Help My Young Girl is Depressed

[Hev]

Can anyone give me any advice on helping a young girl boxer get over her loss - we lost our old boxer last week through a heart condition and the young one seems to be grief stricken - she follows us from room to room - lies there with her head on her paws when she finds us and is very, very quiet - not the boisterous young lady she was before we lost Kelly. She is still eating her food and we are walking her for miles now (something we couldn't do when the old lady was alive). Getting a pup is not on the agenda as Katie can be a quite unruly 3 year old and needs a lot of attention (when she is fine). It has been suggested a cat (but Katie is not too fond of them). We are giving her lots of love and attention at the moment -she has the run of the house and actually sleeps in our bed!! What can we do. Is it something they get over like us?

 

[PawPrintBoxers]

I am sorry to hear your loss. But you know what the cure for losing a Boxer is? Get another Boxer. Works every time. Boxers are very sensitive and it is very easy to believe your girl is feeling the loss of her playmate.

 

[Orenda]

A puppy may be out of the question, but how about an adult rescue that is more mature and sedate than your girl.

 

[Julie Davis]

I'm very sorry for your loss, and also sorry that the young one is so upset. I have to agree with my fellow posters here, and that another dog is in order. In my opinion, boxers don't like to be only dogs. :(

 

[Aimee]

I too am so very sorry for your loss and I too have to agree with my fellow posters. A puppy was not on our agenda either so we got an adult from rescue. Lexi is 3 and we got Baxter in November and he is approximately 5. This is the GREATEST thing we ever did. Lexi is far less demanding on us for attention and they play all the time. Baxter can't seem to get enough naps in because Lexi is always bothering HIM for attention. I know how awful it sounds to just run out and get another one but you aren't replacing them. I cannot stress to you enough what wonderful companions the older dogs make. We adopted our sheltie at age 12 and he was the biggest love bug you could have ever known. Open your hearts and your homes to a wonderful rescue Boxer. Katie will love you for it..believe me, Lexi was very unruly and Baxter helped her out ALOT!! Good luck :D

 

[Hev]

Well it is two weeks on - and thanks for all your wonderful words of wisdom - I can honestly say I never thought I would talk about getting a new boxer before today - but I have now contacted Boxer Rescue UK and the lady there is going to keep her eyes open for another white boxer bitch - they had one in but this unfortunately has already been promised to another family - so I am keeping everything crossed and Katie and I will let you all know how we get on!! Thank you all again.

 

[skyastara]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. I do think that you are making a wise decision. I have a 2 year old boxer/golden mix, and in the middle of December, we lost our 6 month old puppy. We were all very sad, and my dog would barely eat, was listless, etc, just as you describe. Just before X-mas, we were blessed with a 9 week old puppy, which really helped us all. For the first few days, Siddartha(my dog) wasn't too sure about the puppy, I think because he wasn't Piper(the other puppy), but he warmed up quickly, and now they even cuddle up to sleep together!
I used to work with GSD Rescue, and I really think that a rescue dog is a wonderful way to go. There are really a lot of advantages to getting an adult dog rather than a puppy.

 

[Lava Linda]

I wouldn't have thought immediately about suggesting an adult rescue, but what a wonderful idea!!! I'll keep it in the back of my mind for when I face that time. My pair love each other so much , that I worry about what will happen if one of them leaves before the other. A rescue would be just the ticket for the remaining dog, and me! Thanks!!