Q: My dog is unhappy.
He does not want to play, does not make me feel welcome when I get home.
All he likes to do is sleep.
It seems he has lost all interest in life.
A: It could be that he is depressed.
When dogs get depressed they withdraw from their surroundings and seem to be far away most of the time.
Q: That's just how it is.
Sometimes it seems I can not reach him somehow.
A: Has this been going on for long? Q: Yes, for some weeks now - since we moved into our new home if I remember right.
A: There are some main reasons which may cause depression in a dog and loss is one of them.
Seems like your dog has problems because he lost his old home and friends.
Q: Oh, I thought only people react like this when they move.
A: No, dogs can also get the moving blues and be very sad and unhappy for quite a while.
Q: So what can I do to cheer him up again? A: You can do two things to help him.
One is to use some EFT to help him overcome his feelings of sadness and the other thing is giving him more exercise.
Q: How can more exercise cheer him up? A: Exercise is a very potent antidote to depression.
When we get depressed the balance of neurotransmitters in our brain and body gets changed.
This disruption of normal brain chemistry causes the way we act when we are depressed.
Many studies show that the process can be reversed by exercising our bodies.
Same thing applies to our dogs.
So if you want to help him overcome his depression you would give him more exercise.
Just take him out for longer walks.
Run with him if possible.
Q: But he does not want to move.
Would it not be better to let him sleep? A: No, letting him sleep will not make things better.
The fact he does not want to move is a symptom of his depression and should not be allowed to continue.
If you want him to get over it you need to make him move more whether he likes it or not.
By taking him out more he will get to know his new surroundings and make new friends which will make him settle down in his new neighbourhood quicker.
Q: So you recommend exercise even if he does not seem to like it? A: Yes, exactly.
Taking him out more often also means he gets to spend more time with you or someone else he likes.
Loneliness is one mayor factor to create depression in dogs and humans alike.
So if he gets out more he will be less lonely and life will get better for him in the long run.
Q: How long will it take? A: You need may need some patience.
It may take some weeks for your dog to recover.
Q.
Okay, I will start right away.
A: Thank you for reaching out.
I am quite sure you will find that your dog will soon lighten up again.