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Are dogs happier when other dogs are around?
I used to have 2 dogs, mother and daughter. My sweet little girl (the mother) died one month ago, unexpectedly. I am still very heartbroken. I also have a 2 and a half year old human baby.
I am filled with guilt over the way she died and her last months here on earth. My heart is telling me one thing, and my mind, another.
However, they are on the same page when it comes to the guilt I have for her life before she got sick. The puppy was going potty everywhere, so I kept her from the whole house and was only allowed in the hallways, kitchen and bathrooms. But as she got to about 7 months old, she was getting sad because she was alone and her mother was not spending as much time with her. Add to that the hair that was everywhere and my son who puts everything in his mouth. So I decided to restrict her mother too. In the evenings, I would let them in the living room for play time.
This lasted for about 6 months. I thought they would be ok, because they were together. I thought I was doing the right thing. But now I feel so much regret for those 6 months, so, so very much! I feel I should have found another way, work harder so that we would all be happy.
So my question is, how unhappy do you think they were? Please be honest!
And also, the puppy is now depressed I think, she does nothing all day. Is she needing another dog, like she was used too her entire life (she is almost 2 years old now)? She seems to only play when there are other dogs around...
What about in general, are dogs happier when they have other dogs around?
I am filled with guilt over the way she died and her last months here on earth. My heart is telling me one thing, and my mind, another.
However, they are on the same page when it comes to the guilt I have for her life before she got sick. The puppy was going potty everywhere, so I kept her from the whole house and was only allowed in the hallways, kitchen and bathrooms. But as she got to about 7 months old, she was getting sad because she was alone and her mother was not spending as much time with her. Add to that the hair that was everywhere and my son who puts everything in his mouth. So I decided to restrict her mother too. In the evenings, I would let them in the living room for play time.
This lasted for about 6 months. I thought they would be ok, because they were together. I thought I was doing the right thing. But now I feel so much regret for those 6 months, so, so very much! I feel I should have found another way, work harder so that we would all be happy.
So my question is, how unhappy do you think they were? Please be honest!
And also, the puppy is now depressed I think, she does nothing all day. Is she needing another dog, like she was used too her entire life (she is almost 2 years old now)? She seems to only play when there are other dogs around...
What about in general, are dogs happier when they have other dogs around?
It really is so sad to see them like this, you are right, breaks our hearts all over again...
I think she is still waiting for her mom, Terry. Terry was with my sister this past fall, for a few days, for medical reasons, and when she came home.. well... I took that picture on top. She was all over her, and they loved each other all day long, for a few good days. After that, they would sleep still in the same bed, but not like this. So maybe she is thinking this is what's happening again, I don't know. She's so lost...
Good luck with everything, I really do hope it works out in the end!
I think she is still waiting for her mom, Terry. Terry was with my sister this past fall, for a few days, for medical reasons, and when she came home.. well... I took that picture on top. She was all over her, and they loved each other all day long, for a few good days. After that, they would sleep still in the same bed, but not like this. So maybe she is thinking this is what's happening again, I don't know. She's so lost...
Good luck with everything, I really do hope it works out in the end!
Thank you so much Maddy.
Yes, there's a special place in our hearts for our animals. I think it's great you're giving her more, but unfortunately it won't take the place of her mama. I did that with our Boxer..did everything I could think of, hugging, walking, playing but when it was over..he was still sad and whining for Sadie. It's going to take her some time to adjust. Poor Girl. :( I hope she gets better soon. I hate seeing them sad and knowing not matter what I do or how hard I try, I can't make the sadness go away.
Ty for the encouragement. I'm trying to stay positive, but in all honesty, it's hard. Congratulations to your friend..her story is amazing. :)
Yes, there's a special place in our hearts for our animals. I think it's great you're giving her more, but unfortunately it won't take the place of her mama. I did that with our Boxer..did everything I could think of, hugging, walking, playing but when it was over..he was still sad and whining for Sadie. It's going to take her some time to adjust. Poor Girl. :( I hope she gets better soon. I hate seeing them sad and knowing not matter what I do or how hard I try, I can't make the sadness go away.
Ty for the encouragement. I'm trying to stay positive, but in all honesty, it's hard. Congratulations to your friend..her story is amazing. :)
Thank you very much!
And please don't worry, I like to read other people's stories! I am so sorry for your Sadie, it is unbelievable how deep they dig into our hearts, isn't it? And they are so dependent on us, that's why it is so hard to loose them. I hope that day you dread so much is far, far away!
