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Dog suddenly "depressed," but still loves his walks and food

wolfenmann

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Please try and answer! My dog's sadness is making me depressed.

I keep two dogs, a male Jacairn terrier (Jack Russell + Cairn) and a female dachshund. Both are about seven. The female is neutered.

The male has changed over the past four months for no reason I can see. Please read through to the end; I'll keep it short.

He's lost his "hobbies," he doesn't like to cuddle up with me on the bed (or even sleep on my bed); he's abandoned all the "nests" I've had custom-made for him; he doesn't like to sit in the yard or on his outdoors perch like he used to.

He's developed quirks, such as lying in the middle of any room he's in. If I bring his "nest" to the centre of my room, he'll lie on it, otherwise he'll languish in the centre of another room. His appetite for biscuits and chewies and games has decreased drastically. Worst of all, he looks sad all the time -- and this affects me and my work and my sleep. I think about it all the time: "What can I do?" I love him more than I love my mother and father and brother and sister combined.

What's happened, and what can I do? I'm not clinically worried because he still loves his food (which I myself prepare each day), and he loves his walks (three times a day in the woods, no less).

This is from India. I'm hoping to get some clarity on what's going on in his brain. We've had dogs in the house and on our beds from when we were born, and I just can't understand this chap.

My only guess that is that I've had personal issues and depressing episodes the past few months, and that he's catching those vibes. It seems a bit far-fetched to my logical mind, though, because he still enjoys his food and walks, like I said.

Please think -- and many thanks if you do!

--RR
 
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It is possible he is picking up on your feelings, dogs are very sensitive. Have you had a vet check him over to rule out any medical issues?
 
Hi there , id would take him to the vets to be checked over . I have a very old very sick dog who still loves walk and food , but he is very sick . Whenever an animals personality changes for more than a few days i think they need to be checked by a vet to rule out any underlying illness .
 
Agree with both the above, get him checked by a vet, but as JoanneF says theirs a good chance he is picking up your feelings.
 
From all three replies, looks like I do need to get my dog to the vet. And if two people are saying he might be picking up on my feelings, maybe I should put on a prettier face when I'm near him :- )
 
Five days have elapsed since you first posted. Let's hope if you do finally decide to take the dog to the vet that "time was not of the essence".
 
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