Jakesmom
02-15-2007, 12:40 PM
I'm not sure if behaviour is the appropriate place for this problem, but here goes.
We have two dogs, a 10 1/2 year old Golden, Jake, and a 2 year old English Cocker, Sophie. Jake has problems with arthritis and thoracic and lumbar disc disease. He is on "maximal medical management", including glucosamine, metacam, and acupuncture. With these therapies, he seems generally pretty comfortable, and when enthused about something (hike in woods, snow, swim) can really rally and run like a maniac for a short time.
The problem is, he is not enthused anymore about "regular" neighborhood walks. He looks like he just cant mount the energy to do it (his back legs are increasingly weak due to the disc disease), and he often refuses. For awhile I could deal with this by taking him for rides (he LOVES rides) to different neighborhoods and we would walk there. But now, we've pretty much used up the nearby neighborhoods (I think they have all reached boring status).
I would be fine with the above and just take him for walks when he wanted to go, and give him some enjoyment with rides, but Sophie is young and needs to walk and excercise. Which brings me to the real problem--when I take Sophie on a walk by herself, Jake gets upset--either comes running to the door like he wants to go (when I give in and take him, he prettty quickly poops out), or looks totally wounded.
I know part of the problem is that we have always done everything with both of them and (esp Jake, being here first) so they are confused when one gets left behind (though honestly, despite how spoiled she is, Sophie seems to take it better). I don't want to anthropomorphize them too much ;) but I was hoping someone might have some ideas about how to change the routine.
thanks
Jake's mom
We have two dogs, a 10 1/2 year old Golden, Jake, and a 2 year old English Cocker, Sophie. Jake has problems with arthritis and thoracic and lumbar disc disease. He is on "maximal medical management", including glucosamine, metacam, and acupuncture. With these therapies, he seems generally pretty comfortable, and when enthused about something (hike in woods, snow, swim) can really rally and run like a maniac for a short time.
The problem is, he is not enthused anymore about "regular" neighborhood walks. He looks like he just cant mount the energy to do it (his back legs are increasingly weak due to the disc disease), and he often refuses. For awhile I could deal with this by taking him for rides (he LOVES rides) to different neighborhoods and we would walk there. But now, we've pretty much used up the nearby neighborhoods (I think they have all reached boring status).
I would be fine with the above and just take him for walks when he wanted to go, and give him some enjoyment with rides, but Sophie is young and needs to walk and excercise. Which brings me to the real problem--when I take Sophie on a walk by herself, Jake gets upset--either comes running to the door like he wants to go (when I give in and take him, he prettty quickly poops out), or looks totally wounded.
I know part of the problem is that we have always done everything with both of them and (esp Jake, being here first) so they are confused when one gets left behind (though honestly, despite how spoiled she is, Sophie seems to take it better). I don't want to anthropomorphize them too much ;) but I was hoping someone might have some ideas about how to change the routine.
thanks
Jake's mom