Dog sits and/or lies down on walks. And no appetite

[Ticktacktock]

Hi all, need to pick your brains. Looking after my friends dog for a few weeks. She is 3.5 years old. She never wants her food, although does eat it with lots of encouragement, and constantly lags behind on walks, like the full length of the extending lead, and sits down, sometimes lies down. I rang my friend who said she has always been that way, has been checked out, has had food changed several times to find something she will eat more enthusiastically, but all to no avail. She is also very unpredictable with other dogs.

This is all alien to me, my own dog is always ravenous, and loves his walks.

Does anyone have any ideas please?

Is it hot where you are at the moment? Ours does feel the heat.

That behaviour would worry me though at only 3 years old. What breed is she?

If the owner says this is normal behaviour, than I suppose there's not much you can do. Make sure she has plenty of water and cool areas and try a few very short walks (maybe a mooch round the garden type thing) rather than one or two long ones.

Maybe she is not used to longer walks and your friend rarely takes her out? That would explain the sitting down on walks and not well socialised.

Sorry, not an expert by any means. Just my musings. Our dog is like yours - loves her grub and her walks at 11 years old.

Thank you.

No it's been cold here, but she's like it whatever the weather. She's a border terrier, and so is my own dog. The owner does long walks, so she is well used to walking. We thought that being in a new place with new smells would excite her, but no!

I don't know at all. Sorry.

She could just be nervous I suppose in a new house with a new dog and with new walks for her. Missing her owner also. Those are big changes for her. Maybe just keep her walks shorter, encourage her with food and hope for the best. She might adapt to her surroundings in a couple of days.

Does she seem happy within herself? Happy to curl up for a snooze? If so, I'd just try to manage her as best I can.

If she is nervy at home and won't settle at all then I'd probably contact the owner again for advice.

With a border terrier I'd be thinking CECS- "Spike's disease". They've probably considered it but make sure the food is completely gluten free.

thank you, yes she has allergies and her food is everything free!

she has always been the same, her owner was hoping that a change of scenery might bring about a change in the dog, but it hasn't.

she laid down flat on a walk this afternoon and she slid along the grass as I tugged her! ended up carrying her!