4 Tips for Dealing with Loneliness in Your Pet Dog

If you have just one pet and tend to spend long hours working as you leave your pooch alone at home, he could be feeling lonely. For a lonely dog, he will greatly benefit by having extra company in general. You might even begin to see big improvements in his mood once he has a companion. Not to mention the fact that happy dogs tend to be happier. In the precious moments you do have for each other, you will love enjoying time with your pet when he is in a better mood.

A Sad Demeanour

Compared to the average dog, a pooch that needs company will seem sadder. He will have a sad demeanour to his walk and have markedly sad eyes. Compared to other dogs, he will not want to participate in nor enjoy outdoor, fun activities.

Regression and Disobedience

In some of his actions, a dog who happens to be lonely will tend to regress and disobedient. He may begin sneaking out of your yard and chewing on your belongings. He might even do his business inside the house, even after years of having been toiled trained. He may even disobey you purposely to get attention. No matter what, these acts can be signs that your dog craves a companion.

Less Activity

Dogs that are lonely will be less active and slower than happier dogs. He will sleep more, lie around more and go for walks or play with less frequency. The pastimes your dog used to love will be something he is not as interested in. Lonely dogs do not eat as much as happy dogs either. You will notice a change in his eating habits and he will tend to eat lighter meals. He won’t want to eat too much and when this happens with medical conditions ruled out, your dog may be suffering from loneliness.

Options to Consider

There are a few options to consider once you suspect your pooch is lonely. One option is to get another pet such as a cat, bird or another dog. While you are gone, other pets can keep your furry pal company. Hire a pet sitter or a dog walker to visit Fido routinely if another pet is out of the question. This will help get your lonely dog socialized. Check to see if your community has a doggie day care where he can socialize, play and run around. This can do wonders for alleviating your dog’s loneliness. 

Mark Perry is a dedicated veterinarian for Canada Vet with over 20 years experience. A farm boy born and breed, Dr Perry loves all animals but he has a special place in his heart for working animals, particularly working dogs and horses.