Back from holiday and very subdued: sulking or ill?

[Ouchiehelpneeded]

Our gorgeous 4yo greyhound girl has spent 9 days with the dog sitter while we've been on holiday. They say she's been fine and from the pictures they sent she's been having a lovely time.

We picked her up last night and she isn't her usual self at all.

She's usually fairly bouncy and lively, extremely focussed on food and keen to go on as many walks as possible.

I had to wrestle her off the sofa to go for a walk this morning, she's not bothered about her food and (most worrying) I've just realised that DD2 left a few bits of poppadom in the room with her last night and they're still there! She never leaves any human food she can get access to!

She ate last night, is pooing and weeing normally and was fine once I got her out for her walk this morning. She doesn't seem to be in any pain.

Is she just sulking about being abandoned? Or missing the dog sitter? Or should I be worried?

When our hounds come back from the hound sitter they are exhausted and usually very quiet for a couple of days. Could it be that? Definitely worth keeping an eye in case it's something else but she could just be recuperating after a very tiring but fun holiday.

I don't want to hurt your feelings, but could she be missing the dog sitter, after having had a super fun holiday?

Haha. It could be that she had such a lovely and/or tiring time that she just needs to chill for a while

She was the only dog there, but there were 2 kids who were probably more stimulating than she's used to.

I will keep an eye, but assume that she's just recuperating

Its probably like children need down time at home after a full week of school, even if they love school!

Current status:

She's gorgeous! She looks exhausted. Are you sure they weren't racing her?

I'm a dog-sitter myself - it's VERY common for dogs to be subdued when the owners return home.

I think the premise of a dog-sitter is quite exciting for them, really. I mean, I'm a new human to play with, I tend to take them on different (maybe longer) walks to normal, their routine is a bit different and they tend to see me as the "fun" person.

I don't take them to the vets, give them their flea tablets or any of the boring stuff - I cuddle them, play with them, walk them and feed them. It's fun and exciting and new!

Probably just knackered! After a few days away with us, ours take a day or two to regain their usual bounce.

The first school holidays our dog experienced (adult rehome) nearly killed her, she didn't nap the first 10 days because she was too busy seeing what the DC were up to.

The last few days I think she passed out with exhaustion 🤣🤣

Then we took her away with us it was the same issue didn't chill so slept an awful lot when we got back!

I'd say subdued is normal from my quite limited experience but not wanting to eat the poppadom strikes me as a bit unusual. Will she eat eg chicken? I always use that now, as a barometer of just how ill (or not) they are. Any left behind, something serious, mostly eaten, probably something minor or psychosomatic...

My lurcher sulks for days after boarding with the dog sitter. He adores her the little traitor!

Might be worth checking for an ear infection if she doesn't pick up after a day or two. Refusing food and being a bit lethargic is always the first sign of one here, and we don't always get the more obvious signs like scratching or stinky ears. Hopefully it's not that and she's just a bit worn out!

Thanks everyone.

Quick update this morning. She's her usual full of beans self. So it must have been tiredness/sulking 😁

🤣🤣🤣🤣

They are such monkeys