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Dog mourning....

7057 Views 95 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  hearthnsoul
I'm going to throw this out here and see if anyone has any suggestions. About 2 weeks ago a friend died. He had a dog that had been left with him around a year ago. Now, I really know very little about this dog. She is a border collie or australian shepherd. No clue how old. Very, very shy....will hide from almost everyone (you didn't know Wes had a dog unless you just happened to catch a glimpse of her). She is house broke. She goes outside a couple times a day and then goes to a back corner of the house and lays there (how she's always been) Scared of other animals (won't go near the sheep pens at all) Wes had cancer and died at home. There is someone going to the house and letting Jill out and taking care of her. Yesterday she quit eating and drinking. We honestly don't even know if she is up to date on shots, etc. She needs groomed super badly. Bringing her to my house is not really an option as my dog is a super-dominant breed and will bully this poor little girl horribly. The girl that is taking care of her is in the same position with having a large puppy that will maul poor Jill with play. We're going to try getting her into the vet this morning....

Do any of you have any ideas for us on getting her to eat and drink? She would take treats from Wes, but not from anyone else...so treats aren't working very well. I'm actually surprised it took this long for this issue to come up....Any suggestions are welcome.
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Is there anyone who could take her on a permanent basis? She would probably be better off if someone could be there with her full time. I guess just try different food to see if she will eat. I'm so sorry about your friend.
We are trying to find someone to take her and you are so right that it would be best if we could find a permanent home. It's just extremely hard to re-home dogs in our area if they aren't something special. She would be perfect for an older person...if she were about half the size I would have pushed my MIL to take her. There is a no-kill shelter near us and we have actually brought that possibility up, but so hate to do that. We'll hopefully know more after a visit to the vet so that might help us....
She needs love , attention and time.

Keep the other dogs from picking on her.

Dogs love boiled chicken and make up some white rice, give her a little bit of each and see if she will eat it. Give a little chicken broth as well in it, from the boiled chicken water, do not put any salt or spices in it, just keep it plain. This food is really good for dogs, that are not feeling well. You will have to lock up your other dog so they won't steal her food.

The poor dear dog is grieving, she needs someone to fill in that void. :(

Get her cleaned up so she feels better and to the vet to check her out. She may need groomed as well.

Make things comfortable for her, for new dogs, I adopt and are frightened. I cuddle them and give them a lot of love. It helps them to break out of their shell. She needs someone to trust and to count on. It would be best for a permanent home for her, as soon as possible, as she may bond with you, then will be heart broken again.

Poor baby, good luck, hope she finds a loving home.
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I was wondering about the chicken broth....I've done that with mine a time or 2. She went to the vet today. She's "older". Fairly healthy. Got groomed, at least a little....still needs a bath. Was perked up and eating again!! I'm going to get pics of her tomorrow and, hopefully, the estate executor will let me post her online and we'll see if we can't find her a permanent home. The girl taking care of her did take her home with her for a while today. Their puppy barked, snapped, tried herding, etc at poor Jill, but she did start kinda tryng to hold her own against him. Thanks for your input. She is definitely grieving...and needs a new home asap. She's never been around a lot of kids....do you think she'd do ok in a home with several? None of us are sure that would be a good match for her
Shy dogs do have a tendency to eventually snap at a child who's being pushy. I don't think I'd do that to her.
Glad she is doing better and eating.

As to the kids, I hate to say this but, being an older dog , she is set in her ways and if she is not use to kids, she may nip at them , not a good scenario. :(

Good luck and keep us updated.
I have a collie who's just Like what you describe. I'm the only one she is used to/likes. She hates kids and not many dogs. I think this girl should be in an older family home :)
I'm going to throw this out here and see if anyone has any suggestions. About 2 weeks ago a friend died. He had a dog that had been left with him around a year ago. Now, I really know very little about this dog. She is a border collie or australian shepherd. No clue how old. Very, very shy....will hide from almost everyone (you didn't know Wes had a dog unless you just happened to catch a glimpse of her). She is house broke. She goes outside a couple times a day and then goes to a back corner of the house and lays there (how she's always been) Scared of other animals (won't go near the sheep pens at all) Wes had cancer and died at home. There is someone going to the house and letting Jill out and taking care of her. Yesterday she quit eating and drinking. We honestly don't even know if she is up to date on shots, etc. She needs groomed super badly. Bringing her to my house is not really an option as my dog is a super-dominant breed and will bully this poor little girl horribly. The girl that is taking care of her is in the same position with having a large puppy that will maul poor Jill with play. We're going to try getting her into the vet this morning....

