Category: Animal House
Hi all, it seems i'm constantly asking questions these days. Here's the situation and i'm just wondering if this is normal or not. My previous guide dog april retired last september when i got my current guide Winnie. She's ten now and suffers artharightus hence her reason for retiring. For a while it seemed she seemed happy enough, though she still hankers to go out in hahrness. WE moved recently and we began to notice things changing. She seems to spend more time hiding in her bed rather than socialising with the rest of the family like she used too. This has been a source of worry for all of us. I@m still learning the area so still can't take her out as often as possible and i must considder both dogs' needs. I want to know, is this normal? is this possible bordum/depression? or just old age?
It might be a combination of old age and bordum. I can't always get out everyday and the days I don't get out much, my dog is snoozing on my bed or on one of her sleeping spots.
Is she eating well and acting strange in any other way?
Hi there, She is eating okay, the vet said she was very healthy. The rest of the family try to take her out when they can, and she sees me taking winnie out and still looks after us hoping to go out working. I have looked at the possibility of her becoming a part time theropy dog as she is still a very young ten and has a lot to give and she misses the work. She doesn't even play much now. Winnie is a rather dominant dog and she does tend to push in at times, though she is corrected for it, april is very sensative and she would rather walk away than deal wwith conflict. When people talk to her she's still happy when anyone pays her attention wich makes me wonder if it's mild depression. I also wonder if this last move was too much for her?
Do you and April still have a daily routine, at all?
If she has arthritis, she could probably do with a daily, gentle massage. It would give you and her time to physically bond without disturbance.
this is very possible, I still see to her feeding and pay her a lot of attention, i'm still learning the area so taking her out solo isn't part of that routeen yet, though eventually it will be. WE used to live across the road from our local park and she got out every day, even when wwinnie and i had been on a long walk and i had to work later at nights rather than during the day. My partner supports me when she can, but she is busy and it is my legal responsability to see both dogs are loved and happy. Me and april are still very close, always have been, so maybee this is affecting me more than usual. she is slowing down now in a lot of ways too.
I want to second the massage idea, as that might help on a physical and emotional level. I take it you don't have a fenced in backyard she can go and play in? You mentioned correcting your new dog for butting in or playing rough or something like that. Just checking, but I do hope you shut the retired dog out completely some times from the room and rough house to your new dog's heart's content? And, conversely that you some times lock your new dog out of the room and play with your older dog in the manner she prefers? As long as you are doing both of those things, then this should help. If your dog still wants to work, and neither their hearing or eye sight has been effected, just their joints, then why not work them for a short walk each day in a calm area? There is no rule that says you can't do this. If it's that or she doesn't get walked, then I'd opt for the light amount of work. Have you tried moving her bed to a location closer to the family's activities, so that she can rest if she's feeling her age, but still be close to all of you. I am curious, why you said legal responsibility? It's a moral responsibility, not a legal 1. Your only legal responsibility is not to intentionally neglect or abuse your dog, the responsibility to care for a dog who has served you well for 8 plus years is a moral one. Having her do some therapy work might be an excellent idea. I would pick your population carefully. For instance, would she prefer children or the elderly? Would she find it nutral or stressful to be in a hospital setting? You know your dog best, so this is something to think about,. With such a loyal, valuable dog who is also elderly herself I would recommend avoiding the population of severely mentally retarded adults, troubled teenagers or older autistic chhildren or autistic adults, as the risk of injury to a therapy dog is higher with those populations, and your dog is getting up there in years, and you mentioned she was sort of a soft dog, I.E. mild mannered. I hope some of this helps.
awe and hugs to april and i agree with the others that giving her a massage would help and to take it easy with her though i'm sure you do already, smiles.