How Long Does it Take to Cremate a Dog?

Losing a furry family member is never easy. When facing the heartbreaking task of saying goodbye, it’s natural to have questions and concerns. “How long does it take to cremate a dog?” is one such question many pet owners ask during this difficult time.

In this post, we’ll walk through the details and different aspects of the cremation process for dogs, offering clarity and comfort as you make this important decision for your cherished pet.

Understanding the Cremation Timings

When your beloved dog is brought to the crematorium, they are carefully tagged for identification, ensuring that you receive the correct ashes after the cremation.

The cremation process itself varies depending on the method you choose.

The specific duration of the cremation will vary depending on different factors. The most important ones are: 1) flame cremation vs. aquamation, 2) the size of your dog (especially in flame cremation) 3) the type of service you choose (individual, communal or partitioned), 4) additional services that you may choose.

Below, you will find the specific details on how those factors influence dog cremation timing.

Dog Cremation Methods Timeframes: Flame Cremation vs. Aquamation

One of the factors influencing the time it takes to cremate a dog is whether it is done by flame cremation or aquamation.

In traditional pet flame cremation, your dog is placed in a cremation chamber where high temperatures work to reduce their body to ashes. This process typically takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours, largely depending on the size of your dog.

On the other hand, if you opt for pet aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, the approach is different. This eco-friendlier method uses a combination of water and alkaline chemicals to gently break down the body.

Though more environmentally conscious, aquamation generally takes longer, often several hours up to a full day.

How Long Does Dog Flame Cremation Take

• Small Dog Breeds (like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Dachshunds): For smaller dog breeds, flame cremation typically takes around 30 to 45 minutes. Their smaller size means a quicker process.
• Medium Dog Breeds (like Beagles, Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels): Medium-sized dogs might take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
• Large and Giant Dog Breeds (like German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes): Larger dogs can take up to 2 hours to cremate due to their size.

How Long Does Dog Aquamation (Alkaline Hydrolysis) Take

• Aquamation generally takes longer – usually between 4 to 20 hours. This extended time is due to the gentle chemical process used, which breaks down the body using a solution of water and alkaline chemicals.
• A reason for the longer duration in aquamation is the gentle nature of the process. Unlike flame cremation, which uses intense heat, aquamation uses a combination of water flow, temperature, and alkalinity to accelerate the natural decomposition process. The process naturally takes more time.
• The size of the dog does play a role in aquamation, but the differences in time are less pronounced than in flame cremation.
• Another reason that it takes longer is that after aquamation the remains take longer to be ready to be returned to the pet owner. Since aquamation is a liquid process, the cremains need time to dry and become “ashes”.

When planning to cremate your dog, it’s helpful to have an idea of these timeframes. However, it’s also important to speak directly with your chosen crematorium. They can provide more precise information based on their specific practices and the size and breed of your dog.

Dog Cremation Services Timeframes: Individual, Communal, Partitioned

As we continue to explore the journey of saying goodbye to our canine companions, it’s important to understand how different types of cremation services can affect the timeframe.

Private Cremation

• In a private cremation, your dog is cremated alone, ensuring you receive only your pet’s ashes.
• This individualized service means you may have to wait for a scheduled time slot, but the actual cremation process is similar in duration to other methods.

Communal Cremation

• With communal cremation, several pets are cremated together, and ashes are not returned to the pet owners.
• This option might be scheduled more frequently at some crematoriums, which can mean a quicker process for your pet to be cremated. However, scheduling practices can vary widely.

Partitioned Cremation

• Partitioned cremation provides a separate area for each pet within a shared space, ensuring individual ashes can be returned.
• The timeframe for this service can depend on the availability of partitioned spaces in the crematorium and might have a wait similar to private cremation.

Additional Factors to Consider

• Crematorium Capacity and Schedule: The operational capacity and scheduling of the crematorium can significantly influence how quickly the cremation process begins.
• Handling and Paperwork: Time is also spent in the careful handling of your pet before and after the cremation, as well as completing necessary paperwork.

When choosing a cremation service, consider what is most important to you – whether it’s receiving your pet’s individual ashes, a faster process, or a more economical option.

Post-Cremation Process and Timelines

After the cremation of your dog, whether through flame cremation or aquamation, there are additional steps to prepare the ashes for return. This phase adds to the overall timeframe you can expect.

Processing the Ashes: Flame Cremation

• Following flame cremation, the ashes need to cool down, then they are often processed to a finer consistency.
• This typically takes about 1 to 2 days, depending on the crematorium’s procedures.
• The ashes are then placed in a temporary container or an urn, if you have selected one.

Processing the Ashes: Aquamation

• After aquamation, similar processing is required. Despite the different cremation method, the ashes still need to be cooled, processed, and placed into an urn.
• This also generally takes 1 to 2 days, in addition to the initial aquamation process which includes the drying phase.

Choosing an Urn and Personalization

• If you opt for a custom urn or memorial, this might extend the timeline further. The crafting and personalization of these items can vary in time.

Collection and Delivery

• The method you choose to receive your pet’s ashes, whether it’s picking them up or having them delivered, can also impact the timeline.

Understanding these steps and their associated times can help you plan for the final return of your pet’s ashes.

Summary: How Long Does it Take to Cremate a Dog?

As you have seen, the time it takes to cremate a dog depends on different factors.

In flame cremation, smaller dogs typically take around 30 to 45 minutes, while medium and larger breeds might require 1 to 2 hours. Afterward, the ashes are prepared over 1 to 2 days. If you’ve selected a special urn or memorial, this could add a little more time, just as the method you choose to receive the ashes might.

So in total, with flame cremation it could take around 2 days to get a cremated dog back.

Aquamation, a gentler, eco-friendly method, usually takes longer, about 4 to 20 hours, including the important drying phase. Following this, the ashes are readied over an additional 1 to 2 days. Personal touches like custom urns or memorials can extend this period slightly.

So in total, with aquamation, the time it takes to get a cremated dog back can be around 3 days

The type of cremation service — individual, partitioned, or communal — can also influence how soon the cremation can be scheduled and completed. Individual cremations may require specific scheduling, while communal services might depend on the crematorium’s timetable.

Remember, each moment in this process is a part of honoring the bond you shared with your dog. While these timelines provide a general guide, your crematorium can offer more specific details, helping you to plan this important step in your journey of farewell and remembrance.

Before You Go…

As we come to the end of this guide on how long it takes to cremate a dog, I hope you’ve found comfort and clarity in these words. The journey of saying goodbye to a beloved pet is deeply personal and filled with many decisions.

If you’re interested in exploring more about specific cremation methods, I encourage you to read our detailed posts on pet flame cremation and aquamation for pets. These will give you a deeper understanding of each process and help you decide which method aligns best with your wishes for your pet.

For those wondering about the financial aspect, our post on pet cremation prices offers valuable insights. It provides information on costs according to the size of your pet in different countries, helping you plan accordingly.

After receiving your pet’s ashes, you might be contemplating what to do next If you’re considering scattering the ashes, our post on scattering pet ashes offers creative ideas and guidance on how and where you might do this in a way that honors your pet’s memory. But there are several alternatives for what to do with your pet’s ashes; scattering them is not the only one.

If you’re thinking about keeping the ashes at home, our article discussing the energetical implications of keeping pet ashes can provide you with perspective and peace of mind.

Each of these resources is designed to support and guide you through this difficult time.