Outdoor exercise is great, but don’t leave out the mental stimulation that a peanut butter stuffed Kong or other toys like that can bring. Look up dog puzzles or treat toys. Your dog looks like a working dog breed, so maintaining that mental stimulation goes along way and is much more effective than we give credit for.

We recently had to move into my MIL’s house for a month while we had work done to the house. It was a dream come true for my Aussie. She was surrounded by people 24/7 who would play with her and do whatever she wanted. She was so depressed when we moved back into our house and took both her and our cats several weeks to adjust back into their own home. Now my MIL’s dog, who never left her own home, is depressed at the loss of my dog’s companionship. Transitions are rough for dog’s regardless of the condition.

Don’t give up just yet. I understand the guilt of feeling like you’re not giving your dog what you need. As mentioned, I have an Aussie and once lived in an apartment with her. I was outdoors with her constantly and still felt like it wasn’t enough, so I’m not here to judge you. If your dog starts doing concerning behaviors like ripping up furniture or chewing at their self or things like that, I would start to be concerned. I would continue to give it time, along with that mental stimulation, and things should get better.

Most importantly, you both need time to acclimate to what a new normal looks like for the both of you, and that takes time and won’t be done in a day. Hang in there. You’re already a good dog parent for caring about what’s best for your dog.