Do any of you have any ideas for us on getting her to eat and drink? She would take treats from Wes, but not from anyone else...so treats aren't working very well. I'm actually surprised it took this long for this issue to come up....Any suggestions are welcome.
If you can get her to me, I would take her in a heart beat! I can't come get her because of the goats and an unreliable vehicle.
Maybe members can figure out a dog train to get her where she needs to go...
Poor thing, and so sorry about your friends passing. The best thing for her is a home that loves her and will commit to her, period. I have a mix Aussie Shepard and they are truly smart and deep feeling dogs. I spend all day tripping over him because he is never more than a few feet away.
Sort of cats and dogs or better yet goat and dog, we have a wether named Murphy his mom passed on when he was a few days old. So in the house he came, slept with the dogs under my bed, would even sneak in my bed at night. After some weeks every goat person warned me it would be difficult to integrate him with the goats now. I tried bringing him out and having him with the goats, he wanted no part of them nor they with him. My husband who is my polar opposite said ok your way over thinking this. He brought Murphy out to the barn and told me to stay away. It was hard let me tell you. I brought him back in when my husband wasn't home. My husband came home and told me I was again the problem, brought Murphy back out. At first the goats rejected him, then were well, mean. That weekend I was banned from the barn. Monday I went and fed the lot, loved my little Murphy but kept myself together and left him down at the barn. It took a few weeks but my husbands way worked. First Murphy latched on to a pregnant doe, she let him sleep with her, but then she had her babies and he was out again,...then he latched onto the pregnant does wethered brother as best he could,..slowly he found his way into the herd and now has his clear place in it. he had to adapt to his new environment, not it to him. Don't over think it, we as humans overthink, the dog needs love and commitment and over thinking tends to spoil the soup so to speak. I am hear to say Murphy is one of the herd because my husband said he is a goat he needs to live with the goats, he didn't get into the dynamics of his rough start, his attachment to me, his living in the house, his preferences,..he said this is a goat and the barn and herd fit his needs. He has his place in the herd now, he no longer sees himself as a dog or human. The right match is the home that will love and commit and let the dog adapt.
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If you can get her to me, I would take her in a heart beat! I can't come get her because of the goats and an unreliable vehicle.
Where in Wyoming are you? We are in the NW corner of Kansas....about 50 miles from both the Co and Ne borders. If you are serious about her, we could work something out.
Do you know if she got to say goodbye to her owner? If not she does not know he is gone and she is waiting for him to come home. I know this from my sister. When she was taken to the Hospital her dog new something was up and that was the last time the dog saw her. She cried all the time (yes the dog did very), She would go to her bed and last on it, when my brother in law brought my sisters ashes home she layed next to them for weeks. Finally she snapped out of it but it took a lot of love from my BIL.
Where in Wyoming are you? We are in the NW corner of Kansas....about 50 miles from both the Co and Ne borders. If you are serious about her, we could work something out.
I am very serious! I am roughly 4 miles west of Torrington, 85 miles northeast from the Wyoming/Colorado border and about 13 miles west of the Wyoming/Nebraska border. I cannot explain it, but I know in my heart that I can help her - and she can help me. I know it doesn't make sense, but it is what it is.
I know it doesn't make sense, but it is what it is.
It makes perfect sense..you have a heart to help her and she needs the help..Perfect fit. I hope it works out and they can get her to you...;)
Cathy, I do too. :)
Not yet, it's still in the works...
Ok ill keep an eye on this thread I have a farmer who has cattle dogs and can take one in
Do you know if she got to say goodbye to her owner?
He died at home and was found by my young (16 yr old) friend who was helping him with his sheep and driving him wherever he needed to go. Jill was near the body when she and her brother walked into the house. He'd been pretty ill for some time so Jill knew there was something happening and then....well....it's been rough for both my young friend and poor little Jill. I'm hoping we can get her to Jean in Wyoming!!! Sounds like the distance is doable...
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