Dog Depressed

[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.

[Kybosh]

Is the dog getting a chance to run free regularly? I'm talking off leash dog park every day or every other day.

[dissentowner]

Sounds like the dog misses his master.

[BCGirl]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Is the dog getting a chance to run free regularly? I'm talking off leash dog park every day or every other day.

No, but they have a half acre yard to run around in all the timewith my little siblings playing with them. She has never really been taken to the dog park but it would be something to look at. She never has really been and this issue has only started in the last year.

[Pizza]

sounds like you need the services of...

[Nage Waza]

Besides increasing exercise, have a look at the diet of the dog. Some foods don't work with every dog. Too much protein can cause problems, or foods that digest too quickly. Nutrition along with exercise are the likely culprits here.

[flamesfever]

If it was me, I'd probably take the dog to the vet, just to satisfy myself there is nothing wrong physically. He may also be able to give advise, should the dog be depressed.

I routinely take my dog to the vet once a year for an annual checkup, just to make sure he is maintaining good health, has all his shots, etc.

[BCGirl]

I know my parents have her on a deworming program with the other dogs. But I dont know the last time she was taken to the vet.
She is fed Pedigree with the others but Im going to look into what line it is, maybe take her to the vet and see if they recommend a different kind along with an increase of excercise. I just moved back to Kelowna from Cgy this week so she is going to be going out with me for daily excercise so Im hoping that will begin to help as well. Dog park will have to wait though cuz shes in heat right now

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Sounds like the dog misses his master.

That'd be my guess as well. Maybe misses her buddies too.

[Lobotroth]

"GO GET BUSY BEE!!!"

[Cowperson]

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.

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

[BCGirl]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

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

Thanks Cowperson

1) We have offered my brother more than twice the amount she is worth as a purebred, and he refuses to sell her. Yes, he's a lazy butt at his house, but unfortunately thats between him and his wife, and I do believe it is his actions that is negatively effecting Chelsea this way, even partially.

2) Our other three retrievers are not only family pets but once they are mature are going to be breeding dogs. My brother intended to breed Chelsea a couple times and as of yet (again) doesn't get his act together when she goes into heat.

3) Dogs have different personalities yes, but my question then would be is it common for a dogs personality to change over time? You have had your retrievers before, did you ever see them over time withdraw and become completely opposite of what they used to be like unless circumstances changed? Because thats what she is doing and my only answer to that would be that because my brother is taking her once in a while ( and by that I mean two days or so every 2-3 weeks) and not only influencing her to become a 'couch potato' if you will, but also depressing her because it makes her miss him when he is not around.

4) Pick a new home? We are her family and she knows it, but she also knows that she belongs to my brother. To pick a new home wouldn't do any good because she is happy here with the other dogs and the kids, just not the dog she used to be, again reiterating, I feel that this is due to the house-bouncing. And I'm assuming there is no actual law that we could get a loophole to make him sell her to us because he's being a 'negligent owner' and doesn't man up and keep her. Cause if there was I'd probably go for it!

Thanks for the tips though! I do appreciate it and take everything you say! I adore her so much and my boyfriend desperately wants to buy her off my brother but he refuses and it really makes me upset to see her be treated like that. I feel if it's your dog, you take the responsibility, however that is not her case right now and we keep trying to buy her.

[Superfraggle]

Absolutely bring her to a vet. A friend of mine thought his dog might be depressed, as she had low energy and gained a lot of weight, but it turned out to be a thyroid problem. A few pills every day now and she's back in action.

[SebC]

Who signs up just to post in off-topic? Very odd.

[Suzles]

Please don't breed her - or any of your other dogs. I work in rescue and the amount of dogs out there, already excess to the number of homes to go around, is just heartbreaking.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by SebC

Who signs up just to post in off-topic? Very odd.

Me. I don't even like hockey.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

If you have to ask if she's depressed because she's never had pups you probably shouldn't be in the breeding business.

This might be my favorite sentence ever posted on Calgarypuck.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Me. I don't even like hockey.

I don't even like Calgary, or pucks.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Me. I don't even like hockey.

Okay, who signs up just to post in off-topic, and is from BC (allegedly), and is a girl (allegedly)? Very odd.

[Bertuzzied]

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.

Sorry but your brother is an idiot. He bought her to breed her and he can't make time away from his xbox to play with her? What was he going to do with the pups? flip them for a quick buck?

I hope he doesn't have a kid anytime soon.