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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog acting strangely

21 replies

Hyperfish101 · 13/12/2020 19:15

We have a rescue dog who we got in June. Settled well generally. Slept in crate and we trained him to get in his crate when we were cooking or eating. Yesterday I don’t know happened but as he was getting in the crate something spooked him and he skittered about And ran out the room. Since then he has been very odd.

Won’t go in crate, Skulks around the kitchen, hides under table. Generally acts scared. His confidence has just gone! He seems physically fine and prior to this starting off yesterday he had had a nice walk and seemed jolly.

I just have no idea what has set this off. He is eating although was uncertain when approaching his bowl.

He’s 2 years old. Any ideas?

OP posts:
Veterinari · 13/12/2020 19:49

Likely a noise reaction of some sort - were there any unusual noises?

Clearly something has spooked him or potentially triggered a memory of a previous unpleasant experience.

Give him some space, spend some time offering him treats and gentle stroking as long as he's comfortable with this. Reassure him, give him he choice of where he spends time. Font pressure him into doing what you want - give him reassurance and control over his own behaviour. He'll settle

Veterinari · 13/12/2020 19:51

Also whilst he's young, keep an eye out for any stiffness/reluctance to move. A sudden pain could def cause this. Eg if he has hip or elbow dysplasia and accidentally jarred his joints

BiteyShark · 13/12/2020 19:52

Mine gets spooked by lots of things. Outside it's usually the wind blowing his tail Hmm. Inside he has run away if the toaster pops up or if he hears some thing he wasn't expecting. Can be a real problem if it's when he is eating as he runs away. I find I just have to jolly him along until he decides wherever scared him isn't there anymore.

BiteyShark · 13/12/2020 19:53

wherever = what ever

Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 13/12/2020 20:15

Thanks. He’s acting so odd. Worries me. I just put his food out and he’s staring at it but won’t approach the bowl. That’s unheard of!

Going to take him to vet, just to check he isn’t in pain..

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Frenchdressing · 13/12/2020 21:05

Also, if I believed in ghosts I would say the dog is behaving as if she has seen one!

Tronkmanton · 13/12/2020 21:20

Could he have caught his claw/paw in the bottom of the crate? When our pup was in a crate I frequently caught my fingers in it, hated the bloody thing! Worth carefully checking his paws?

Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 13/12/2020 21:22

Oh maybe. Will check. Thanks.

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mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 14/12/2020 00:11

Could there have been a fly or mozzie? (Especially as staring at food but wont approach it)

Frenchdressing · 14/12/2020 00:31

Maybe. It’s really set him back. Last night wouldn’t sleep in his crate, tonight I couldn’t even get him in the kitchen! Had to let him stay in the hall. He’s so spooked. So weird. He is presenting as I would expect a newly rescued dog to present. Really regressed.

HeidiPeidi · 14/12/2020 02:13

@Hyperfish101 / @Frenchdressing... when we used a crate for her, one of ours was forever catching her paws in the bottom of it (like the bit they step over to get in). The first few times she did it she was really confused and I don’t think she knew what had caused it. As DH was with her the first time settling her in with her hot water bottle and Kong, she associated it with him and the utility room where her crate is, and refused to go near either for 3 full days. Hopefully it’s something and nothing.

Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 14/12/2020 07:36

Thanks. (Sorry about name change. An old name keeps popping up- need to look at my settings!)

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HeidiPeidi · 15/12/2020 01:33

@Hyperfish101 I once got locked out of my account (forgot my password and the email address was an old one so I couldn’t even re set it). I had to reply to a current thread under a new name, which is why I tagged both, just in case 😉

Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 17/12/2020 07:45

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 17/12/2020 07:49

Dog seems to have settled a bit and goes in crate but now wakes a couple of times a night! Isn’t for a wee as he won’t go out. The crate is open but in the kitchen where we shut the door. He’s been getting up and scratching the door. Have to go back downstairs and settle him. I’m so tired!

Don’t know whether to leave kitchen door open but not keen on dog roaming house at night. Or getting a baby gate. This would keep him in kitchen but he couldn’t scratch at door hopefully.

Ugh. Any ideas?

OP posts:
Moondust001 · 17/12/2020 07:49

@Frenchdressing

Also, if I believed in ghosts I would say the dog is behaving as if she has seen one!
Actually, dogs see differently than us, and we now know that they have good ultra-violet spectrum vision - a spectrum we cannot see. That's why they "see ghosts" - dogs can literally see "things" that we can't. So you may not be wrong. That whole "staring attentively into space" or reacting to something that doesn't seem to be there has been shown to be reactions to light spectrums we can't see.
Moondust001 · 17/12/2020 07:57

@Hyperfish101

Dog seems to have settled a bit and goes in crate but now wakes a couple of times a night! Isn’t for a wee as he won’t go out. The crate is open but in the kitchen where we shut the door. He’s been getting up and scratching the door. Have to go back downstairs and settle him. I’m so tired!

Don’t know whether to leave kitchen door open but not keen on dog roaming house at night. Or getting a baby gate. This would keep him in kitchen but he couldn’t scratch at door hopefully.

Ugh. Any ideas?

So definitely some anxiety. It is possible that there was an inadvertent trigger to a bad memory. You don't have much history with a rescue dog, and June really isn't that long ago. Think positive - he's not wanting to be separate from you, so that shows that there is a strong bond there. What about trying some dopamine plug ins for a bit to see if it calms him? Or move his crate to the bedroom if that is possible?
Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 17/12/2020 08:02

DH is slight allergic so we don’t want him upstairs. I just replaced the Adaptil plug in as it was running out so maybe that will help,

Shall I leave the door open do you think of just keep doing return to crate?

Thanks for reply.

OP posts:
StormBaby · 17/12/2020 08:07

Any dogs acting weirdly, getting their anal glands checked by a vet nurse should be the first thing. When they are full or impacted they behave in an odd way. Have you noticed a fishy smell in the house recently?

Veterinari · 17/12/2020 08:11

I'd leave the door open - he's clearly seeking reassurance so that may help.
Perhaps also a low volume radio with a talk station.

I'd also suggest getting good behavioural advice - he sounds like a very anxious dog and could potentially have multiple triggers so getting him assessed would be helpful

Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 17/12/2020 09:55

Thanks. He’s been at vet this week and was fine.

We have had a behaviourist who was helpful. May get him again. Yes he’s an anxious dog bless him.

I will maybe leave door open but have a stair gate so he won’t come upstairs

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