My cockapoo looks sad :'(
Discussion
Hi all,
Any advice/words of wisdom gratefully received.
I have a cockapoo puppy, nearing one year old.
Not sure what is up with him, but he seems a bit listless/down.
He has plenty of input, I work from home. We exercise him regularly and in different locations for variance. He gets loaaaads of love and care from me,the OH and our ten year old.
He seems anxious somehow and I don't get why. I know separation anxiety can be an issue for these dogs so we have worked hard to not let that be a problem. Left him for periods on his own for an hour semi regularly without making a fuss when we leave. (He has the run of the house in our absence).
He doesn't seem to enjoy his walks as much as he did, goes out into the garden and howls at nothing repeatedly, refuses to come in from his pre bed time garden wander and wee.
Is it just his age? Is it all part of growing up? He can't be lonely. He is the apple of our eye and socialises well with our neighbours dog...
Am I worrying too much? Should I take some man pills? Difficult though when he looks down at the chops
Resident pet people, over to you.
Thanks in advance,
CTO (and Elvis the cockapoo).
Any advice/words of wisdom gratefully received.
I have a cockapoo puppy, nearing one year old.
Not sure what is up with him, but he seems a bit listless/down.
He has plenty of input, I work from home. We exercise him regularly and in different locations for variance. He gets loaaaads of love and care from me,the OH and our ten year old.
He seems anxious somehow and I don't get why. I know separation anxiety can be an issue for these dogs so we have worked hard to not let that be a problem. Left him for periods on his own for an hour semi regularly without making a fuss when we leave. (He has the run of the house in our absence).
He doesn't seem to enjoy his walks as much as he did, goes out into the garden and howls at nothing repeatedly, refuses to come in from his pre bed time garden wander and wee.
Is it just his age? Is it all part of growing up? He can't be lonely. He is the apple of our eye and socialises well with our neighbours dog...
Am I worrying too much? Should I take some man pills? Difficult though when he looks down at the chops
Resident pet people, over to you.
Thanks in advance,
CTO (and Elvis the cockapoo).
I don't think you're worrying too much - if my young dog was acting like this, I'd be concerned too.
Do you have any reason to think he may be in pain or injured?
I think I'd be booking a vet visit just to be on the safe side. I hope there is nothing wrong, but I've learnt to trust my gut when it comes to my dogs.
Keep us updated.
Do you have any reason to think he may be in pain or injured?
I think I'd be booking a vet visit just to be on the safe side. I hope there is nothing wrong, but I've learnt to trust my gut when it comes to my dogs.
Keep us updated.
I wish I did but I am a bit stumped at the mo. I was almost hoping he hadn't been done so we could blame hormones!! Diet might be worth looking at.
Maybe he needs more mental stimulation eg agility classes, teaching new tricks/games. Something like that. Something to think about if all clear at the vets.
Maybe he needs more mental stimulation eg agility classes, teaching new tricks/games. Something like that. Something to think about if all clear at the vets.
Thanks Bex.
I am going to consider a change of diet.
We spoil him a bit. Titbits, treats, snackage... I am slightly worried that may be affecting him. At least it's an easy fix if so.
Apparently being a mix of cocker and poodle, they are quite bright little things and need not just the company aspect, but the mental agility side k things . Perhaps more so than some other breeds.
Will have a research what's available locally
Thanks for your suggestions
Jon
I am going to consider a change of diet.
We spoil him a bit. Titbits, treats, snackage... I am slightly worried that may be affecting him. At least it's an easy fix if so.
Apparently being a mix of cocker and poodle, they are quite bright little things and need not just the company aspect, but the mental agility side k things . Perhaps more so than some other breeds.
Will have a research what's available locally
Thanks for your suggestions
Jon
CTO said:
Thanks Bex.
I am going to consider a change of diet.
We spoil him a bit. Titbits, treats, snackage... I am slightly worried that may be affecting him. At least it's an easy fix if so.
Apparently being a mix of cocker and poodle, they are quite bright little things and need not just the company aspect, but the mental agility side k things . Perhaps more so than some other breeds.
Will have a research what's available locally
Thanks for your suggestions
Jon
Poodles are incredibly bright and intelligent very misunderstood breed tbh.I am going to consider a change of diet.
We spoil him a bit. Titbits, treats, snackage... I am slightly worried that may be affecting him. At least it's an easy fix if so.
Apparently being a mix of cocker and poodle, they are quite bright little things and need not just the company aspect, but the mental agility side k things . Perhaps more so than some other breeds.
Will have a research what's available locally
Thanks for your suggestions
Jon
moorx said:
bexVN said:
Poodles are incredibly bright and intelligent very misunderstood breed tbh.
