Helping a dog cope with grief

[Slightlyconfused]

As you all know we lost Penny our labxcollie nearly a month ago now.
Freya our one year old cocker is missing her like mad, she has lost alot of her confidence, is sticking close to mum and I and it feels like she is curling in on herself sometimes.

The ten year old collie is paying her a lot more attention, not in a horried way but he normally is a very aloof dog. Now he is making sure she has kisses, stays with her when she is on her quiet days and is actually playing with her on walks.

We was going to get her another pup to help ease it but we look after my sisters pup five days a week and she plays with her but sometimes wants to be left alone and just doesn't want her near. She goes and curls up tight on the sofa in places penny used to sleep.

We have started her on the Bach flower remedies separation essence as it's supposed to help with grief and I was wondering if, other than time, anyone else has any suggestions?

 

[satinbaze]

Give her a job to do. When I lost my first flatcoat my CKCS was very depressed, didn't want to get out of bed, reluctant to go for a walk. I took her along to agility with my other flatcoat. Before I knew it the daughter of my instructor took Juno round the agility course and this was the turning point for Juno. She went on to compete in agility with her junior handler.
The point of the story is to say give your dog something to do to help focus her mind
Good luck

 

[gunnergundog]

A month isn't long to be honest and most dogs will come through a situation like this given time. Try to keep everything normal and tempting though it is don't feed her need to be close to you too much.

As Satinbaze said, give her a job. Give her short training sessions - maybe something new like agility/gundog/various tricks? Tire her brain and stop her dwelling.

Just be aware that the group dynamics will now have changed and it may be that she changes in some way and will never be the dog she was before, but develops her personality in some other way. Let her be the dog she wants to be/your pack requires now.

 

[Sprout]

I am so sorry for your loss.

I lost my Dobie back in Feb and my Collie became very quiet, and miserable, but I just kept life as normal, usual walks, play time, made sure I didnt over fuss her and although it took a few months, she is now back to her usual self and has even started barking again when she hears something outside, instead of hiding.
I am sure Freya will be her usual self again soon. Xx

 

[Moobli]

It is really interesting to hear these type of stories, as I have never seen any noticeable difference in my dogs characters or personalities after losing one of the other canine members of the family, even with two dogs that were really close.

I think giving her extra attention and affection, and possibly upping her exercise and, as was suggested above, giving her a job to do that she really enjoys may well help.

Is she a show line or working cocker? If she is a worker then some fun scentwork should really flick her switch. Even a showline should enjoy using their nose, but probably without the same drive and enthusiasm as a working bred.

Have a look here for some ideas

http://www.talkingdogsscentwork.co.uk/Talking_Dogs_Scentwork/What_is_TD_Scentwork.html

 

[Slightlyconfused]

We have kept her routine the same as normal. Three Street walks a week and four off lead runs either up the woods or the farm.
If she wants a cuddle she gets one other than that we try and let her be.

As to the sticking close we allow that because because she isn't wanting affection she just wants to be with us while we do jobs. In the kitchen she has her bed, in the garden she lays by the flower pots just watching.


She is a show cocker but with the nose of a working 😂

Thank you will look at the scent games for her.
She loves doing things but her excitement over rides her head sometimes so we are working on lots of little bits of calm, quiet sessions that produce good bits.
Her heal woke is starting to properly click.