Family dog is dying - What to tell a 2 year old?

[JoeM]

I feel for you as my own dog, Amber is 13 and our story is very similar to yours. She is having her share of problems and I'm doing everything I can to keep her with me and as well as possible but I know what is ahead for me and her.

That being said I'll offer my own take on how I'd try to handle your situation. I feel like davester in that I believe in teaching kids sooner rather than later about life and death. I would keep it very simple and explain it as a natural progression in all living things. You don't have to focus on the negative aspects of death. You can focus on the beauty of life and how it doesn't stay the same or last forever. Like mattkime said, you can add your own beliefs.

I'd keep the grief you are going to feel for your own private time and buck up in front of your son. He won't be able to get a grip on your expressions of grief but I think he will except a reverant and matter of fact simple explaination of life and passing on in the way young ones accept things from their parents.

You will tear yourself up if you let yourself dwell on thoughts you create in your own mind like you mentioned above about your son processing the info. I would advise you to force yourself to not go there in front of him. I know some of us need to do that when we grieve (I have already done it myself and I'm sure I will be a mess when I have to really deal with it)

Kids are great when you include them in a process. Maybe you can find a way to gently let your son know how you are caring for your dog as her time draws near. If you keep kindness and love showing through it all I think it will be OK.

Best of luck to you, your dog and your family.