I keep hearing their sounds around the house. Is that normal?
Yes, this is common. Many grieving people think they hear or see the one they lost, or feel they are still near. Research finds this is usually comforting, not a sign of illness.
A real example
Professor Jen Golbeck at the University of Maryland collected stories from 544 dog owners. About half described things like hearing nails clicking across the floor. She said these were almost always comforting.
Research, Maryland Today (University of Maryland), 12 Apr 2024Read the original
What others said
「Since my dog was put to sleep, I seem to hear their sounds, and it hurts.」
Shared online (reworded) Reddit, English-speaking, Oct 2026「I walked home on the path I used to walk only with my dog, felt them there, and that feeling is happiness.」
Shared online (reworded) Europe, Oct 2026What people do in different places
Stay connected through rituals, memorials and memoriesResearch review: owner studies found these helped ease grief
Talk with a veterinary social worker or counsellorCanada: Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatchewan
Sources
2 posts from owners online: reworded and anonymised, showing only the platform, region and month. We keep the original links privately.
Updated 25 Oct 2026. This page updates daily from owners’ posts.