Gomi
 

We lost Gomi's mate Monday March 4th, was warned of him greiving but I thought he would be over it by now-he won't eat-my husband gave him Vienna Sausages fed them by hand and he ate for him., getting worried! Can't figure out out to pick up messages so please reply wright588@cox.net

Oh, your little one is missing his pack member. He's either lost a pack leader or follower and his sibling and he's in a quandary how to act. Get him moving, get him out and about. Take him more places and spend more upbeat time with him. Training your dog to do obedience with lots of positive reinforcement can help restore his sense of self and pride in his accomplishment, form a new, tighter bond with you. Play fetch with him. Buy him a few new toys and balls. He needs some new changes that are good, positive.

Teach him to "track". I call it "Seek Treats" - a game where I tell Tibbe to lie down where he can watch me and I hide pieces of his kibble around the kitchen and den. Then I "release" him and walk around the kitchen and den pointing to the treat and saying "Seek treat" and as he sees and gets it, I clap and praise him. We keep going around the course until he's found all of them. Then we repeat and repeat. The fourth time, I sit and watch him run the course all by himself. At first, he is just following my smell most likely but eventually I think he's sniffing his treats and is "tracking" their scent. It helps to develop a dog's instinctive sense of smell and let them enjoy one of the things dogs do well - sniff and hunt around for treats. Tibbe loves to do it. It will be something your dog will enjoy and even grow to look forward to each day. Dogs need something new and fun to look forward to, just like we do, especially a grieving dog.

If you are so moved after your grieving is better, you might consider getting your dog another companion if he keeps acting very sad, despite your efforts to get him up and moving.

I agree with what Jeanie said. Laddy was very lost when Lolita passed. It takes them quite some time to get over losing their friend. When you think your heart is ready a new playmate for him might help.

Jeanie, did you email the OP this info? I know it's not normal protocol, but she seems very lost on the forum and I really want her to get your info, as it is very helpful!

No, but I think I will, just to be on the safe side. Thanks for the reminder!!! :)

I did email those tips to Soozie53 at that email address and added a bit about getting a new bowl and placing it in a different place, handfeeding for a bit or tossing food to chase and eat as a game. Hope the poor little sad doggie gets a bit of an uplift from missing his brother with some new games and activities or something.

Gomi has always been my baby and Sassee was my husband's but now all Gomi wants to do is to lay on me, not very active-very protective of me. You have to realize Gomi was raised in a very different custom-My older son had raised him in Korea, he had never even been on grass before. piclked him up when he was 6 months in Seuol, South Korea my son had raised him in a 19 story apartment building-started a life here with his mate. He is a joy! he is just very sad