My dog is sad my daughter moved out. What can I do?

BobbieW

New member
My daughter moved out a few weeks ago for college. Our dog, Izzy (me, too), is having an extremely hard time. They were good buds and spent a lot of time together. My pup seems lost, has very low energy, and does not even really want a lot of food. She keeps lying on my daughter's bed and gets snappy with me when I try to move her. I don't know what to do. I am thinking of taking her to visit my daughter, but I don't want to make it worse. I've even considered getting a new dog to keep my Izzy company. How can I help my pup get over this loneliness?
 
Hi Bobbie - So sorry to hear this. I struggled with a similar problem a couple of years ago when my daughter went off to college for the first time. It took some time for my pup Tiny to get over the absence of his human sister. I gave him extra TLC (on his terms) and increased our play and walking time. Perhaps give Izzy some new interactive toys? And a visit to see your daughter may help -- that way Izzy could see that your daughter hasn't disappeared forever. I also recommend our article on dog depression, which has some great dos and don'ts (e.g., getting a new dog could cause more stress). I hope things get better soon!
 
Hi Bobbie. My pup had a similar issue when my son moved out for college. Luckily, we are close enough that I've started taking my pup to see him once a week. It's not the same, but I think my dog is getting the idea that he is still around. Maybe your pup can have a Zoom meeting with your daughter. I also show my dog videos of my son, which he gets excited to see. I also wouldn't rule out getting a new puppy. It might help make the house feel full again and keep your pup company.
 
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