We adopted Max, a 3 to 4 year old Treeing Walker Hound on tuesday afternoon. He's been as good as gold and is already quite obedient. The only thing we're wondering about is his behaviour in the apartment. He usually just likes to lay around, either on his dog bed or on the floor near us. If called, he'll get up, and will play for a minute or so, but would rather relax than run around or fetch toys (usually, once he gets the toy, he'll just bring it back to his bed with him). He loves to be brushed and petted, which he gets very often. If we are doing anything, he'll come over to check it out and either stand around with us (if the something is food related) or lay down nearby. He likes to chew his rawhide bone. If something noisy is outside, he'll go stand by the balcony sliding door. Other than that, he spends his time "lounging". When we take out the leash, and on the walks, he's got plenty of energy. He loves to sniff everything and works his way down the road, investigating everything.
Is this a normal behaviour pattern? Is there such a thing as "normal"? I've never had a dog before. He doesn't seem unhappy to me and is very spoiled with much-loved belly rubs. But my mom came over to dinner tonight, and she said he looks "sad". Is it just that he's not a puppy and so isn't as active once he's indoors? I know he's getting enough exercise, because we walk him 4+ times a day, with at least 1 or two of those walks quite long (hour and a half or more) and the others being at least 30 or 40 minutes. If I'm reading him right, he's just a relaxed guy and it's his beagle-like features that give him a sad expression. Can someone please give me your opinion?
Is this a normal behaviour pattern? Is there such a thing as "normal"? I've never had a dog before. He doesn't seem unhappy to me and is very spoiled with much-loved belly rubs. But my mom came over to dinner tonight, and she said he looks "sad". Is it just that he's not a puppy and so isn't as active once he's indoors? I know he's getting enough exercise, because we walk him 4+ times a day, with at least 1 or two of those walks quite long (hour and a half or more) and the others being at least 30 or 40 minutes. If I'm reading him right, he's just a relaxed guy and it's his beagle-like features that give him a sad expression. Can someone please give me your opinion?