Yes, when I was considering a Standard Poodle, I heard this - something about them being close behind a Border Collie in terms of intelligence?Hi all,
Quick update. He seems a bit brighter yesterday. Tail wagging more,generally a bit more alert.
I haven't had a chance to book him into the vets but will do this morning.
He has just emptied all the soil from my rose planter box (fairly large wooden thing) on to my decking and dug a hole in it for his ball.
I will post pics now via mobile, although they will undoubtedly be sideways/upside down.
Thanks for all your well wishes. Much appreciated.
Quick update. He seems a bit brighter yesterday. Tail wagging more,generally a bit more alert.
I haven't had a chance to book him into the vets but will do this morning.
He has just emptied all the soil from my rose planter box (fairly large wooden thing) on to my decking and dug a hole in it for his ball.
I will post pics now via mobile, although they will undoubtedly be sideways/upside down.
Thanks for all your well wishes. Much appreciated.
Hi CTO,
I remember you posting a video of when you got Elvis around the same time that I got my cockapoo so I think our dogs are a very similar age.
Although it's often quoted that it's too easy to read human emotions into dogs you know your dog better than anyone so if you think he's sad he probably is. I have experienced one week of this with mine (Digby) and it was terrible. The previous two weeks he'd had his sister stay at my house and he'd had so much fun/play with her that when she left he took it badly. I have an IP cam and he cried whilst I was at work (not just a whimper, proper howling), he went off his food and he practically ignored me. He was down in the dumps!
I have a couple of books on how to 'engage dog's brains' so I worked on a few of the activities with him (scent work, searching, etc) just to try cheer him up and after a few days he came back round. My local behaviourist also runs a 'Fun with Fido' class which is aimed at the same sort of things so it might be worth checking what's available for Elvis.
I've grown up with dogs but this cockapoo is definitely the most characterful in terms of letting you know what he's thinking. I often feel guilty about Digby being bored in the evening when there's not much going on, he rarely seems to sleep during the day and is expert at letting me know that he's fed up with plenty of loud sighs and looking at me expectedly every time I move, lol.
Anyway, good luck and let us know how you get on. I'd be interested in anything that you find that works with Elvis.
I remember you posting a video of when you got Elvis around the same time that I got my cockapoo so I think our dogs are a very similar age.
Although it's often quoted that it's too easy to read human emotions into dogs you know your dog better than anyone so if you think he's sad he probably is. I have experienced one week of this with mine (Digby) and it was terrible. The previous two weeks he'd had his sister stay at my house and he'd had so much fun/play with her that when she left he took it badly. I have an IP cam and he cried whilst I was at work (not just a whimper, proper howling), he went off his food and he practically ignored me. He was down in the dumps!
I have a couple of books on how to 'engage dog's brains' so I worked on a few of the activities with him (scent work, searching, etc) just to try cheer him up and after a few days he came back round. My local behaviourist also runs a 'Fun with Fido' class which is aimed at the same sort of things so it might be worth checking what's available for Elvis.
I've grown up with dogs but this cockapoo is definitely the most characterful in terms of letting you know what he's thinking. I often feel guilty about Digby being bored in the evening when there's not much going on, he rarely seems to sleep during the day and is expert at letting me know that he's fed up with plenty of loud sighs and looking at me expectedly every time I move, lol.
Anyway, good luck and let us know how you get on. I'd be interested in anything that you find that works with Elvis.
Here he is on Sunday
I know an ice cream is naughty, but it's difficult to resist
Ive just spent aaaaages playing with him in the garden, and he came and sat on me as a reward!
I have also emailed a local dog agility and training school to get him signed up with that. Classes run on a Sunday morning locally. Should mean he can make some more friends and give him a mental work out!
Mids, and others, thanks for your responses.
Bex: thanks for sticking your head in. Much appreciated.
He does seem a bit more chirpy. Maybe he was just having a sad day. Heartbreaking to see him looking down though!
I think some dogs just are weird sometimes!
My Pooch has some really odd behaviour traits and tiny things can send her into a sulk - seeing a dog she doesn't like, walking past a van that has a barking dog in it, recently just leaving via the front of the house! Going round the back, fine. Leaving at the front, she'd cower on the step! Pick her up and put her in the car, and she's fine when we get to the walk.
I would echo what has been said above, love, attention and mental simulation.
My Pooch has some really odd behaviour traits and tiny things can send her into a sulk - seeing a dog she doesn't like, walking past a van that has a barking dog in it, recently just leaving via the front of the house! Going round the back, fine. Leaving at the front, she'd cower on the step! Pick her up and put her in the car, and she's fine when we get to the walk.
I would echo what has been said above, love, attention and mental simulation.
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