Julianne Hough Opens Up About the Tragic Loss Of Her Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

America's Got Talent judge Julianne Hough recently appeared on a podcast and revealed the sad way her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels died in 2019.

Her adorable dogs were named Lexi and Harley and she had the pups for 8 and 11 years.

Hough appeared on The Jamie Kern Lima Show podcast on Tuesday, Aug. 27, and explained, "I woke up before my phone even rang and I knew, and I picked up the phone and my assistant at the time was just, like, screaming.”

People Magazine reports, "Hough said before Lexi and Harley’s deaths, she “never had coyotes in her yard,” and even had a fence.

During the podcast, Hough said the loss came at a particularly rough time in her life as she was not only dealing with the “unraveling” of her eight-year friendship with her longtime assistant while launching a new company, Kinrgy — but she was also going through a separation from her now-former husband Brooks Laich.

“I had asked for a separation,” she recalled. “And then 10 days later my dogs were killed by coyotes.”

Related: Brave Sheep Dog Who Fought Off Coyotes Wins 'People's Choice Award'

How absolutely heartbreaking for her! She announced the loss of her fur babies in an Instagram post in 2019.

At the time she wrote in part, "Pure love is real, it existed through us. My heart expanded and felt the truth of what is possible. I am forever grateful.Thank you for your love.Thank you for being my babies, my daughters. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for teaching me how to be your mother."

What a beautiful tribute to her dogs. Even though there is no guaranteed way to keep your dogs absolutely safe, without ever letting them outside again, there are some precautions you can take.

Here Are Some Ways To Keep Your Dog Safe From Coyote Attacks

If coyotes have been spotted in your area, it's important to remember that even in the most populated neighborhoods coyotes can still harm smaller animals like cats and dogs.

Always supervise your dog when they're outside, especially during dawn, dusk, and nighttime because that's when coyotes are most active. If you are walking your pup on a leash, keep them on a leash no longer than 6 feet. This gives you better control and keeps your dog close in case you do encounter a coyote. If you do see a coyote, you are supposed to pick up your dog. This is actually step one if your dog is off lead or you have a small animal, but often times you have to notice and stare at the coyote first to know what it actually is. Don't let your large dog interact or chase, and don't leave your small dog on the ground. Carry smaller breeds. Coyotes will snatch a small dog, so carry your small dog with you, keep your large dog tight on the leash, and wait until you're certain the coyote has moved on.

If your dog is usually in your yard, you can install a coyote-proof fence. These fences should be at least 6 feet high with an outward-facing extension or prongs at the top to prevent coyotes from climbing. You can also install motion activated lights or sprinklers that may help scare a coyote away. You can also try things like coyote repellents, such as predator urine (like wolf urine) or coyote-deterring sprays around your yard’s perimeter.

We feel so awful for Houghs and we hope in time her heartbreak can heal and she realizes this was just a terrible accident. No dog parent should go through this.