cocker spaniel not interested in going for walks.
Discussion
Odd one this. All of a sudden Charlie is disinterested in going for walks and seems to prefer going home. This has more or less happened overnight.
He will be eight in December.
In the house he seems ok, always very clingy to me, but he has always been like that. But I think he is just a bit more subdued than normal.
He has been to the vet, had a blood test and that came back all clear. I passed a urine sample to them yesterday so waiting for the results to that. He has been prescribed Metacam and Pardale medications as pain killers, but he isn't limping or seem to be in any pain.
Could he be depressed (do dogs get depressed?) He hasn't been attacked or anything when he has been out so I can't see that he would be anxious about anything. He just seems to have lost his mojo. It is very odd for a spaniel.
This is going to sound very odd, but do dogs miss people?! My eldest daughter started Uni in September and they adored each other, and Charlie was obsessed with her boyfriend as well. Could that be it, as daft as it sounds? I feel really guilty as something has happened, he just isn't the same dog anymore. I'm going to take him out to the New Forest at the weekend, see if a change of scenery perks him up, but it is bizarre how quickly it happened. Has anyone had any experience of this?
This is my view on walks now:

He will be eight in December.
In the house he seems ok, always very clingy to me, but he has always been like that. But I think he is just a bit more subdued than normal.
He has been to the vet, had a blood test and that came back all clear. I passed a urine sample to them yesterday so waiting for the results to that. He has been prescribed Metacam and Pardale medications as pain killers, but he isn't limping or seem to be in any pain.
Could he be depressed (do dogs get depressed?) He hasn't been attacked or anything when he has been out so I can't see that he would be anxious about anything. He just seems to have lost his mojo. It is very odd for a spaniel.
This is going to sound very odd, but do dogs miss people?! My eldest daughter started Uni in September and they adored each other, and Charlie was obsessed with her boyfriend as well. Could that be it, as daft as it sounds? I feel really guilty as something has happened, he just isn't the same dog anymore. I'm going to take him out to the New Forest at the weekend, see if a change of scenery perks him up, but it is bizarre how quickly it happened. Has anyone had any experience of this?
This is my view on walks now:
Having similar challenges myself with my wife's rescue dog.
He's 3 and we've had him just over 2 years. He was always very skittish and scared of strangers and loud noises.
My wife has gone on vacation for 3 weeks and the dog lays on her side of the bed whimpering at night and refuses to walk. Is still eating and drinking.
Called the vet who said as long as he is eating and drinking thats important - but should it go on she can give some "calming" medicine to maybe help.
Good luck OP
He's 3 and we've had him just over 2 years. He was always very skittish and scared of strangers and loud noises.
My wife has gone on vacation for 3 weeks and the dog lays on her side of the bed whimpering at night and refuses to walk. Is still eating and drinking.
Called the vet who said as long as he is eating and drinking thats important - but should it go on she can give some "calming" medicine to maybe help.
Good luck OP
Brother had two dogs , both were let out in a morning by my Brother and then would sit at he bottom of the stairs waiting for Sister in law to come downstairs.
Sister in law died and both dogs didn't eat for three days, after that both were very subdued.
One dog died within six months at 8 years old, the younger dog now went off again after losing her mate, took almost 12 months before she came round properly.
We'd two dogs who used to argue all the time with one another, when we lost one the other really went into a sulk for months.
Sister in law died and both dogs didn't eat for three days, after that both were very subdued.
One dog died within six months at 8 years old, the younger dog now went off again after losing her mate, took almost 12 months before she came round properly.
We'd two dogs who used to argue all the time with one another, when we lost one the other really went into a sulk for months.
They’re amazing empaths dogs, it’s bred into them as pack animals.
Our Cocker reacts to people being ill or upset and does his best to help. Usually this involves lots of licking. He even started fussing over me 24 hours before I realised I had Covid - freaky.
Hope you get your little fella sorted.
Our Cocker reacts to people being ill or upset and does his best to help. Usually this involves lots of licking. He even started fussing over me 24 hours before I realised I had Covid - freaky.
Hope you get your little fella sorted.
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