It isn't really relevant because I do believe that coping with loss is individual, but in case it helps:
I usually have multiple dogs. I try for 2 but mostly dogs in need find me, and sometimes I have 3, which i feel is excessive (not so long ago I had 3 dogs, 3 rescue cats and 2 rescue rabbits. I felt like a hoarder.) Over time the dogs got old and died one by one. When the last one died, a year and a half ago, I wasn't planning to replace her. I live in the Netherlands now, I am getting older, I want to travel, and no dogs have arrived on my doorstep in need. I put away all my dog equipment and tried to cope but I was just lost. I've never gotten a purebred dog from a breeder but that was looking like my only option so I started doing research. I always wanted a labrador so I joined the labrador society, researched genetic testing, and found a breeder. I also looked at training videos online ( it was 10 years since my last puppy). That's a long explanation to say it helped, and I did get a puppy 2 months after my last pup died.
I'm sorry your grandson is devastated. Many dog owners completely understand. Some decide they never want to experience that grief again and some of us decide we can't cope without a dog. I know you'll be there for your family. ❤️🩹
= new reply since forum marked as read