Question about dog behavior

[Friday]

My dog started doing that when his kidneys started failing. It was how he dealt with the nausea & the distress. The SubQ fluids were what he loved best, but anti nausea meds & anti anxiety/anti depressant meds also helped him out, tons. I was kind of blown away at the psych med Rx, but the vet said to at least give them a go, because it would affect his kidneys less than the pain meds which were our next step (which would box them & hasten his end), and was often more effective on this type of pain than other options even if his kidneys were fine.

Going from being a super active dog, to a dog that simply couldn’t move around much (thumping his tail on the floor was about his limit) was causing him faaaaar more distress than I realized. He was fine as long as we laid beside him, but without the happy pills he would tense up, shake, and then just start licking the floor/himself/his blanket and pant when we had to leave for any length of time (out of eye/earshot).

We didn’t use them a lot... during the last couple months I just camped out on the floor next to him (I owed him) and he was happy as a clam until the last few days. And the last few days, nothing helped. SubQ gave him relief for a little while, but nothing else did. But in the early days of his end, when we had to leave him behind instead of taking him with us like we usually did, the psych meds were a phenomenally useful tool.

I’d never heard of that, so I chatted up a friend of mine who’s a vet, and she said it’s what she does for working dogs who’ve suffered a major injury, ending their working career, who are just pining away or stressing themselves into bald patches & self harming; and for elderly formerly active dogs, because it can extend their lives for years. Same problem with both; they’re unhappy and distressed because their pain & energy levels keep them from doing what they want to do. Relieve those symptoms and dogs tend to rebound.

 

[Kubash16]

Just a quick reply since I'm only on my phone, more later. Try mind work. Look into clicker training

A character-typical 8-year old Golden shouldn't be that desinterested, though I've seen rather laid back individuals who couldn't care less for retrieving (and playing) and preferred cuddling over everything. This has become particularly prominent in the show varieties.

I would love to hear more about this when you have a chance! He’s never been shown and he’s been like this at least since a year old. I don’t know what he was like at his previous home. When we got him, he loved wrestling but was completely uninterested in any toys.

@Sideways I really like your idea of using an enrichment mat, gonna look for one this weekend.

@Friday, you just broke my heart. I realize he’s not that far off from this but I’m living in total denial about it. He hasn’t had any other issues that you mentioned, just the licking and lack of energy/playfulness.

 

[siniang]

I would love to hear more about this when you have a chance! He’s never been shown and he’s been like this at least since a year old. I don’t know what he was like at his previous home. When we got him, he loved wrestling but was completely uninterested in any toys.

Sorry for late reply. Let's see.

First, I should've been more clear (yay for typing replies on my phone). What I referenced isn't so much a result of showing them (though it's probably reinforced by the behavioral expectations in the show ring) but just a general observation. A little bit of background. Golden Retrievers are high-energy dogs with an immense will-to-please. They LOVE playing fetch, because this is what they've specifically been bred for (to retrieve, though it doesn't always only have to be good ol' "fetch". Blinds, trails, ... lots of possibilities to spice it up). Over the last several decades, two general varieties have emerged, what we call field trial lines and show lines (also called confirmation line). They differ in temperament and optics (field trialers tend to be darker, smaller/leaner, and "work work work", show lines tend to be broader, lighter - English creme - and more laid-back). In reality, it doesn't matter dramatically and most from both lines can be either family or working dogs, but you can start noticing obvious differences at the extreme ends of both varieties.

Then of course there is individual variability. My dog, though not from neither clear trial nor show line, but leaning more towards trial, was high energy, her brother from the same litter was the laziest golden I'd ever met at that point. Even as a puppy, he'd rather just sit and watch than play with the others or the humans. Our second dog, a niece of our first but with more show influence, differed quite fairly visually and in behavior. Throughout her life, she didn't quite care for working and playing (though she did wrestle with the other dogs). She LIVED for digging up mice and cuddling with her humans. She was quite good at agility - and so are her offspring (some of her grand-puppies are actually very successful).

Since you mention that your dog's been like this since he's been at least one year old, I suspect it's just his general character. Obviously mellow dogs would calm down even more with age. My question to you: does he or at least did he ever play with your other dog(s)?

As for the licking behavior, there's multiple possibilities, as has already been mentioned.

1) There's of course always the chance that it has organic causes. You wanting to have the vet check is great! Just to be on the safe side. It could be a sign of pain or some deficiency. How are his elbows/hips?

2) It could be anxiety or boredom. You mention the golden was very bonded with your ex-husband. This definitely can cause depression even in dogs. Is there internal tension with the other dogs or do they get along alright?

Here's another thought, since you're in a PTSD forum and suffer from a mental illness. There is the chance he's reacting to you, but since he doesn't know how do deal with that - displacement behavior.

If it's boredom and he's just not someone who plays, I reemphasize looking into mental work for him (like clicker training). (also, the enrichment mat! ? ) Goldens >want< to use their brains. They're not huskies who are most contend when they can run, run, run (obviously being hyperbolic here :) love huskies. But different dog breeds do need different types of entertainment and enrichment as they just differ in nature).

3) It could really be just a quirk. Sometimes pets develop the weirdest behaviors, none of which are necessarily harmful or caused by something that is worrisome (but, see 1). If it doesn't really bother you? Just let him do it. If it bothers you, try to redirect the behavior - great suggestions from Sideways!

I encourage you to try finding something he loves doing (which, for him, obviously isn't frisbee or other forms of playing fetch). In human terms, he might just be an introvert :) It will also help him bond with you more and get over any possibly still existing depression re your ex-husband.

 

[Kubash16]

Thank you so much @siniang for sooo much awesome information!

So much to think about. I do want to answer your question though, he would play with me and ExH and pretty much nothing and no one else. We could go to dog parks, and did often for a while and my German would find all kinds of friends and race and such. But my golden would follow me and ExH around and snap at any other dog that came near him trying to play. He tolerates my other two in that he will let them cuddle up against him when sleeping but otherwise doesn’t interact. My German and pit will wrestle each other and chase each other at least once or twice a day and he just kinda watches them.