Beauness
07-24-2005, 08:26 PM
Well, I'm concerned with my Shih-tzu,Patches.
He seems depressed all the time and doesn't play much. Usually he'll shove his stuffed monkey at me or try and get me to play.
This all began a month ago or so, but 2 weeks ago we had another dog in the house. Patches loves playing with other dogs and rarely gets the chance... he doesn't play with dogs smaller than him much. This dog was around the type patches liked to crawl all over.
She was younger too. I was watching the house with my cousins and her dad because my parents were going away. When the dogs first met it seemed like everything was going ok. Then Bear(the other dog) attacked Patches for walking near a food bowl. After that, Patches avoided Bear and didn't like her around.
We've had dogs in the house for a couple of days all of which were female too. Somehow I think it may have to do with his strange behaviour.
The one thing that hasn't changed is his love for swimming. We have a pool in our backyard and he has his own surfboard too, we put him on it when he gets tired. He loves swimming and we're still trying to teach him how to get out in case he drowns like a previous dog we had.
Other than that it seems like hes depressed a lot. Maybe due to a lack of toys since hes ruined most of them. I could understand age but it was so sudden and I know many old dogs who still act like puppies. My parents wouldn't allow to have another dog for him to play with.
Hes also developed these front knee pains where he hops around over the years. They happen so sudden as well. He also bites his haunches until they bleed and we've been trying to get him to stop but before it can heal(not even sprays to help) he gets the itching back. I also wonder if his burrowing against things is a sign of allergies. Hes also been pooping on the floor lately, I hear its a sign of stress.
We've been feeding him canned food and barely touches his dry food. My parents don't listen to the methods of training or health I've read up on and I don't know how to help.
I know my little lion is meant to be a companion, but I want him to be more active and enjoy life. It seems like he has the blues and I want to help in any way I can.
He seems depressed all the time and doesn't play much. Usually he'll shove his stuffed monkey at me or try and get me to play.
This all began a month ago or so, but 2 weeks ago we had another dog in the house. Patches loves playing with other dogs and rarely gets the chance... he doesn't play with dogs smaller than him much. This dog was around the type patches liked to crawl all over.
She was younger too. I was watching the house with my cousins and her dad because my parents were going away. When the dogs first met it seemed like everything was going ok. Then Bear(the other dog) attacked Patches for walking near a food bowl. After that, Patches avoided Bear and didn't like her around.
We've had dogs in the house for a couple of days all of which were female too. Somehow I think it may have to do with his strange behaviour.
The one thing that hasn't changed is his love for swimming. We have a pool in our backyard and he has his own surfboard too, we put him on it when he gets tired. He loves swimming and we're still trying to teach him how to get out in case he drowns like a previous dog we had.
Other than that it seems like hes depressed a lot. Maybe due to a lack of toys since hes ruined most of them. I could understand age but it was so sudden and I know many old dogs who still act like puppies. My parents wouldn't allow to have another dog for him to play with.
Hes also developed these front knee pains where he hops around over the years. They happen so sudden as well. He also bites his haunches until they bleed and we've been trying to get him to stop but before it can heal(not even sprays to help) he gets the itching back. I also wonder if his burrowing against things is a sign of allergies. Hes also been pooping on the floor lately, I hear its a sign of stress.
We've been feeding him canned food and barely touches his dry food. My parents don't listen to the methods of training or health I've read up on and I don't know how to help.
I know my little lion is meant to be a companion, but I want him to be more active and enjoy life. It seems like he has the blues and I want to help in any way I can.