Do you think he misses them?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Sometimes Winston looks so sad. He mopes, huffs, flops on the floor, or comes up to me with the saddest eyes, tilts his head down, and buries it in my lap.

 

I know he appreciates me, the fact that he is inside with us, sleeping in the same room, well fed, given lots of exercise and play time. I know that all makes him happy. I can tell he feels better and his ears aren't bothering him so much. This morning a friend noted a remarkable difference in him from the first day I brought him home a week ago, she said he looks so much happier. He showed a lot more confidence today when we were in the park. He ran around with more enthusiasm.

 

But then there are the sad moments, he looks up at me with the most serious look, as if he is so hard done by and life is such a struggle (maybe he should be a poet??). He wimpers in his sleep sometimes. I can't help but wonder if he thinks of his former family and misses them. I know they treated him terribly but I know that dogs are loyal to their people.

 

Do you think dogs miss their previous families, even if they were neglected or mistreated? How can I help him feel better and put them behind him?

 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

great advice Karen. I will start working on some training with him. I bet it will help build his confidence.

[Becka]

Karen makes excellent points here. Winston probably isn't thinking about his past (dogs live very much in the now), but he does know that he's in an unfamiliar situation and he's looking to you for reassurance (which you are giving him, of course!). It's a great idea to do some training with him--even giving him the smallest bit of "work" to do will help him to feel more confident.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

He may miss his former family some, but he is much better off with you AND he knows it and is happier.  It seems to me that his allegiance is already with you.  The wimpering in his sleep - many dogs do this and whatever it is, it isn't dreaming of a former family.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I know my Spud is Happy Happy Happy and he looks just like Winston   :)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh yes, forgot to say that the wimpering is very normal and I personally have slept with 5 different doodles and they ALL wimper and shake and jerk around in their sleep. And none of them were ever abused. Maybe it;s a doodle thing??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nope, it's just a dog thing. All of my dogs have done it from time to time when they dream. When Jack does it, I can say something to him quietly and the whimpering stops but he doesn't seem to wake up.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

1 week of love = a lifetime of joy.....he has probably already forgotten his former life.

Daisy looks sad always, people tell me she has soulful eyes or she looks sad...she has never been alone, never been hurt, never been starved, it's just how she looks.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's what my GS says about Jack. Sometimes I'll comment that he looks so sad, and my GS will say, "Nonnie, that's just his face."

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

lol. that's cute. Perhaps it is just his face then. Maybe he was a poet in a past life :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It is all in the eyes. Look at these two photos of Clancy - #1 is when we first got him - look at the worry and confusion hidden there.  Look at a current picture.  I do not know if Clancy still misses some of the things about his former life, but I am sure he is happily content with his current one.  You will have that with Winston too.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Nancy, I am so glad Clancy has you! The first picture speaks volumes and I love the second one of contentment.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks.  The change takes a while, but the pictures really highlight their progress.