over empathetic lab!!

[kermit View kermit's Profile Find kermit's Posts Find kermit's Threads Send kermit a message E-Mail kermit]

Hi everyone, new on here and looking forward to lots of interesting chats going forward.

Ok, so heres one for you and im really interested to hear if anyone has experienced anything similiar. My lab is 4 and has the most wonderful life if i may say so myself - shes my baby!!

We normally walk a minimum of twice a day and often for much longer at weekends and when the weathers good so shes extremely fit and active.

3 weeks ago i ended up bed ridden with a slipped disc and i have been told to expect a minimum of a further 4 weeks for recovery. I am barely allowed out of bed never mind the house! I have left the house for one hour in 3 weeks - i am going crazy.

Anyway, my wonderful baby lies beside my bed all day long and appears to be really content. I see no signs of boredom or resentment for not going out. She follows me everywhere and walks in front of me as i go down the stairs to protect me - unbelievable.

I have plenty of friends who have tried taking her out for a walk including my Mum - she knows them all well and she is simply refusing to go. She gets to the gate and stops. They managed to drag her (gently of course) down to the open space to throw her ball and she just stood there and ran back home to me.

Ok, so my question is two fold;

a) As an incredibly fit and active labrador (and owner normally), what do i do? Is it going to do her any damage if she is refusing to go out walking. In reality, we are probably managing to get her out with someone once, twice a week at the most but not for long walks.

b) Should i be worried that shes simply happy to lie by my bedside all day long showing no signs of anything? She just sleeps and sleeps and sleeps but does nudge me through the night to check im ok.

Am i going crazy? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[MeAndMyLabs View MeAndMyLabs's Profile Find MeAndMyLabs's Posts Find MeAndMyLabs's Threads Send MeAndMyLabs a message E-Mail MeAndMyLabs]

If she seems content to lie by your side, I wouldn't worry. So long as she is still going outside to do her business, eating and drinking normally...the lack of exercise won't kill her.

My guy basically is a "bed potato" 95% of the day unless we have a show to go to or it's not too unbearably hot out to play a round of fetch or do some retrieving work (which we can now finally do as he's starting to show interest in feathers ), yet he's still in excellent shape.

[SuffolkBelle View SuffolkBelle's Profile Find SuffolkBelle's Posts Find SuffolkBelle's Threads Send SuffolkBelle a message E-Mail SuffolkBelle]

I wouldn't worry either. I'm guessing your girl is quite happy by your side for the time being. Don't beat yourself up over it!