Derek Hough’s latest tribute to his longtime companion has brought an emotional chapter of his life into focus. The Dancing with the Stars judge shared a deeply personal goodbye after losing Romie, the dog who had stayed beside him through years of change, love and family milestones.

The loss came less than two weeks after Hough revealed that Romie was struggling with his health and that he had been sleeping on the floor beside him. In his October 25, 2026, farewell, Hough looked back on their extraordinary bond and shared one particularly meaningful detail about the time they had left together.

Derek Hough Announces the Death of His Beloved Dog Romie

Hough announced Romie’s death on Instagram on Sunday, October 25, 2026, sharing a video of his beloved dog outdoors. The message accompanying the video captured the depth of his grief and the years they had spent together.

“14 years by my side. I miss you so much already. My heart aches. Goodbye my son. My Romie boy. I will love you forever.”

The emotional message was followed by a longer caption reflecting on how Romie had become a constant presence in Hough’s life.

“Romie came into my life when I was just trying to figure life out, it was just me and him,” Hough wrote. “And for a long time, he was my constant. He saw me at my worst and at my best. He loved me through it all and somehow gave me purpose when I couldn’t find it myself.”

For Hough, Romie was more than a companion from his younger years. The dog had been there as his life evolved, witnessing personal changes that eventually included marriage and fatherhood.

“He watched me grow up, fall in love, become a husband,” Hough wrote.

His tribute also revealed that he had hoped Romie would remain with him long enough to meet the newest member of the family.

“And when he started to get tired, I asked him to hold on so he could meet his little sister, and he kept his promise. He held on,” Hough wrote.

That wish gave their final chapter a particularly personal meaning, connecting Romie’s long life with a milestone Hough and his wife, Hayley Erbert Hough, had been looking forward to.

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Derek Hough’s Heartbreaking Health Update Came Days Before Romie’s Death

The farewell followed an update Hough had shared on October 14, when he revealed that Romie’s health had deteriorated.

Hough posted a photograph of himself lying on the floor beside his longtime companion, explaining that he had been staying close to the dog during his difficult final days.

“My boy of 15 years isn’t doing too good, so I’ve been sleeping on the floor with him for the past few days,” Hough wrote. “My mind is racing thinking of all the different stages of life we’ve gone through together.”

The message offered a glimpse into the reality of caring for an aging companion while reflecting on the memories built over many years.

There is a small but important difference between the time figures Hough used in his two posts. His October 14 update described Romie as a companion of 15 years, while the October 25 farewell video referred to 14 years by his side. Both figures appeared in Hough’s own public statements, so the most accurate description is that Romie had been part of his life for more than a decade.

Hough did not identify a specific illness in the October 14 update. He also did not announce a cause of death in his October 25 tribute. The information he shared establishes that Romie’s health had declined, but it does not establish what caused his death.

How Romie Became Part of Derek Hough’s Life

Romie’s story with Hough began long before the dancer became a husband and father.

According to PEOPLE, Hough rescued Romie from a Los Angeles animal rescue in 2012 after volunteering to walk dogs there. What was initially intended to be an overnight stay became permanent after Romie settled in with him.

The bond that developed during those early years remained an important part of Hough’s life. In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, he described Romie as his oldest dog and identified him as a German shepherd/husky mix.

Hough also spoke about the physical signs of Romie’s advancing age, including the gray appearing around his face. He joked that the family had nicknamed the dog “George Clooney” because of his relaxed personality.

By 2024, Hough was reflecting publicly on the significance of the relationship they had built. In a tribute marking 12 years since rescuing Romie, he called him his “faithful companion” and wrote about the milestones and challenges they had experienced together.

He also acknowledged how difficult it was to imagine a future without the dog waiting to greet him at home.

Those earlier reflections help explain the emotional weight of Hough’s October 25 message. Romie had been part of his world before his relationship with Erbert developed into marriage, remaining beside him as his personal life changed and his family grew.

Hayley Erbert Hough Pays Tribute to Romie

Hough was not alone in mourning the loss. His wife, Hayley Erbert Hough, also shared a personal tribute following the announcement.

Erbert said she had the privilege of loving Romie for 11 years and remembered him as the first dog she called her own after moving to Los Angeles.

Her message highlighted the affectionate personality that had made Romie such a central part of their household.

