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Traildust · 05-27-2005, 08:49 PM

I made a post a little over five weeks ago about the loss of one of our dogs. Many of you replied with some of the most sympathetic responses, it's great to know there are so many dog lovers here. Thank you once again.
What I'd like to relay to all is how our surviving dog has handled it and wonder if anyone else has experienced the same with their dog. The two dogs were a pair for over eleven years. Our Husky/Shepard mix didn't seem to notice the first couple of weeks and then it was like he figured out that his best buddy wasn't coming home again. He sort of went into a state of depression for a week or so but after that we have noticed a very distinct change in his personality and his habits. Now here is where it gets strange and you all can laugh if you want but he seems to have started to display many of the habits and traits of the dog we lost? I won't go into detail but it's very uncanny to witness the change in this dog's personality. We had him at the Vet today and I discussed it with him and oddly enough he said that he hears this from time to time. He also stated that it is a topic of discussion at the Clinic often. I know many will think I'm crazy for posting this but I just wonder if anyone else has experienced such a thing with any of their animals?
Thanks for listening once again.
Traildust

Traildust · 05-27-2005, 08:49 PM

I made a post a little over five weeks ago about the loss of one of our dogs. Many of you replied with some of the most sympathetic responses, it's great to know there are so many dog lovers here. Thank you once again.
What I'd like to relay to all is how our surviving dog has handled it and wonder if anyone else has experienced the same with their dog. The two dogs were a pair for over eleven years. Our Husky/Shepard mix didn't seem to notice the first couple of weeks and then it was like he figured out that his best buddy wasn't coming home again. He sort of went into a state of depression for a week or so but after that we have noticed a very distinct change in his personality and his habits. Now here is where it gets strange and you all can laugh if you want but he seems to have started to display many of the habits and traits of the dog we lost? I won't go into detail but it's very uncanny to witness the change in this dog's personality. We had him at the Vet today and I discussed it with him and oddly enough he said that he hears this from time to time. He also stated that it is a topic of discussion at the Clinic often. I know many will think I'm crazy for posting this but I just wonder if anyone else has experienced such a thing with any of their animals?
Thanks for listening once again.
Traildust

RV Wizard · 05-27-2005, 11:11 PM

I don't think that it is strange that "man's best friend" knows that his buddy made his master happy to be around the two of them and now is displaying some of the other dog's traits to help fill the void for his master.

Novi · 06-03-2005, 08:11 AM

Hello Traildust, try this web site http://www.globalpaw.com you might find some dog lovers who know about or have experienced what you are seeing. Good luck

Allegro Happy · 06-03-2005, 08:48 AM

They grieve, we just don't see the crying. Behavior modification of one of the process. When we had our 2 foster boys get taken back by their granparents (long story) they were with us for a year. Our boxers were really upset. Looking for them etc. Tiffiny GAINED weight. She would eat her food and go over to Duke's dish and push him asidde to eat his too. When the boys came back to visit they couldn't believe how big she got. Depression>>>eating! Sound familiar?

RustyJC · 06-03-2005, 08:56 AM

As I mentioned in the previous thread, we lost the older of our 2 Shelties (Brittany) during the latter half of 2004 and brought a new Sheltie pup (Annabelle) home a few weeks later. Despite that, Bandit, who is 5 years old, went into a period of lethargy and depression. When we would go out in the RV, all he wanted to do was to lie under the dining table and sleep. At home, he would go in the foyer or under the breakfast table and sleep.

It has only been in the last month or so that we've noticed him returning to his former personality. He's coming out and wanting to be in the midst of the family activities more and more, and we notice him playing with Annabelle (who has always bugged him to no end with her puppy playfulness by biting his ears, jumping on his back, etc.) more as time passes.

And, yes, Bandit has taken on some of Brittany's traits. He now is responsible for barking at the vacuum cleaner, barking at me when I sneeze, and a number of other behaviors that Brittany had.

Rusty