Is this happy?

[TAVS]

So as with all the folks around here, I love my dog very much. For the last 6 months, it's just been him and I in the home. I spend my time working on the laptop. I have setup a card table so I can work in the main living room so I can always be around Mason. All weekend and evening long, he pretty much just lays around. Once in a while he'll come up to be pet, but the rest of the time he just lays there. There is a doggy door so he always has access to the outdoors. Sometimes he'll go out and sunbath for a while and come back in. Anyway, I of course cannot think like a dog thinks. But I sit here keeping busy all day and I feel bad for him, just laying there doing nothing. He is only 2 years old and I would expect him to be more active. Then again, there isnt a ton of things for a dog to do by himself. Do you think he is happy? I feel bad because I want him to be as happy as he makes me.

Do others, in a similar living situation, have dogs that just lay around?

I do of course take him on daily walks but I dont have all day to entertain him.

 

[Scooter]

Has your dog always been on the docile side? My dog is nothing like this. I also work from home, but she rarely naps. She follows me from room to room all day and is always excited about going outside. But, dogs like people, are different. Zoe, my dog, is just over a year old and is a mix of lab and border collie. Maybe your dogs' breed is more layed back. Have you talked to your vet?

 

[cyclefiend2000]

we have 3 dogs and they are all different.

amelia is content to lay about almost all day. as long as she is near you, she is happy.

sydney is very high strung, and requires a good bit of exercise. of course he loves playing ball, so that is a great way for us to burn off some of his energy.

emma is still a puppy, but i think she is going to be more like sydney. right now, she is happy if you just give her one of the fetch balls. she carries it in her mouth and runs around the yard.

i agree with scooter, make sure with your vet that your dog is healthy. it could be that he is just really docile, but rule out a medical condition just to be safe.

 

[noludoru]

Also, weight.. overweight dogs can be more lethargic.

I think Mason's just relaxed and happy to be with you, personally. Maybe take some breaks and do training sessions, or get into a little hobby like agility with him? Take him new places when you go out, try to arrange errands so he can go places... you know, make things interesting.

 

[ToscasMom]

I work out of my home so I am with Tosca a lot. Unless I am reading your post wrong, I am assuming you are doing the same, which means your are around a lot. Tosca is usually nearby wherever I am, or she follows Mojo someplace. My cats keep her busy sometimes but it's not enough. That makes it encumbent upon me to make sure she gets her exercise and spends some FUN time with me. She gets her walks but she also gets to run and play outside with me. Walking really isn't enough exercise for a dog that has any energy. They like to play, run and face some fun challenges, but they like to do it WITH us. It not only keeps them mentally happier, it keeps them from getting fat and lazy. And I think it increases the bond we have with them. Our dogs are a lot like kids. They want their parents to be fun sometimes! If the only time Tosca spent with me was lying at my feet and walks, I really don't think she would be very happy. It's not only good for your dog, but it's good for you too. Working from home requires some discipline and sometimes, if you aren't careful, it can turn you into a very unsociable person who loses site of the things outside your home. So being home also requires the discipline of having fun too! The same goes for your dog, who is really subject to your habits and will adapt to them, happy or not. So your dog is a great way to make sure that doesn't happen to either of you.

I take Tosca with me to places whenever I can. I never go to the pet store for example, without her. I mean it's a place where she can socialize and she is allowed to be there. I would say that if you and your dog are not getting out of the house for more than just daily walks, you are both losing something. The same goes for when you are inside. If there is no play and bonding together, you are both losing something. Even if you just take time to brush your dog, it's a bonding experience. My dog never complains. That's what's great about dogs vs. people, lol. But that doesn't mean my dog doesn't "wish" for some fun.

The one thing I want to mention to you is something my trainer made me do at a very early age with Tosca. You may already know this, so if you do, please disregard. Because I am home working and do not leave the house to go to work like most other people do, he made sure I left the house for increasingly extended periods of time during the day, so that Tosca would not acquire separation anxiety when I do leave the house. I am really glad I paid attention to this. Sometimes when a dog is used to having you around all day, they grow to expect it and can't be happy if you are gone. I did not want that to happen. So I thought i would just pass it along to you just in case.

 

[mrose_s]

Busters like that, he turned very serious very quickly as a pup because of how he was treated. Its so nice now seeing him start to come out of his shell.

He spends a lot of time just laying around usually aswell.

 

[girlbuffalo1]

laying around

I do work outside of the home, but Wrigley is only a year and a half and he pretty much lays around all day --chews a toy, lays on his side an hour, drinks a bit of water, lays on the linolium, chews his toy..ect....
I guess I just don't know what else he should be doing? Your dog sounds completely normal to me!

 

[ToscasMom]

Incidentally. Mason is awfully cute!

 

[mrose_s]

i noticed that, he reminds me of Buster.

 

[Jules]

Maybe you can squeeze little 10 minutes breaks in here and there and go out with Mason and throw the ball, romp around with him. I think that would make a big difference. Do you have Kongs or Bones he can occupy himself with?

 

[TAVS]

Thanks for the replies. I think he is healthy, he is fine when the two of us are active. We just had his annual checkup at the vet a month ago but I forgot to say anything. I certainly take him on car runs when it is not too hot outside and he enjoys it. We gave him a kong but that did not interest him. Most the bones we give him dont last more than a few minutes. The ones that do, we'll their a little bigger and I think he gets bored quick when they dont fall apart like the greenies. lol. He has a couple toys but doesnt really play with them that much. He'll generally only play with the plush soccar ball when he is uber excited about a good pet or when his mom comes over for a visit.

He seems like everything is okay, it's just me being sensitive to his needs and hoping he isn't bored out of his skull almost all day because that would suck. Such a shame he cant watch TV. haha. Maybe he is just a relaxed dog. He certainly never barks (unless asked to) and doesnt get too riled up at other dogs etc.