how to keep dog happy after loss of other dog?

[Delta99]

Am very concerned about my 9 yr old bitch after the sad loss of her 'brother' on New Year's Day.
She seems to be coping ok and has stopped looking for him all the time but of course she's not getting the same kind of play that she used to have with her brother.

OH is adament we're not having another dog so the poor girl is left on her own now while we're at work. Unfortunately I have to walk her really early so we don't meet any dogs then and have my own yard so no other dogs there either.

Don't really want to do serious obedience with her (but would take her to classes just to get her to meet other dogs), and she's not really a show dog and is too much of a wimp to do agility.

I play with her and we go running but she seems to enjoy it briefly and then she curls up somewhere and doesn't seem too interested.

Any ideas what else I can do to keep her happy? She's in good health and I really don't want her to deteriorate because she's lonely.

 

[woodlandswow]

you could try getting her to make friends with another dog.. i found with all our dogs who have been alone for a time have loved being around other dogs... but then we have always got another dog soon after.. you could try and pursuade you OH to get a small terrier or something?

 

[ladyt25]

Just go out and get another dpg - your OH won't mind! hehe

Ok, maybe not the best idea but we have always found in the past that when our older dog has passed away the one left does get quite depressed so we have generally got another rescue dog within a few weeks months. Although, last time we did this our dog did look at her in disgust and wouldn't 'speak' to her for a while. They are great pals now though. We had taken him along to meet her before we decided to bring her home but i think he was sulking and missing our old dog who really had been his 'mum' as we got him as a young pup.

I think your OH will come round, I do feel another dog is generally the best way to help a dog get over the loss of a friend and a dog that has always been one of two will find it harder to be on their own. You never know, often in these situations a new dog will just 'find' you!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

So sorry for you: it's heartbreaking.

Defo another dog (or two-never have a lone dog again!) We waited all of a week and it was the best thing to do, IMO. Brig was not a happy lad without his brother.

 

[haycroft]

we lost a our beloved peggy over a year ago and we were left with just the one dog(shes hasnt been on her own)..yes she was depressed for a while and looking for peggy and even now she hasnt been the same...we lost peg in the nov and we got another pup in the april which i had on order..its took them a little while to bond but has certainly helped

pup is almost a year old

in the mean time just give her abit of xre tlc and maybe invite a few doggy friends over

sorry not much help

she will be ok..its just going to take time as i believe that animals suffer from grief just like us