How Does a Dog Become Depressed?

Neglect

Dogs can't be ignored for very long before there will be a definite change in their behavior. Dogs enjoy praise and affection from their owners, and it is this positive reinforcement that keeps dogs behaving in the way their owners have taught them to behave. Dogs do not like to be ignored, and neglect can certainly evolve into a depression. The dog might not be as friendly or may start acting out in undesirable ways, such as defecating inside the house or trying to bite people. The reason the dog reacts this way is because it lacks the cognitive ability to understand why an owner would act neglectful, so the dog's depression shows up as acting out.

Bad Health

When dogs don't feel well, it makes it harder for them to enjoy life. Since dogs aren't able to effectively communicate how they are feeling, a noticeably depressed dog might be suffering from an ailment. It's one thing when a dog whines about an obvious injury like a thorn in its paw, but when a dog suddenly becomes lethargic or whiny for no apparent reason, this can be a sign that something is physically wrong. If the ailment goes undetected by the dog's owner for some time, then the dog may become more depressed because it has no way to concretely convey to its owner that something is wrong. A dog that appears depressed should be taken to the veterinarian for a checkup to find out if there is a physical reason for the depression.

Living Conditions

Most dogs like to have large open spaces to run around in. They need basic things like clean water, ample food to eat and a climate that suits their breed. A large dog confined to a small apartment or a dog accustomed to cold weather that is forced to live in a hot climate will probably have problems adjusting and may develop depression. Dogs must have the opportunity to run around and explore, and might become depressed if they aren't offered this opportunity.