The Living Dog

​Zippy the living dog and Harmony my little love bug dog who is not here anymore.

My little dog left this world a few days ago.   It's been 3 days and my heart aches but life goes on.  Watching the remaining dog's dynamics is amazing.

The 2 dogs were always together.  That is all the living dog knows since she was born.  They were always together.   Whatever I did with one dog there was always the little dog tag along.  They did not play together but they walked and sniffed and rode in the car together.  One in the front and one in the back.  They were together.  We walked together for many years but the long walks started to end when the little one started showing signs of tiredness.  

With the other dog gone the other is sleeping a lot.  Yes a Malinois just sleeping.   More than normal.   

My remaining dog has glued herself to me.   Both dogs used to follow me from room to room but sometimes stayed.  Mostly follow.  Zippy tries to out think me.  Am I making a right or left.  To the bathroom or bedroom or front door etc.  Like she is saying where should I go that you are going to be in one second.  lol  Her racing me seems more frantic.  All that has happened can bring on anxiety which I am seeing now.  And a Malinois and anxiety means destruction.    Big time..  MALINOIS DO THIS YA KNOW.  All anxious dogs do this. Some more than others.  Anxiety is a scary thing in a dog.    The safest place for my dog when I leave without her is her crate.  She is quiet and comfy in there.  Makes her feel safer I think.  At least I do not come home and want to rip her up because my house is destroyed.  
  
I will watch her closely and take her out frequently to run and play and training.  Keeping her mind busy.

Takes time for grieving even in dogs.  I've seen it in my other dogs over the years.  When my little dogs bff died she would not go out in the back yard alone for a month or so,   

I saw this many years ago with a pair of Cocker Spaniels I groomed.  When the solo dog came in after his bff died a few weeks prior, he was sad and stand offish to me which was not normal. 
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​Dogs may not think of it like we do but they do feel something is missing or changed.  Dogs do not like change.  

Training with Kindness to the dog.