I have been giving her more attention, I take her with me to bed and she's always on our laps, but it seems it doesn't help her, she is so lonely and sad. The 3 of them used to play all day long, but now it's nothing, it's like they are ignoring each other. And it is mutual, my son doesn't want to play with her either. Terry was the playful one. I am getting really worried...
ps. I read your story on your profile, and I want to tell you that I have a good friend who had the same problems as you, she even had a very nasty miscarriage, but she is now a new mom, so don't give up and be positive!
And please don't worry, I like to read other people's stories! I am so sorry for your Sadie, it is unbelievable how deep they dig into our hearts, isn't it? And they are so dependent on us, that's why it is so hard to loose them. I hope that day you dread so much is far, far away!
I have been giving her more attention, I take her with me to bed and she's always on our laps, but it seems it doesn't help her, she is so lonely and sad. The 3 of them used to play all day long, but now it's nothing, it's like they are ignoring each other. And it is mutual, my son doesn't want to play with her either. Terry was the playful one. I am getting really worried...
ps. I read your story on your profile, and I want to tell you that I have a good friend who had the same problems as you, she even had a very nasty miscarriage, but she is now a new mom, so don't give up and be positive!
I'm sorry you feel this way Maddy :(. I got my lil sadie when my husband and I first got married. We had her for 2 years before we got our Boxer. Sadie was a lil chihuahua mix and it was soo cute because she was like his lil sister. Anyways, I lost her to Cushing's Disease at the age of 10. For 2 weeks our Boxer whined, smelt of where her bed used to bed, searched for her outside. I was soo heartbroken. I tried to love him more during that time than I ever had..but I couldn't my broken heart, let alone his. He finally got over it, as we all did, but I do believe if we had gotten another dog it would've helped him. We don't have kids and our dogs are everything..especially since we can't have kids. I have 2 outside dogs..one is the mother and the other (male) is her pup..they are both 12 years old (she was a stray, long story short) anyways, I dread the day something happens to her because they've never been apart.
Anyways, sorry for this being so long.. I do think your lil one would be happier if she had some company. It's going to take some time (as with you all) to get over her mother being gone. That's all she's ever know, just like our Boxer with Sadie. If she had some company, another dog..I think she'll be okay. And please, don't be so hard on yourself. I always questioned myself with Sadie, what if I had caught it sooner and so forth..but when it's their time, just like ours...nothing will stop it. I hope you find peace and please..if you're not already and you have time, try to show her some extra attention.
By the way, they're both beautiful girls!! :)
Anyways, sorry for this being so long.. I do think your lil one would be happier if she had some company. It's going to take some time (as with you all) to get over her mother being gone. That's all she's ever know, just like our Boxer with Sadie. If she had some company, another dog..I think she'll be okay. And please, don't be so hard on yourself. I always questioned myself with Sadie, what if I had caught it sooner and so forth..but when it's their time, just like ours...nothing will stop it. I hope you find peace and please..if you're not already and you have time, try to show her some extra attention.
By the way, they're both beautiful girls!! :)
Thank you, Jerry, for your answer! I hope I can come to terms with everything one day, I am just so torn right now and can seem to be able to stop the thoughts, the regrets...
I don't read anything in your post that you should feel guilty about. While you don't know what caused the dog's death, I seriously doubt your limitation on how much access to the house they had affected the dog's life.
May people restrict dogs from some portion of the house, never mind those who don't even let the dog in the house. I have a friend who has a small farm and has had as many as 6 dogs, so many the vet would come to carry out all routine work on the dogs in one visit, rather than have my friend bring them in one at a time. He also had cats in the house. The dog never came in the house as far as I know, they did "rule" the garage however.
Dogs are pack animals. This need is often satisfied by the dog bonding with humans with the one of the humans acting as the dominate male (or that role whatever the human's gender is). In your case the fact you have many demands on your time with young children means the dogs benefited by having each other. Yes, I think the remaining dog is lonely, another dog of compatible size and temperament could make the dog feel more comfortable.
May people restrict dogs from some portion of the house, never mind those who don't even let the dog in the house. I have a friend who has a small farm and has had as many as 6 dogs, so many the vet would come to carry out all routine work on the dogs in one visit, rather than have my friend bring them in one at a time. He also had cats in the house. The dog never came in the house as far as I know, they did "rule" the garage however.
Dogs are pack animals. This need is often satisfied by the dog bonding with humans with the one of the humans acting as the dominate male (or that role whatever the human's gender is). In your case the fact you have many demands on your time with young children means the dogs benefited by having each other. Yes, I think the remaining dog is lonely, another dog of compatible size and temperament could make the dog feel more comfortable.
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