“My OG adventure buddy, my snuggler, the leader of our pack, and our sweet, gentle 65lb boy who thought he was a lap dog and loved with his entire being,” Erbert wrote.

She described Romie as a protector of the family and reflected on the years they had spent together. Her tribute also expressed gratitude to Hough for bringing the dog into her life.

Erbert called Romie “the greatest protector of our family” and “the sweetest big brother to Luna and Everley.”

She ended her message with a reflection on the time they had shared.

“Eleven years with you will never feel like enough, but what a gift it was to be loved by you,” Erbert wrote.

Her words placed Romie firmly within the family’s everyday life. He was not simply Hough’s longtime companion but also a beloved member of the household, connected to Erbert, their daughter Everley and their other dog, Luna.

Romie Lived Long Enough to Meet Derek Hough’s Daughter Everley

One of the most significant details in Hough’s farewell was his reference to his daughter, Everley Capri Hough.

Hough and Erbert welcomed Everley on December 29, 2025, and publicly announced her arrival in January 2026. By the time of Romie’s death, the dog had been part of the family through this major transition into parenthood.

When Hough noticed that Romie was becoming tired, he asked him to hold on long enough to meet his little sister. In his October 25 tribute, Hough said that Romie had done exactly that.

“And when he started to get tired, I asked him to hold on so he could meet his little sister, and he kept his promise. He held on,” Hough wrote.

The statement connects the dog’s final period with a deeply personal hope Hough had expressed to him. It also reflects the place Romie occupied in a life that had changed considerably since their first days together.

Romie had been with Hough before his marriage to Erbert in 2023 and remained part of the family as they welcomed Everley. His presence linked different stages of Hough’s adult life, from the years when he was finding his way to the responsibilities and experiences of fatherhood.

Derek Hough Describes Life Without Romie

In the closing part of his tribute, Hough described how strange it felt to return to ordinary routines without the dog who had been waiting for him for so many years.

“Waking up without him feels unreal,” he wrote. “I keep looking at that spot where he’d usually come around the bushes, waiting, hoping. It’s strange to know he won’t come around that bend again.”

The detail offered a glimpse of the everyday moments that make the loss of a longtime companion so difficult. After years of expecting Romie to be there, familiar surroundings now carried a different meaning.

Hough also expressed gratitude for the relationship they had shared.

“But thank you, my boy, for choosing us, for carrying me, for giving me so much,” he wrote.

He acknowledged the intensity of his grief while recognising what it represented.

“There’s an ache that feels unbearable. But it’s also proof that love lived here fully. And you always will,” Hough wrote.

He ended the tribute with a final message to his longtime companion: “Goodbye for now my sweet sweet Romie Boy.”

Conclusion: A Lasting Bond Across More Than a Decade

Romie’s death marks the loss of a companion who had been beside Derek Hough through many of his most significant life changes. From his rescue in Los Angeles in 2012 to Hough’s marriage to Erbert and the arrival of their daughter, Romie remained a constant presence for more than a decade.

Hough’s farewell and Erbert’s tribute both reflect the place the dog held in their family. While Hough has not announced a cause of death or additional memorial plans, his message makes clear how much their years together meant to him.

Romie’s final chapter also fulfilled a hope Hough had expressed when the dog began to grow tired: that he would live long enough to meet Everley. For Hough and Erbert, the memories of their longtime companion remain tied to the many stages of life they shared with him.

Remembering a Family Tribute
Steve Harvey also shared a tribute following the passing of his father-in-law, James A. Bridges Sr. You can find the details in our Steve Harvey father-in-law James Bridges tribute report.

Source and Research Disclaimer

This article has been prepared based on research of the sources provided below, including reporting from PEOPLE, TV Insider, Parade, ABC News and Just Jared, alongside the statements and details included in the supplied material. It reflects the information available from those sources as of October 26, 2026. No cause of death has been established in the public statements described here, and no additional details have been inferred beyond the information provided.

Sources

• PEOPLE: Derek Hough mourns the death of Romie
• TV Insider: Derek Hough mourns Romie
• Parade: Derek Hough shares update on Romie’s health
• ABC News: Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert welcome Everley Capri Hough
• Just Jared: Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert pay tribute to Romie

Featured Image Credit: Kevin Paul / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons