Nerves and "nerves" in an older husky

[vera]

So in the last fight with Ira the puppy, Indy the husky got bitten on the same spot on his front leg where he was bitten just a few months ago. Some of you may remember the saga. Anyway, it's been healing fine, except I think his nerve got hurt this last time and this is taking longer to heal. That's the physical side of it.

The "nerves" is the other side. I'm having a pretty hard time with that. Indy was a macho, bossy pain in the arse for 9 years, sort of like a gung-ho and high-ranking Marine, if that makes sense. Since this last fight (he lost), he's been just sooooo dejected. Kind of like a formerly gung-ho and high-ranking Marine who was stripped of his rank in one afternoon and put in a grunt unit to wash the latrines. Kind of like, life as he knew it is over and there's nothing left. Kind of like a marathon runner ending up in a wheelchair. So sad. Easier to deal with than his machoism, but so sad.

I suspect that things will get a little better in a couple of weeks, once we get our own place with more space and a fenced yard and all. But until then, is there anything I should or could be doing to make life better for him, something that I'm not thinking of? Both physically and mentally.
I hope somebody here has some advice

[Kathy]

Vera, is Indy able to go for walks with you off the leash or is he a sprinter??

I was thinking maybe a few hard exercise sessions of just him & you, tossing a ball or another object that he can overtake and 'conquer'.

I've never had a top dog that lost a fight/altercation so I'm sort of at a loss as to how to rebuild his self esteem(I know that sounds odd but that's what it sounds like).

My first guess would be activities where he's sure to win and give him a lot of praise.
If he's used to getting regular outdoor exercise, being cooped up more, may also be giving him a doggie version of cabin fever.


Good Luck, I wish I had more suggestions to help you out.

[auntieemu]

Actually, YOU are the top dog. Don't let them forget it. Give Indy some extra attention and petting while he is healing. Help him adapt by letting him know he is still in the pack.

[Deleted]

Gosh, I know you're really not going to want to hear this, but if Indy lost the fight he is no longer Alpha (among the dogs), and Ira IS. If you give special attention to Indy, Ira's going to beat the you-know-what out of him again. I know it sounds cruel, but dogs don't live in a democracy, as my ol' pappy used to tell me.

I've had to deal with the fighting, too, with two of mine, and it wasn't until I quit trying to soothe the loser that the fighting finally stopped. Yes, there was a change in rank at my house, and once I stopped interfering, they sorted themselves out and everything is fine now. I just have a different Alpha. And it's NOT the Dobie, it's the little Aussie-cross mutt, believe it or not. We haven't heard so much as a grumble out of him for over a year now, and the two of them get along famously.

It's so hard NOT to try to comfort the loser, I KNOW THIS, but you've got to be tough, or the problem is going to continue.

~Lannie

[vera]

Well, the thing is that Indy can't seem to accept defeat as a natural development. Maybe it'll just take a good while for him to adjust to his new, lower standing. I'm not really interfering with the pack order and I'm not pampering him beyond basic care about his injury... it's just hard for ME to see him being so - hm, "dead inside"? I guess the more appropriate wording would have been something like "does anyone have any ideas how I can help him adjust to how things are now".

[Deleted]

I know what you mean, Vera, I went through it, too. I don't have any advice, though. He's just going to have to get used to it. I know it's hard. Sometimes I just had to go down to the basement or go outside or something, just to get away from those sad eyes for a while. Argh...

You can still fuss over Indy, just make sure you fuss over Ira first. I don't mean for wound care, but for loves and pets. This is how I have to do it now. I can still pet and love both my boys, but I have to make sure to "acknowledge" Alpha first, that's all. It'll be OK, don't worry. Indy might be upset, but I'm betting you're more upset than he is. Maybe YOU'RE the one who needs some petting and pampering!

~Lannie