Death

What Size Urn Do I Need For My Dog ?

“Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love. They depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands our hearts”

Nothing can ever replace a dog who’s dear to us. A dog with whom we have formed a special bond. A dog who we’ve considered as our own child. And the most difficult thing about owning a dog is having to say goodbye. The sorrow and the pain are unbearable. But as loving fur parents, we want to remember our fur babies just the way they are. We want to honor them with a proper farewell so we can be reminded of all the joy they’ve brought into our lives. For some of us fur parents, this means choosing cremation for our fur babies. Cremation is a practical way of memorializing our beloved dogs especially when we want them to be with us wherever we go. What better way to place their precious ashes than in a pet urn. In this post, we will guide you on how to figure out the correct size urn for your fur babies.

1. Importance of Choosing The Correct Size Urn For Your Dogs

It’s understandable to feel confused about which size urn to choose, especially when we are in the process of grieving. But it’s important to know the correct size urn for our dogs so we can avoid the hassle of having to purchase all over again. Moreover, it is imperative to ask urn sellers for their return policy since most states prohibit the return of used urns. This is especially true if you’ve already placed your dog’s ashes and discovered that it was too small. The last thing we want is to argue with anyone while mourning the loss of our beloved dog.

2. First Things First

Before figuring out the correct size urn for your dog, there are questions that you need to answer.
  • Will the urn contain all the ashes of your dog?
  • Do you plan to display your dog’s urn at home?
  • Do you plan to share the ashes with your family members and put some in a keepsake urn?
  • Would you like to put some of your dog’s ashes in cremation jewelry?
  • Will the urn be placed in a niche?
  • If there is more than one dog to be cremated, will they be placed in the same urn?

3. Understanding Pet Cremation Urn Sizes

After considering where you want to place your dog’s ashes, let’s talk about the different pet cremations sizes.
Pet cremation urns come in different types and sizes. It’s very important to note that urns are measure in cubic inches which is according to their capacity and not their length, nor width nor height.
Here are some of the popular varieties:
  • Individual Pet Cremation Urns - These urns are intended to hold all the cremated remains of a pet. They come in different sizes as well ranging from less than 25 cubic inches up to as large as 250 cubic inches
  • Keepsake Urns - They are also known as mini urns which are intended to hold only a portion of the ashes to help preserve memories minus the bulkiness of the urn itself
  • Cremation Jewelry - If you are planning to keep a small portion of your dog’s ashes after scattering or burying the rest, then these cremation jewelry are for you. It will allow you to carry your beloved dog with you always in the form of necklaces, rings, etc. Most cremation jewelry will hold half pinch to a pinch of ashes.

4. Figuring Out The Correct Size Urn For Your Dog

Now that you already have an idea of some of the different types of pet cremation urns, let’s dive into the most important matter, knowing the correct size urn for your dog. So here’s a step by step guide for you.
  • Your dog’s weight when he/she was still alive matters a lot in getting the correct size urn. If your dog passed on while in the care of a vet, then it’s highly likely that your vet has a record of your dog’s weight at death. If your dog died in your home, then check how much your dog weighed on its last visit with a vet.
  • After checking your dog’s last known weight, it’s time to do the math. There is much complex computation for knowing the correct size urn for your dog. But the general equation is “a pound of your dog’s total weight before death is equal to one cubic inch of space.” Whatever the total is, you need to add 10 cubic inches just to be on the safe side.
For example:
If your dog weighed 20 lbs., then the correct size urn for your dog is 30 cubic inches.
If your dog weighed 50 lbs, then choose a pet cremation urn with a size of 60 cubic inches.
If your dog weighed 150 lbs, then get a 160 cubic inch pet cremation urn.
You have to keep in mind that it is better to have few extra spaces in your dog’s urn, especially if you plan to place a small keepsake in it.
If you are not sure how much your dog weighed, then here is a guide on popular dog breeds and their average weight.

Dog Breed

Average Weight

Yorkshire Terrier

less than 7 lbs

Dachshund

8 - 10 lbs

Shih Tzu

8 - 16 lbs

Poodle

11 - 17 lbs

Beagle

18 - 30 lbs

Bulldog

40 - 50 lbs

Chow Chow

45 - 70 lbs

Boxer

50 - 75 lbs

Golden Retriever

65 - 75 lbs

Labrador Retriever

65 - 80 lbs

German Shepherd

75 - 95 lbs

5. Final Thoughts

Traditional pet cremation urns come in different designs, materials, and sizes. It’s easy for loving dog owners to feel overwhelmed with the choices but you don’t have to feel confused. Just remember to first determine the correct size urn that your beloved dog needs and then choose the design that best represents your dog’s personality and spirit.

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