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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Dog seems unhappy since arrival of baby

7 replies

helpmehelpdog · 13/10/2023 15:42

Hi everyone

Desperate for some advice as I feel so sad about this.

Our boy is an 8 year old sprocker spaniel, he is well trained and has a great temperament.

When we got him at 10 weeks old, we had written off ever being able to have children as I suffered recurrent miscarriages.

DDog has been my best friend for 8 years, he's licked my tears, cuddled up to me on sleepless nights on the sofa, helped my mental health by just getting outdoors with him.

Somehow by some miracle, we managed to have beautiful DD who is now 5 months and DDog has been what I can only describe as "not himself" since.

He's still the same old cuddly, patient, friendly dog but there is a certain sadness about him. He's not interested in playing with his toys anymore, he knows them by name and used to bring me them to play tug of war or I'd throw them for him to catch, he doesn't eat as much anymore and in the evening, he no longer comes and lays with us on the sofa. He lays by babies cot until we go to bed then he will go in his bed.

He seems to mope around, I've had him checked over 2 times by vet and had blood work and urine sample done, he's perfectly healthy.

He isn't interested in my DH or I anymore apart from when we have a treat for him or we go for a walk. The only time he is interested is when we are doing something with baby, feeding, playing, changing her nappy or cuddling means he is wherever we are trying to push his nose in and jump on us whilst we are with her.

Nothing about his routine has changed, he still has his usual 2 hour off lead walk a day split into two. I take him with baby in the morning and DH takes him late afternoon/early evening when he is home from work.

Is it jealousy? Is he protective? I just want him to be his happy self again!

OP posts:
BristolBlueGlasses · 13/10/2023 16:13

I wonder some of the things you're noticing are just the natural result of him getting older. At 8 our dog (a terrier cross) became noticeably less interested in her toys and also ate less.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 13/10/2023 18:49

They do sound like aging. they may also be a bit overstimulated or stressed by baby crying/more visitors etc

helpmehelpdog · 13/10/2023 18:58

BristolBlueGlasses · 13/10/2023 16:13

I wonder some of the things you're noticing are just the natural result of him getting older. At 8 our dog (a terrier cross) became noticeably less interested in her toys and also ate less.

Thank you, that's something that hasn't crossed my mind. Now I'm sad he's getting old 😂

OP posts:
helpmehelpdog · 13/10/2023 18:59

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 13/10/2023 18:49

They do sound like aging. they may also be a bit overstimulated or stressed by baby crying/more visitors etc

Thank you!

We hit the baby lottery jackpot and have a baby that very rarely cries! Even when she's hungry she just murmurs, she didn't even cry when she was born just went straight to sleep 😂 we had lots of visitors the first 4 weeks now we tend to go to them as our families all live in one town and we live 40 minutes away so we go and do one trip and see everyone but you're right, the different noises she makes etc could be annoying him or worrying him! I will keep an eye on how he responds to her being noisy.

OP posts:
disappearingfish · 13/10/2023 19:01

My old dog also used to follow the baby around and want to be involved. He used to sit by her cot when she cried. I like to think he thought that it was his job.

He loved her when she was weaning and she learned to drop food straight at him.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 13/10/2023 19:02

It sounds like he’s taken on a new role.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 15/10/2023 08:01

I think he's decided he's her protector too.

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