I am currently looking after "Mojo" my friends 1 year old American cocker X English cocker. I have looked after him regularly since he was a pup so he knows me well, I usually stay at my friends house when she goes away but this time he is staying with me. The problem is that he wont settle at night and he wont eat. He is used to sleeping in her kitchen at night but he howls when I shut him in mine - and he will go on for hours with no sign of stopping. I let him in my bedroom eventually in the hope that I could get some sleep but all he does is pace up and down. He is also not eating, he is fed JWB junior which is left down for him during the day, he hasnt touched it and ive had him since Friday !! All he has eaten is some of my parents puppies food (when he visited my parents :rolleyes: ) and he has had a chew of a pigs ear and a few biscrock bone shaped biscuits. The thing is he is sooooooo hyper, he doesnt stop all day and all night, he has about two hours of free running per day plus chasing his ball round the garden but he just doesnt stop !! I was wondering if he is home sick ?? he certainly doesnt seem to be ill and the lack of food isnt having an ill effect on him - yet, and he seems so happy his little tail doesnt stop wagging. I just dont want my friend to come home from her holiday to a dog who is skin and bone and me with huge black sacks under my eyes from lack of sleep :D :D

Any advice would be much appreciated, although I look after peoples dogs often I have never experienced home sickness before.

Thanks

Claire :)

It sounds like he could well be missing his owners, also he is living in unfamiliar surroundings which must be upsetting for him, maybe he thinks his owners have left him, just keep on doing what you are and he should be fine if he gets really hungry I am sure he will start to eat his food.

Thanks for your reply, he managed to bolt down my mums puppy's food again last night (it has flakes of fish mixed in with it so must be more appetising :rolleyes: ) Also the Ridgeback next door is in season, could this be having an effect on him ?? He doesnt whinge as much at night now but I can hear him pacing about, and he starts playing with his squeaky ball at stupid hours in the morning

Claire :)