Traning An Elderly Dog To Be Alone

[Pugmum]

Aplogies if I am in the wrong area - I was unsure where best to post this question.

I have a male pug (Otis) that is nearly 11 yo and he recently lost his partner (female pug 9 yo). WHile the female was unwell we had a cam on in the house to check she was okay while we were at work, and I noticed that one day when she was at chemo Otis just sat and howled the whole day.

After that he would spend the day at my folks place while Maggie was off having treatment. Since her passing, he howls whenever he is left alone, even when you just pop to the shops. While we are at work he now goes to my folks place again.

He can cantinue this for a few more weeks I guess, but we cant do this indefinitely. He's enjoying going to my folks, but its restrictive for them. He needs to get used to spending some time alone. I just dont know how to best go about achieving this. I'm trying not to get another dog - we cant reaplce Maggie anyway, it still wouldn't be her.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm still raw from losing Maggie and I really cant think straght about what to do.

thank you

Brigitte

[paddles]

we had a similar thing, time will fix it. the more you pay attention to his howling, the worse it will get. unless he is upsetting the nieghbours, let him cry out his grief, he's upset.

[spottychick]

awww poor little dear. I can understand your distress. Can I ask why another dog is out of the question? I'm not saying you should, just wondered what the reason is.

I ended up getting another dog for my girl when both her 'family' members passed away within a year of each other. She was miserable without her buddies so I adopted the cutest psycho dog I could find LOL and I wont say it's been easy but I am glad I did it.

[Jigsaw]

I'm sorry for your loss. Poor Otis may be feeling a bit lost and confused. Maybe some Rescue Remedy for a short time may help him. Other suggestions I would try firstly would be taking him for a walk before you go to work. It's something to take a bit of energy out of him and give him some time to sniff around and occupy his mind. What about some games inside (especially if wet) such as hiding treats or yourself? Maybe do some training, simple tricks, that kind of thing. Can you try doggy day care or meet up with some doggy friends to let him have a play? Have you removed or washed items that are strongly marked with his partner's scent? If there is residual scent it may be confusing him too. You may want to consider changing the place where you leave him during the day, perhaps somewhere inside if possible where he may feel more reassured if your scent is around. It may just take time but if you have tried various things and you meet with no success he may need drug therapy, hopefully for the short term to assist with the readjustment. Given his age there could be some factor of dementia starting as well.

[Pugmum]

Thank you so much for your responses, I appreciate your suggestions.

We had decided not to get another dog because having two had made it very difficult to go away much, and in the last 10 years I had hardly left them. Trying to take them away with us is also quite difficult with one dog much less two. So many places only allow dogs if they stay outside etc and that just didn;t work for us. Having family look after them was also a problem, again two was too daunting for people who dont normally have dogs.

Right now, with only Otis I can get him looked after by my parents or daughter. My daughter has two Chi's and one used to just pester Maggie all the time - but Otis is fine with them. My husband has grandchildren in Qld and goes to see them every few months - alone. he wants me to travel with him, but like I said I have hardly left the ppugs in 10 years. I think the human male in my life also needs some attention now

We Got Maggie after our staffy died because Otis did not like to be alone. I thought that now he is 11 he'd be more settled and confortable enough not to be so bothered by it.

I have boght Otis a new bed (the day Maggie passed) and he loves it. their joint bed is gone, and her little single bed and rug is wrapped up and stored. I cant get rid of that because I need to sniff that a bit myself Its like I'm not sad enough, and have to make myself cry more - crazy I know.

But every thing else is washed or removed - for my sanilty as much as his.

We dont walk at the moment as he is still going to my folks every day and getting plenty of exercise with them. after next week we'll scale down his daytime visits bit by bit and I'll walk him in the morning and evening. See how it goes.... I'll google hte Rescue Remedy - I had not heard of it before.

If all esle fails and he still does not cope I'll maybe look at an older rescue dog, in which case hubby will probably need the rescue remedy

thanks again,