Can you suggest ways to help my dog past the loss of her 'little buddy'?

My really old dog (15 or 16 yrs. old, I don't know) was euthanized (early August) and since then our other dog (pit bull, 7/8 yrs. old) has just not been herself.

She's mopey and seems sad.  She doesn't want to go outside into the yard by herself.  She eats but not as much or as eagerly as she previously did.  

She's healthy, had a comprehensive physical exam w/bloods in July and a dental in August, so medically she checks out just fine.

She is not the joyful and happy dog that she was.  Any suggestions?

2020-09-16T06:59:17Z

Thanks to all of you for your answers and advice.

It's understandable to me that some of you said, 'Get another dog!' and I did consider that, but it's not the right answer for my family.  Don't mean to sound harsh, but we just don't want another dog right now.  

Thanks for the condolences, too.  Yes I'm sad about losing my dog but given his age, I was prepared for it.  Well, as prepared as you can ever be to lose a treasured pet.  Not entirely.

I think we'll be OK.  Thanks for your help.   

2020-10-07T08:17:48Z

I DON'T think it's a good idea to introduce a new dog into our home, not with this dog.  Thank you for understanding what's going on, and I appreciate that and thanks again for saying what I totally failed to articulate.  

I'm usually pretty good with words, but regarding dogs my words just don't always work.  Too emotional, I think.  Can't always think straight.  I know you understand.

?2020-09-14T08:55:11Z

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Mmm.   Difficult one as one of our remaining two, sadly the younger one which knocked me back big time,  had to be put to sleep at the end of April.   They weren't apparently physically close - they didn't snuggle up together - but there was no doubt each reacted to how the other was behaving.  At first, she'd go check his crate which for some weeks, I felt unable to collapse and store.   Eventually I did as seeing her do this upset me big time, never mind her.  However, we started taking her with us when we went out so she wasn't left alone at home - or we didn't go.    I worked hard at trying to make up my mind whether to find another companion, an older one, for her but as the weeks have passed, she seems to have settled down and as she's 12.5 years now, have decided to let her have her final years without having to accept a new dog in here.  She did, with the one who died, after we lost her previous companion, but she was only just over a year old when that happened.    It's different now.

Sometimes our reaction sends messages to the one left behind and the fact she's mopey and seems sad, could be her responding to your vibes?   Only you'll know that.   So whether you decide to bring in another dog, bearing in mind there not be the same 'connection' (something I thought about before making my decision), is up to you.   It's easy to say buy, or adopt another, but this may not be the answer.

So sorry for your loss - it HURTS.

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?2020-09-16T00:00:59Z

Yes an animal will pine away and mope around, not themselves. Try to give her lots of attention, go for walks, rides in the car. I would suggest another dog, but be careful, they should me on neutral ground several times and see how they get along. I would get a male, females can be very, very aggressive towards each other for dominance. I wish you luck, sorry for your loss. Good Luck!

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?2020-09-15T02:17:53Z

 Treat her as you always did, nothing more or less dogs adapt very quickly... The more you pamper her. the more she will delay.

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?2020-09-14T21:30:45Z

She's grieving. My dog was the same when our other dog died - overly clingy and needy. But after a few months she setttled back down. Just spend time with her, go for walks, do trick training etc and try to keep her routine as much as possible.

As for getting companions - it has to be the right time for you/your family and needs to be done safely to ensure any new pet is accepted into the home. A rushed decision now could lead to more problems later (not accepted, not having time to have safe introductions, you not being ready to have a new pet (some people feel it is "replacing" the old one)

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Maxi2020-09-14T08:55:13Z

Get her out and about and around other dogs, maybe you have a friend who has a dog you can go walking with daily, her life has changed losing her buddy which she may have relied on more than you realised.

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