Many dog owners agree that having a dog is like having an extra-furry family member. Even though they walk on four legs and can't speak, it is obvious that dogs have a wide array of emotions. They get excited when they see their beloved owner, get aggressive when they feel threatened or become fearful during a thunderstorm. It is no surprise that dogs can experience periods of depression, just like their humans.
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Change
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Ease your dog into big changes. Significant changes in a dog's life can lead to feelings of depression. Dogs are creatures of habit, just like many human beings. They get used to their surroundings and situation and find comfort in that. Something that throws their routine, like a move to a new house or staying with someone new while you are out of town, can leave them feeling confused and uncomfortable. When your dog is experiencing a lot of changes, make sure it is comforted by familiar objects like favorite toys and blankets.
Loss of a Loved One
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Dogs can form strong bonds with each other. Look for signs of depression when a loved one leaves. Dogs build strong relationships with their human friends and other animals. The death of a companion pet can be very traumatic for your dog. It has lost its best friend and may experience emotions similar to those a human would in this situation. It doesn't even have to be a death that triggers this feeling of loss. A dog can become depressed if important people in its life aren't around anymore. A human sibling going off to college or giving the dog away to a new person will make it feel a sense of loss.
Physical Trauma
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Protect your dog from physical trauma. Dogs can sometimes become depressed following a physically traumatic experience. A dog that has experienced a frightening injury, like being hit by a car or attacked by another dog, may become depressed. The experience leaves it with a lingering feeling of fear and lack of confidence.
Weather
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Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise to avoid the winter blues. Make sure to give your dog plenty of exercise when the weather turns cold. Sometimes people experience seasonal depression. Dogs can also go through this type of weather-related depression. The change from warm to cold weather can bring significant changes to a dog's routine. Dogs that love lying in the sun and running outside on a hot summer day can become sluggish and sad when forced to spend the winter indoors.
Boredom
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Give your dog plenty of play and exercise time to keep it stimulated. Boredom can be another factor that causes depression in dogs. Just like humans, dogs need exercise and mental stimulation every day. If a dog is ignored and left in an environment where it has no one to interact with and no toys to play with, it can become listless and depressed.
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