Ddog not happy coming home after three months in Spain

[drivinmecrazy]

Ddog is 18 month old Weimaraner.
I've just spent three months at my mums in Spain.
When we were away he was absolutely living his best life.
He had space to roam, wonderful hill walks and sunshine.

Came home last week. After the initial euphoria of being home he's just not happy.

He doesn't like our garden (admittedly it's a bit overgrown because DH was working), he is really struggling with the rain and he's missing the huge house and grounds.

It's so sad to see because he absolutely loved his life here before we took him to Spain.

For example, he used to spend lots of time in our garden yet now he goes out for toileting and is straight back in.
Walks he does still enjoy but he misses the freedom he used to have, he needs to be on a lead to the fields whereas before we'd literally leave the gates and he'd be running up and down the hills.

I know he'll settle eventually but I'm feeling so much guilt. I couldn't stay any longer due to the 90 day rule.
Both our DDs came out regularly to visit.

Any ideas of dealing with the 'holiday blues' for dogs??

Tackle the garden with a strimmer so it's a bit nicer for him. Or pay for a one off garden tidy-up. You can't do anything about the size of the house or the weather but you can do that.

He’s a dog! Are you sure you’re not projecting?

do you not have quality walks nearby? I take DS’s Labrador out for quality walks four days a week, he’s shit on the lead so I load him in the car and drive 15 mins to the moors or the large park or the woods and let him run and run. The garden IMO is only good enough for an early morning/late night wee or ball play. It’s not an excercise run even if it’s a decent size.

He's also far happier in the rain than the sun but that’s his breed I guess.

I have a Weim and mine HATES rain and cold weather. He will only go out when he’s desperate, does what he needs to do then comes straight back in. Sunny days however, I put his bed out in the shade and he will spend all day outside mooching about and sleeping outside. Might it be the cold & rain rather than the garden itself? Your’s will be feeling the cold a lot more after the sharp change in temperature. Mine would love a few months in Spain, as would I!

Overgrown and wild gardens tend to be far more interesting to dogs so I doubt it’s that.

Christ I’ve heard it all now… a pampered pooch who’s ‘depressed’, because his holidays are over!

Agree completely with this.

I suspect it's actually you that is feeling this way and you're projecting those feelings onto the dog. I'm sure the dog doesn't actually give a fudge.

He definitely does have great walks here. We walk him on a bridle path until we get to open fields.
We've also taken him out in the car several times to nearby woods.

He doesn't use the garden in replace of a walk but he's always chosen to be more outside than in.

I'll admit it's likely to be me projecting a little but I'm just so sad for him

Also, mine needs at least an hour’s off lead run every day or he’s stir crazy, I’d definitely find somewhere you can let him off. To those posting who don’t know dogs, Weimaraners are a notoriously highly strung and needy breed with specific traits rather than a pampered pooch type breed. If they don’t get what they need/want they let you know in no uncertain terms 😆

Thankyou for getting it!!

They are indeed a breed unto themselves

@drivinmecrazy worth putting the effort in though aren’t they? 🐕‍🦺💕

They are, absolutely!

There is never a dull day in our house, always a different challenge.

DD just came down and read some of the replies and screamed 'have these people never met a weim??'

And also the reference to him being a 'pampered pooch', her reply was that he can never be pampered enough, too much will definitely be seen by him as barely enough!

DDog? Seriously?

Our dog (mongrel, no Weimaraner, that we know of) stayed with a friend during our recent holiday and refused to get in the car when we went to pick him up! Ungrateful git!

It's the Doghouse! Of course he is a DDog! (And also the Best Boy, no doubt).

Yes, why not? It was that that actually made me click on the thread.

I know how you feel. I'm spending a week a month at my parents house. They have a huge garden and live rurally so 100% of walks are offlead.
Here I have a smaller garden and I do have a short pavement walk til we get to forest/river etc.
It's really all in my head. Dog loves either garden. I try to make it a bit different in that I give her a smelly chew and she takes herself outside to eat that.
Dogs very much live in the moment!

And the Goodest Boy!

If you've only been home for a week then I'd say you just need to be patient - he'll be just fine once he's settled back into his routine but after three months away, you can't expect it to happen overnight.

I'd also be wary of putting human emotions onto your dog - he lived happily in your house before so he'll be happy there again - definitely make sure you clear the garden for him though!

Our dog always has the Eeyore look for a while after we get home from the wide open space of the grandparents, or when he comes home from the dog sitter where he sleeps in her bed. Last time he didn't even stop to greet me when he was dropped off. He's always back to normal once the routine is back to normal!