Dog Community

Is she lonley?

Posted : 1/17/2007 4:50:10 PM

I know some of you say dogs dont need dogs and I *mostly* agree... but what if theyve always had another dog around and are suddenly alone?

Bailey has always lived with Minnie since we were living together with my parents. We both bought new houses now and my parents have moved out. DH and I have another house as well but we are renovating it and I dont think we plan to move in.

So we are currently living still in the house that we used to share with my parents but now its just us and half of the house is empty space. This house is for sale and we hope to have the other one finished and for sale soon. Then when they sell buy another one to live in for a while.

Bailey is acting strange. She jumps at every little noise, shes always wandering around as if looking for something (I think Minnie), she doesnt eat her food like she used to. She jumps and RUNS all excited to the window or door every time she hears a tiny noise as if its Minnie or my parents coming over but theyre not. Its just an outside noise. It makes me sad. I know she loves us... she wants to be under my feet more than ever, but Im feeling like shes lonley.

I want to adopt another dog so badly. This is something weve been planning on and wanting to do but its just not working out right now. Bailey has never been left alone in this house with Minnie and now Im not comfortable leaving her alone even more because its mostly empty and because of how shes been acting. I brought her with me to work on the new house we are renovating today and she was miserable. Theres no fence there so she cant just be outside free and theres no furniture in there. I dont know what to do with her when I need to go work there... so I really cant see having another dog right now. I know I could make it work if I had to though. And I certainly want one, but they really wouldnt have a home right now. Bailey doesnt really have a home right now, neither do DH and I. We have 2 that we can go to but one is empty with no fence and the other is half empty and no one is ever home (ideally - but Ive been staying home to be with Bailey) I feel so bad.

Any ideas? Do you think another dog would help her?

Susan Chandler

Posted : 1/17/2007 5:11:52 PM

What do you think of taking her to doggie day care for a little bit so she can have some doggie time?

jones

Posted : 1/17/2007 7:17:02 PM

Well, all I can tell you is that Russell's always been an only dog and that's exactly how he behaved when we were moving - before we left but were packed up, and then in our month-long sublet. In the sublet he barked at every little thing, plus nothing. Most dogs really don't like those kinds of major changes in their environment and will act out their feeling of insecurity in various ways. It may turn out that Bailey misses Minnie but what you're describing now may just be a reaction to upheaval and change.

janobonano

Posted : 1/17/2007 7:18:44 PM

I think you're just going to have to send her to me. Rupert will keep her company.

Just kidding! She's probably just adjusting to the house being quieter, and less people being around. Could you maybe dog-sit for someone for a weekend or something and see if her behavior goes back to normal? Have you tried putting her in a crate/kennel when you're not home?

loveukaykay

Posted : 1/18/2007 12:53:28 AM

I put her in a crate when she was little, a few times. She didnt like it even though I tried all the advice I had read on here so I just quit. So no she cant go in a crate.

I dont think I want to take her to doggie day care... if I was gonna do that I may as well take her to my moms new house and leave her with Minnie but I dont want to do that either. I want her to get used to being here without them, or with a new dog, I dunno.

Minnie came over tonight and they were sooooo happy to see each other! They played and played like never before. I dont know what to do.

Ruth

Posted : 1/18/2007 1:43:28 AM

I wouldn't rush into getting a new dog. It sounds like she's just adjusting to all the changes in your lives. And another dog would be something else that she needs to adjust to, which might stress her out even more right now. I would keep her on a very regular schedule for now, with the same arrangements for her every day, so she gets into a new routine and knows what to expect. Once she's in a solid routine I think she will calm down. Seeing Minnie for play dates is probably great, so she knows that Minnie isn't gone forever and will stay in her life even if they live separately. Once she is settled in to the new house and new routine then you can re-evaluate getting a new dog.

loveukaykay

Posted : 1/18/2007 2:16:49 AM

When we finally get settled in to a new house it will definitely be time for a new dog.... I just hope that process doesnt take too much more time. In the mean time, I dont have the means to keep her on a schedule. I dont want to leave her here alone in a house when shes never been alone before (without another dog around), and I dont want to take her with me where she is stressed. I guess if I keep taking her to the new house she will get used to it...? I dunno though because there is no furniture there and she cant go outside much unless I go with her.

Do you guys think leaving her alone would be okay even though shes never been? Or do you think she would adjust better coming with me to a new place?

I feel so bad for her right now. For the first time I feel like a bad doggy mom. Ive gotten us into a strange situation for the moment and its not very ideal for her... poor thing. But, I really want to do whats best for HER, thats most important to me right now, I just dont know what that is.[>:]

Debbie R

Posted : 1/18/2007 4:50:31 AM

I would take her with me, she will get used to all the changes but it's going to take time.

melindar

Posted : 1/18/2007 9:24:18 AM

ORIGINAL: loveukaykay
Do you guys think leaving her alone would be okay even though shes never been? Or do you think she would adjust better coming with me to a new place?

If there's no furniture, what about taking a doggy bed with you so she has something soft to lay on if she wants?

If she has never been left alone w/o Minnie there then maybe just do a trial run where you leave her at the house for say.....5 or 10 minutes, just to see how she does.

Like others have said, I think it's just an adjustment period.

loveukaykay

Posted : 1/18/2007 10:56:18 AM

Thanks everyone. Hearing others thoughts really helps.

She does have a bed there and pillows and a blanket and bully sticks and salmon skin bones... and a water bowl. She just wont sit, she follows me around. Yesterday I was putting in door knobs and tripping over her the entire time, so I just left. Id rather bring her so I guess thats what Ill do. Shes been there a few times though, and yesterday was the only day she was shivering like that. Hope today she'll be better, or at least not shaking.

jones

Posted : 1/18/2007 11:35:36 AM

Again, I can just tell you what I did during that transition time... even though Russell is crate trained, we took him out with us as much as possible. I don't think we left him alone for more than an hour total over a month's time! This seemed to help and did not cause him to be extra clingy once all the moving was over with.

loveukaykay

Posted : 1/18/2007 11:54:02 AM

Well then, she'll just have to be with me all day[

].