I have a 7yr. old Yorkie that I adopted. I have only had him for about 2 months. I noticed that all he wants to do is sleep. He is home during the day by himself and when I get home I take him out for a walk. Once he is done eating he just wants to lay on the couch and/or floor and sleep more. I do take him for a walk in the am, after work, and in the evening before bed. He doesn't play. I purchased toys for him and even toys that will dispense treats and he doesn't want to play with that either. Is this normal? How can I get him to be more active or want to play. I am not sure what his home life was before he came to our family. I did take him to doggy day camp once. They say he did good. I can't do that all the time, but I thought about once a week.
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Two months is still new so the pup could still be adjusting to his new home.
I would have the vet check to make sure there are no underlying health conditions or depression going on with him. Dogs can take anti depressants, which are not that expensive and can help perk him up if the vet suspects depression.
That said, my mom adopted a beagle about 9 years ago and she had a terrible life before she came to us. The vet did diagnose depression and the pup did long course of antidepressants.
They all have their personalities and quirks. Hoping your pup gets a clean bill of health and warms up to his new life. Sending up lots of prayers!!!
Thank you. The vet did put him on Prozac for his separation anxiety. It was so bad that he would bark and whine for about and hour or two once we left. The Prozac has lessened that part. Part of me is thinking no one ever played with him.
Your baby sounds like ours who was in Lord knows how many houses and 4 shelters before we got him. Unlike my sister dog, he did learn to play with toys, but it took awhile.
My sister dog leads a happy, couch potato life, which is good for my mom. The Prozac was a blessing to get her over her initial problems from her horrible past.
Prayers for your pup!! Sounds like he has found an amazing FUR ever home!! Take care!!!
I don't know how my husband does it, but that man can somehow manage to get once-feral cats to let him handle them is able to teach young, middle-aged, & even geriatric cats & dogs to chase a toy; hwr, I'm the one that generally manages to get the dogs to actually retrieve the toys they chase after.
We've sort of 'inherited' my mil's almost 10yo toy fox terrier. We've been around her for her entire life but she's been home w/us for little better than 6mos. Each time I take 2 steps, she takes 2 & 1/100th, positioning herself right under my feet.
If the vet says he is healthy, then I wouldn't worry. Some dogs are more active than others.
Since he sees a vet quite regularly it would seem his health is okay but hopefully he will not have to stay on Prozac for a long time. Be sure to check with the vet often to see if you can try slowly weening him from a need for this medication. There are also other medications instead of Prozac that you might want to think about.
Since your little guy is a small breed, I'd highly recommend taking him in for the vet to check him out just in case there is something related to his age or something breed-specific going on. Outside of that, try leaving a television playing, preferably with some Youtube videos set in a playlist that are geared toward canines with depression and/or separation anxiety. It might help.
I have sort of inherited a toy fox terrier who is almost 10yrs old & has terrible separation anxiety. While we do our best not to leave her alone bc she does go a bit bat-crap nuts when we have no choice. Grocery shopping, clothes shopping for MIL, & about every 3mos when DH & my doc appts fall in the same month if not the same day are usually the times when she just cannot come w/us. I have a tablet & a notebook so usually I set up one or the other in the kitchen, which is where she has to stay behind a barrier when we're gone (it's actually to longer pieces of cardboard that DH cut down & then glued together in a fold in order to make a barrier that sits up on its own, but I do wedge it next to the door frame using a couple of antique decorate cast-iron, irons on each side held in place with a nearly full bottle of detergent just so she won't push against it if someone rings the doorbell or delivers a package while we're gone).
Hope this helps in some way. Best of luck to you & your furry, four-legged kiddie.
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