As many of you know I just put down a GSD. He was my personal dogs best friend. Before my dog refused to ever come in the house and was very aloof, could care less about me. Now that his buddy is gone he has become very dependent, wont go outside but for potty and sleeping, wants to be around us all the time. He is not clingy in an annoying way at all. He spends most of his day trying to get the cat to play with him. I am happy to have him be a house dog but is he depressed? He wont eat unless its a competition. Even hot dogs dont seem appealing to him. I have my brother bring over his two 7month old dogs a couple times a week and he is sooo happy and he eats when they are around. Should I get another dog or wait to see if he gets over this transition? Right now he is at doggy day care having some doggy fun.
Michael Wood Webboard User Reg: 09-18-2003
Posts: 64
Loc: Iowa City
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Julia,
About ten years ago, I had a male and female. When the female passed away suddenly due to a weak heart valve, the male stopped eating for a whole week, he would just sit next to her kennel and howl.
Yes, he was depressed. Yes, he stopped eating. But eventually with time he got hungry and started to eat again. (just watch to make sure that he is still getting fresh water, and not losing a great deal of weight) The howling stopped after a couple of days and a long discussion.
I did eventually get another male a year later, but it was never the same.
My advice is just to give it some time, make sure that your dog is ok medically and take it out regularly for some much needed recreation and excercise.
Its been 3 weeks now, he will only eat when its been a few days since he last ate. We are in advanced training, he sleeps through the whole class and refuses to work at home on our new stuff...not even for a hot dog. He is happy to go for walks but at home he just lays on his bed. I had a neighbor bring over their 12 week old pup, he was so happy he let the pup crawl all over him and chew him up and win the wrestling match..then the pup went home and he went back to his bed. Another neighbor later in the day brought over one of his playmates, he was so happy he played for a bit then settled down and shared a bone with her. He realized now that the cats wont play with him so coming IN the house no longer appeals to him. I go out with him and he shows me all his holes and toys but I feel mostly he wants a companion to sit out with him and chew bones and sniff the wind. I am looking still for another dog but I can't just get any old dog I do have to take care of it.
Just a little input from someone that lost his dog of 15 years. It hurts for the owner and the companion. The companion was closer then the owner making it harder to get over it. Busch my dog was a Blue Heeler/Wolf mix (laugh it up GSD fans) but it was the first dog I raised from a pup. my biggest mistake was I had him on a chain all his life. @ age 15 he got sick (old age) and I let him off his chain, he ran about 30 feet and just fell over and past away. Julia, I'd get another dog not only for your dog but for you to.
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