Quote:
Originally Posted by BCGirl
Hey guys I need help/advice.
My parents have four Golden Retrievers.
Three of their own and one (Chelsea)belonging to my older brother, who got married a year ago. My parents keep Chelsea at our place cause my brother cant/wont keep her fulltime for whatever reason, he does however take her for a day or two once in a while. When he does this, she sits all day on the couch while he plays his xbox. This past year she has become extremely lethargic and not the happy-go-lucky-run-for-anything-you-throw dog she used to be. The other three are happy chewing anything and running for HOURS as Chelsea just looks on with a sad face. She is ‘spoiled' if you will, with as much attention and love as the other dogs are. Polite, trained, mind their manners and extremely friendly, but my Mom and I think she is really depressed and me being the dog lover who lost my Chesapeake two years ago , I find it really hard to see her like this and not do something to help. She is about five years old and my Brother has been meaning to breed her for years and has never done it. Could she be depressed because she hasnt had pups? Or is she confused about what to call home and who to call her master because she is taken away once in a while. I personally think it is this but I could be wrong.
Please give me ideas. I'd even be willing to take her to the vet out of my own pocket if any of you think they could help.
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The School of Hard Knocks . . . . .
1) Get your brother out of the picture. If he's sitting around ALL DAY playing x-box he probably doesn't need a dog and he's already displaying a great lack of responsibility. Frankly, the dog isn't even his anymore if it only spends a few days a week there and, from the sounds of it, reluctantly on his part. What's up with that? Fire him.
2) She's not depressed because she's never had pups. That's crazy.
3) Get her spayed. A dog in heat is a messy sight and the world is awash in rescues. The world doesn't need more back yard breeders. If you have to ask if she's depressed because she's never had pups you probably shouldn't be in the breeding business.
4) They're all different in terms of personality. She's getting a little older and preferring to lounge instead of running up and down isn't necessarily indicative of anything. If your brother is a couch potato, then don't be surprised if the dog is too.
5) On the other hand, I agree its a good idea to check on diet with the vet or get a full blood panel done to screen for other problems. It's a good idea once a year in any event. One of our Golden's needed a very precise, vet-prescribed diet - along with vegetables and raids in the raspberry patch - her entire life because of significant and debilitating allergies.
6) I'm on my third and fourth Golden Retrievers and I've finally found one that will return a thrown ball more than twice. But probably not more than three times. Doesn't mean anything.
7) Pick a home, any home but pick one. Or find a new one. Chelsea might do well if you simply found her a good, loving home . . . . . far from your brother's lethargic influence maybe. Just saying.
Cowperson