Anxiety

[Bonnie and Kona]

We lost our Golden Retriever in early September. Our 3 year old Goldendoodle is having a very hard time adjusting to his loss. He has become anxious when we leave him alone or take him in the car with us. I am home most of the time but his anxiety is a new behavior and troubling. Does anyone have any ideas how to help him calm down? My husband will not let us get another dog.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Bonnie, I sympathize with you and know how difficult it is to live with a dog who has daily issues with nervousness, stress........I have a dog who suffers from extreme anxiety. We have a newer group on DK --'Anxiety and Mental Health Issues' that many of us are starting to contribute ideas about how to calm our dogs to help them with these everyday issues and be happier dogs. What works for one dog may not work with the next dog. Do you know what triggers his anxiety or is he just constantly depressed from loss. Was he this way before the loss? I believe dogs mourn loss, and this might take some time. Like humans, it is a slow process with many steps involved. I am sorry for your loss too.

For your doodle, socialization might be an answer. Stimulation with exercise is always good. A dog park visit, find someone in your neighborhood who would like to join you in a play date, doggie day care to get him out of the house for a few hours. After all, they are pack animals by nature, and do enjoy and depend on other dogs for company, leadership, and guidance. We all need a friend, need a walk, or just a change of pace--so do our dogs and this might be a great idea to help with some of the depression.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Hi Bonnie, two years ago in August my daughter lost her 5 year old Boxer's fight of Kidney failure leaving their 2 year old boxer beagle mix sad and lonely....it took her nearly 6 months but she is back and happy again. Try not to coddle him too much (I know it's hard) and go about your days as normally as possible. I promise, if he was once a happy go lucky doodle he will be again. Also I am so sorry for your loss, how awful to loose your baby so early on.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you for this hopeful answer!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am sorry for your loss, Bonnie. I have not gone through this personally, but my parents did last year. They lost their 11 year old cairn to cancer and their 3 year old cairn was despondent. My husband and I started bringing our goldendoodle and chihuahua over to play a few times a week. This made Lucy (cairn) adjust better. The socialization helped. And over 1 year later, she is fine being the only dog around - except on Sundays which is our family day!
Time and some play dates will do the trick.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I am encouraged by your reply. Thank you.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I didn't make it clear that our Golden Retriever, Earle, died at age 12. We got our Goldendoodle 3 years ago when Earle's older brother died. Kona was not anxious at all before Earle died. He is fine when our family is all together.

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is a very fresh loss. People take about 6 months, often more for grieving and I think you need to give Kona a lot more time. I am sorry for your loss.

[Bonnie and Kona]

So true! When my sister died, I cried every day for over a year. I just know he would do better if we got another dood but my husband is firm in not wanting more dogs. My husband runs Kona 5 times a week and they see other dogs on every run. We dogs-sit for our son's Golden Retriever occasionally. She was here last weekend but Kona was not interacting with her at all. I will try not to worry so much.

[Kyoko]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss....I never wen through this personally, so I don't know what to say... sorry.. :-(
But I can feel his pain and grief.....