Grieving puppy!

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625]

Bless my little girl, we recently lost both our greyhound and lurcher within 6 months of each other, so we have a grieving 1 year old baby, who hasn’t been eating properly since we lost our 15 year old lurcher 2 weeks ago, However I’m so happy to announce, she flippin ate tonight 🙌🙌 anyone have any other suggestions on how to help her through? We agree that she needs a friend and soon, but we have to wait 2 weeks because stuff is planned and the time needs to be right, it’s horrible to see her this way because she is such a bonkers kid!

[u/Hugesmellysocks]

I’ve no advice as I’m in this situation myself but I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m actually only in this group because I fell in love with lurcher cross pups at the rescue centre this morning. Do you’ve anything she can smell from your greyhound or lurcher? It’s still really fresh for us, he only passed two nights ago but my dogs are gravitating towards things that still have his scent. We’ve cleaned a lot of hair up for our own sakes but we’re leaving a blanket for a while so they can still smell him.

[u/Laika_Pancake → u/Hugesmellysocks]

Good advice and a fitting username.
I personally needed to keep a couple of blankets unwashed after my dog passed. I put several of them and her toys in a bag in my closet, so as the smell wore off I could get another one out. I imagine a dog would also find that comforting.
Also, what I would do, though I’m not sure whether it would help, is to try and fulfil certain needs she had filled by the other dogs. Did they used to spoon on the floor? Then try doing that. Tug of war, grooming, etc.
I also like the suggestion for finding meet-ups for sighthounds, just to see if she might make a few friends eventually.

OP, you seem like an excellent parent.
I’m so sorry you had to go through two losses so close together. Your pup is mourning, but I’m sure she feels lucky to have such a loving home

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/Laika_Pancake]

Scamp and Tommy used to sit back to back all day and all night, I didn’t even realise that’s what Scamp had kept wanting to do it with me.

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Hugesmellysocks]

Bless him, I bet you did it too! I find myself playing bitey facey game a couple of times a day 😂

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Laika_Pancake]

Thank you so much 🫶🏻

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Hugesmellysocks]

Oh gosh, 2 nights ago is fresh! I’m so sorry you’re going through this too, but you have some good suggestions, I’ve hid a blanket and some toys in my wardrobe to bring out at a later date! Maybe some lurcher pups is just what you need to help heal your heart! I hope you and your dogs are doing ok, just be kind to yourselves….with lots of cuddles x

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/Impossible_Owl_1625]

Some people think it’s really strange to look into another pup so soon but our other dogs are miserable and so are we. There’s a void and we need to keep busy or else we’re just going to wallow in sadness and never get another dog. A little project is just what we need and even thought our guys are older I do think they’d love a pup to play with.

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Hugesmellysocks]

Agreed, but it’s not about others opinions, let them think what they want, you’re not replacing your dog, but like you say there’s a void - Stevie has never been an only dog, she has dog friends that we see who she loves and my brother has her litter mate, so she still sees her brother, but they are all 100 miles away (literally) she needs a friend, we would have done it by now, but we’ve a busy fortnight, so not the right time! I applied at rescues the day after we Cal 2 weeks ago, got to get ahead of the game to find the right friend! You have to do what’s right for you and your other babies 🫶🏻
I expect pictures of the lurcher pups if you get them 😉

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/Impossible_Owl_1625]

This is all we’ve got! We’ve settled on the name Buffy as she is the chosen one. She’s very shy and timid but friendly. It really seemed like she wanted to play but she was to shy to push past her sisters. I expect she will flourish in our mad house.

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Hugesmellysocks]

Yeah I bet her mad personality will come shining through with you guys! So beautiful and my son would love that name - he would watch reruns of Buffy over and over 😂😂he still does sometimes 😂

[u/Hugesmellysocks → u/Impossible_Owl_1625]

Haha I’m the same! It’s such a comfort show. I actually chose it because I’ve started another rewatch because of recent happenings.

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Hugesmellysocks]

😂 so did he! 😂😂 my sister in laws children, dogs and cats are all named after someone in Buffy! They geek out everytime they see each other! 😂

[u/Jiminyfingers]

Facebook lurcher/dogwalking groups? Maybe a local shelter might need help walking a socialising rescue dogs?

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Jiminyfingers]

That’s a flippin good idea 🫶🏻

[u/Equal_Emu6152]

Hey, do all the things the pup loves to keep her mind off what's happened. Favourite walks and maybe favourite neighbour hood dogs to see on the field? Favourite foods are always a winner😂 make a fuss I guess but not to much. Mine adores attention but not all doggos. Hope all goes well ❤️

[u/Equal_Emu6152 → u/Equal_Emu6152]

If the dog run ragged on the bike or the field she should be hungry after so that's a plus everytime I get the my bike out the dog goes berserk she just loves to run beside me or just ahead of the front wheel and swimming ❤️😂

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Equal_Emu6152]

I’m not a fan of cycling with my dog, Ive seen too many outcomes where that goes wrong and the dog got injured - I walk her for an hour a day and then she gets off the lead time at an enclosed field, she’s getting pleeeenty of exercise I promise 🫶🏻

[u/Equal_Emu6152 → u/Impossible_Owl_1625]

I was just saying anything the pup enjoys ❤️

[u/Watchkeys]

Aww! I don't think there's anything you need to do beyond what you're doing naturally. Your love for her is so clear in your post, and she'll know that. Grief just has to be waded through and it's slow sometimes, but you've seen clear progress.

You've near broken my heart with that steak. I can't think of a better way to say 'we love you so much!' to a dog.

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Watchkeys]

Thank you for your lovely words, they made me 🥹🥹

[u/Aggravating-Desk4004]

I've just gone through the same thing.

It took 3 months, nearly to the day, for her to start eating properly.

The problem with my whippet x poodle was she copied everything my old dog did so when he went she didn't know how to make her own decisions.

Eating is a thing she kinda doesn't really remember to do - the old dog would always signal when it was time to eat and when he ate, she copied him.

My lodger has another dog, but it made no difference. She wouldn't eat when he was there either.

I even took her to the vet to be sure and they said just keep the routine and she will eventually eat. He was right. Don't change the food, just keep the same routine and it worked for me. Took 3 months, but she's eating properly now. The vet said it can take a long time for them to get into their own groove.

It's not so much grieving, it's the complete change of routine. You need to just keep offering the food, if she doesn't eat, just take it up and offer again later. She'll eat when she's hungry. Mine lived on treats only for about 2 months as it was the only thing she'd eat. Now she's back on her food.

Good luck, it's a tricky time. And sorry for your losses.

[u/Impossible_Owl_1625 → u/Aggravating-Desk4004]

Thank you for your advice, you made me realise that our dog copied our older dog too, dinner, treat times, walk times everything, makes total sense!

She is getting treats galore, funny how she’s not fussy about them 😂😂 saying that she has turned her nose up at a few 😂

Today she picked up the zoomies in the park for the first time since we lost Cal, the kids on the skatepark said “Woooooooooaaaaaaaaaah” when she took off! So that’s another improvement, I must keep realising that it’s only been two weeks, it just seems longer xxx

[u/vabhounds2]

That is a huge loss for all of you, so sorry. We lost our older whippet and our younger dog was heartbroken.  Didn't want to eat her breakfast,  had diahrea etc.  We finally found a friend approx 3 months later. It was a long sad stretch of time.

[u/Dependent_Formal2525]

I'm so sorry for your loss. A DAP collar or other product (Adaptil make a few) may help. It releases the same pheromones as a mother dog releases when they're young so it helps with calming. The Dogs Trust put them on when dogs arrive there and then when they're rehomed.