist needs is a reference photo of your dog and any additional elements you’d like.
Pet portraits can be created using any art style, from realistic pencil drawings, to traditional oil paintings, to cartoon depictions. Commissioning a pet portrait and hanging it in your home is a wonderful way to make sure your pup is always present in your daily life.
3. Get a Memorial Tattoo
Dogs truly have a place in your soul, even after they’ve passed on. Some owners choose to honor their dog by etching them onto their skin as well. Tattoos are a big commitment, but if you’re open to the idea, there are many touching ways to honor your furry friend.
Memorial tattoos can be big or small and extravagant or simple. What matters is that your tattoo represents the love you shared.
Here are a few popular pet memorial tattoo ideas:
- Their name or nickname
- A realistic portrait
- An artistic silhouette
- A paw print
- Their favorite toy
4. Create Customized Jewelry
If you’re not interested in a tattoo but would still like to carry your dog with you, then custom jewelry is a fantastic choice. A simple engraved pet locket with their photo inside is elegant and can be added to a bracelet or necklace.
There are also merchants who can take some of your dog’s ashes or a lock of their hair and incorporate it into a necklace, bracelet, ring, or earrings. Pet cremation jewelry offers a bit more subtlety and can help you feel even closer to your beloved pup.
5. Make an Urn at a Pottery Studio
If you choose to have your dog cremated, then creating your own urn is a great way to add a personal touch to their resting place. Many pottery places can help you craft your own urn on a pottery wheel. In some cases, you may also have the option to commission an urn from a professional artisan.
6. Name a Star After Your Pup
There are many services that allow you to name a star in honor of someone you love, such as Star Registration or Sparkling Star Register. Naming a star after your four-legged friend after they’ve passed is a beautiful way to remember them. Every time you look up at the night sky, you’ll think of the adventures you shared with them under that same star.
7. Put a Memory Box Together
Most dogs gather quite a few belongings throughout their lifetimes. While gravestones and commissioned artwork are beautiful and touching pet memorial ideas, sometimes it's your dog’s old food bowl or favorite well-used toy that reminds you of them most fondly.
Putting a memory box together that contains your dog’s favorite belongings and your favorite photos from their life is an especially personal and sentimental way to remember your dog. You can even have family members and friends write down their most cherished memories spent with your pup so you can take them out and read them over the years.
8. Display Your Dog’s Collar
Displaying your dog’s collar and their personalized ID tags is a wonderful way to memorialize them and keep them in your heart long after they’ve passed. You can frame them, or hang them on a personalized plaque that features their name. This idea also allows you to remember that distinctive jingle their collar made when they used to trot through the house or yard.
9. Make a Paw Print Mold
A simple and sentimental way to honor your dog’s memory is to make a paw print mold, which you can hang on your wall or keep next to their ashes or grave. In order to get a paw print mold, you’ll either need to call your veterinarian’s office and ask if they have one on file or try making one at home.
If you choose to go the DIY route, you can use a store-bought kit or make your own mold by gently pressing your dog’s paw into a mixture of salt and flour or a material like dental alginate. Make sure you handle your deceased pet with care and follow any advice given by your vet.
10. Plant a Tree or Garden Using Your Dog’s Ashes
If you plan to stay in your current home long-term, one of the most beautiful ways to honor your pet is to plant a memorial garden or a tree in your backyard. You can even use your pet’s ashes to plant flowers or a tree, and add a memorial bench, stone, or plaque with your pet’s name engraved.
If there are specific smells or plants that your pup especially enjoyed, consider centering your memorial garden around them. As the garden grows and matures, you can take comfort in the fact that you’re still caring for your dog by watering and tending to the plants.
Final Thoughts
Losing your best friend is never easy. Dogs have such a special bond with their owners, and though they may have passed on, this bond will never go away. The grieving process is difficult and unique to every family.
A personalized memorial for your dog can help you say goodbye in a way that truly honors them now and forever.