Any helpful suggestionn welcomed

[Goodhart66]

I recently had to put my 13 year old female Golden Retriever down because of Cancer. The problem I am now having is with my 3 year old Lab/ Shepard mix. She is afraid to go out in the yard and holds her urine for 8 -12 hours and still refuses to go potty in the yard unless you walk right bu her side with her on a leash. Has anyone else experienced this and do you have any suggestions ?

[tonyb286]

Hi. For many years I tended to go along with the myth that dogs don't grieve or experience the same emotions as us humans when it comes to loss. I am now more enlightened and firmly believe dogs not only grieve, but get just as depressed and anxious as we do. That said, they also intuitively mirror and feed off our own emotions. So, if we are anxious, the family dog will often become anxious too. Dogs look to the pack leader for reassurance, protection, safety and comfort ... and that's exactly what your dog is now doing. The more relaxed you can be, the more "normal" the day's routines are, the quicker she will get over this grieving period. She will almost certainly need extra cuddles and some special time with you, but hopefully within a matter of a few days or weeks, she will return to her usual self.

Tony

[Margot49]

I agree that she is missing the other dog.  Add to that, it was her routine to have the other dog and she may have been the subordinate of the two.  I would just continue to go out with her, at least for a while.  You then might just try standing out there and encourage her to go away from you on her own.  
I have had many dogs here over the years and some with different potty habits.  Our Greyhound wanted someone outside with him but, if there were other dogs here, he was fine and just joined them.  
I too am sorry for your loss.

[ginger899]

Firstly, I am very sorry for your recent loss.

She is probably grieving. They do grieve and quite deeply when a member of the family goes. That can make them behave differently.

Don't let her hold her urine for a long time. Go with this, and make sure you take her out quite often for short wals. She wants to be with you. It might be a 'clingy' thing going on because she is insecure.

It's not the end of the world. My own dog NEVER would just go out back and pee, and come in again (unlike the dog I had previously)
For all of her life with me, I took her out myself -either just to the trees past our house, or to the orchard across my lane, for her evening pee-breaks. And that was when she was young and fit and well. She never got the concept of me turning her out to "go pee" ! LOL
During the day of course it was no issue as we spent so much time outside anyway in the fields.

[JanisM13]

It sounds like you other fur kid is having some grieving issues of her
own and misses her buddy.
Give her a LOT of extra loving and attention,she must feel more
secure with you walking with her as she feels alone right now,I am
assuming the tow used to go out together?
Take her for some walks away from your home,get her out and give
her a change in places,this will pass for her she just needs a little help
from you to get past this loss...
Eight hours is no biggie as mine hold their "potty" all night and that's
around 7-1/2 hours or so but the 12 is a lot of time..maybe take her
out for a walk instead of just using the backyad for now,different smells
many times tempt them and they go.

Jan