Modern Dilemmas: No-one understands the pain of losing a loved pet

Dear Alex, I've just lost my best friend after 15 years of being inseparable. I was with him right to the end but I cannot seem to stop crying and thinking about him. My family sympathise but don't understand why I haven't got over it yet. After all, he was only a dog, but to me he was so much more.

The unconditional love that a dog can bring to our lives is hard to forget. They are such loyal creatures and great companions. As a big dog lover myself, who can empathise with how you feel from personal experience, my advice comes truly from my heart.

The first thing to do is to know that the hurt won't last forever. What you are experiencing is the same grief you would feel if you had lost a two-legged family member or dear friend. It's intense and sometimes overwhelming, but, as they say, this too shall pass.

With that in mind, feeling grateful for having had such a wonderful relationship, instead of focusing on the loss, will help to lift your spirits eventually. Every day think of a memory of him that makes you laugh, allowing yourself to enjoy the moment fully, and soon you will find you start to do this automatically while the feelings of sadness subside.

To fill the gap that he has left in your life, you have many choices. You can, of course, get another dog straight away. This works well for some people, so think about it and perhaps even visit a dog's home or your local rescue centre just to have a look. If you can't quite face that yet, then you need to take a completely different direction and put your energy into a new hobby or perhaps do some volunteer work. Helping others, whether four-legged or two, gives you an emotional boost.

Whatever you decide, know that you gave a little hound a great home, you made him as happy as he made you and that is a love to remember and cherish. Give yourself the time you need to recover. Don't let anyone make you feel silly. One day you'll wake up and not feel

the way you do now, and when you do know that you've come out the other end stronger and more loving .

Alexandra Watson is a Happiness Expert and best-selling author. Visit www.Time2 Shine.com