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Sensitive dog gets depressed when we are gone

Posted by Spike on 4/19/2011, 7:28 am
75.94.122.133

When we travel we leave our dog with my mom. She likes my mom and is well treated there (too well treated....) But she gets very depressed after a couple of days and she won't settle down at night - causing my mom much distress and little sleep. My mom is recovering from a broken leg so I hired a dog walker to come every day and get the dog out for exercise. She pretty much refuses to go with the walker. Finally after a number of tries she went reluctantly.

What to do with this dog? We have several more trips planned this year. My mom is as or more upset than she says the dog is getting. They start out oaky but as the couple days go by the dog starts acting depressed and won't settle down at night.

Ideas?
"She was one cocktail away from proving his mother right" Unknown.

Probably not what you want to hear....

Posted by firejax1 on 4/19/2011, 8:10 am, in reply to "Sensitive dog gets depressed when we are gone"

But maybe board her someplace that you have checked out and has a good reputation. Perhaps a place that she can play with a few dogs if she gets along well with others. My friends take their dogs to a camp canine type of facility and the dogs are ecstatic to go and play!
I bust mine...so I can kick yours!!

Sorry to say....

Posted by Stranger in Paradise on 4/19/2011, 9:44 am, in reply to "Probably not what you want to hear...."
199.103.54.57

but that won't work for all dogs. Tried it with mine, only to watch her (on the web cam) standing with tail between legs at the gate all day long, afraid of all other dogs...Sounds to me like the OP's dog might fall into the same category...
and sorry, I don't have another solution, except maybe have someone take care of the dog at the dog's home......good luck!

Actually

Posted by Spike on 4/19/2011, 8:58 pm, in reply to "Probably not what you want to hear...."
75.94.122.133

That was my thought exactly but my mom would be crushed.
"She was one cocktail away from proving his mother right" Unknown.

One more thought....

Posted by firejax1 on 4/20/2011, 10:08 am, in reply to "Actually"
69.233.57.218

Can you get her a big frozen marrow femur bone and have your Mom defrost it and then give it to her at night before she goes to be so she has something to chew on during the night to occupy her? We buy bones for Jake at Pet Food Express. If he is too wound up to sleep he usually chews on it for a bit and then falls fast asleep all night.
I bust mine...so I can kick yours!!

something isn't right . . . usually if an animal

Posted by mary bluepony on 4/19/2011, 10:59 am, in reply to "Sensitive dog gets depressed when we are gone"
71.110.197.116

has seperation issues it's in the beginning and gets better the longer family is away. Regardless, you need to find someone who understands dogs better and can deal with whatever is going on so the dog can accept being left behind.

Your Mom getting upset certainly isn't helping either of them. You may want to consider a pet sitter that comes to your house and stays with the dog and keeps the familiar routine going. hard to find a competent one but if you do . . .

I have a great horse sitter

Posted by Spike on 4/19/2011, 8:59 pm, in reply to "something isn't right . . . usually if an animal"
75.94.122.133

Who is also a well reputed dog sitter. The problem is getting my mom to let go.
"She was one cocktail away from proving his mother right" Unknown.

Thanks for the input

Posted by Spike on 4/19/2011, 9:02 pm, in reply to "Sensitive dog gets depressed when we are gone"

I agree - either a place where she can "lose herself " playing with other dogs or a home sitter. I have both options available - it is the delicate procedure of "firing" my mom who ahs been wonderful for so many years. She'll be crushed - unless I do it once and the dog is fine. Then she will relent. Dogs, Horses, Life and Family

"She was one cocktail away from proving his mother right" Unknown.

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