Recently, within the past two weeks, our dog has developed some strange habits. First, he suddenly wants to sleep on our pillows, in the space between the tops of our heads and the headboard. Previously, he was content to sleep on our feet or his doggie bed. He moves when we tell him to, but why now?
Also, he has started barking at things that are out of place, new, or things he apparently didn't notice before. He advances on the thing, barking at it, and then jumps back when he gets close, then he advances again. He's obviously exhibiting fear, and I'm hesitant to scold him because I'm concerned that it will make him even more timid.
Both of these behaviors are relatively new, as I said. Nothing has changed in his environment, routine, or food.
Is he just nuts?
2006-08-29 06:43:19 · 9 answers · asked by Pink Denial 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Maybe I should give more detail about the pillow situation. He mostly climbs up there after he's been barking at strange things, or there were fireworks, etc. The entire time he's up there, he's either laying on his back with his stomach exposed or is trying to give us kisses. Do dogs expressing dominance do those things?
2006-08-29 06:58:12 · update #1
Nuts? No, I don't think so.. Mine sleeps on my bed like she's a human, yes head on my pillow, hubby won't let her sleep on his. She actually really acts like a kid sometimes and will crawl in between my husband and I and lay down. I think it's just a security thing. As for barking at new things. Its NEW! LOL once again mine does the same thing she barks at it for about 5 minutes and then actually gets enough courage to just go up and smell it and then she's fine.. Just let him be don't scold him unless you REALLY don't want him on the bed, pillows or what ever. My dog is a year old and still runs into walls LMAO
2006-08-29 07:26:06 · answer #1 · answered by onfire921 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do think that he's asserting his dominance with the pillow situation. However, with the second situation...how old is he? Dogs go through fear periods at certain ages just like children do. He may be going through one right now. The other day I brought a new statue in my house and my dog didn't notice it until the day after. She barked at it, backed out of the room, and wouldn't go back in until I took it off the table and put it on the floor for her to investigate. Even then I had to sit on the floor in front of it so she could hide behind me and peek at it from behind my back.
2006-08-29 13:55:39 · answer #2 · answered by Amber 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he is not nuts ..
be care full sounds like he is coming up in rank (y'all are a pack you and your other half should be top ranks) the dogs might be barking at things he feels doesn't belong there, and the bark in his mind to to scare it off ..
when you add something new (object of what ever kind) sit down on the floor with the object, call the dog to you, pet the dog and show him the object while petting him and let him sniff it, and have him follow you when you place the object then when you place the object make him sit while doing this ,.. when done pet him again and tell him he is a good boy
you say this just started, have you just started bring new things into his environment ??
i did this technigue with my dogs and it works, they even love my hamster .. they have been nose to nose, or snout to snout (how ever you want to call it) and they didn't try to attack or nothing
they would bark at new things but this helps.. also the dog needs to stop sleeping in your bed only pacl leaders sleep in bed.. again we went through this to, i used to let our dogs sleep in our bed and one (that i had, had since 6weeks old) well he tried coming up in rank and was trying to rule us and i had to nip that in the bud real quick
2006-08-29 13:56:17 · answer #3 · answered by ♥ Lisa♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a theory.. weather it is correct or not.. i havn't a clue.. BUT here goes anyway.....
My grade 11 biology teacher had a dog who got into some "shrooms" in the field behind her house and would do exactly what your dog is doing to object around her house (i know this becuase she told the story in class) so perhaps the same thing is goign on with your dog.. its not unusual for animals to eat strage foods they find outside such as "magic mushrooms" i know cows get into them all the time, cuz their fields are a common place for them to grow.
and for the sleepignat the top of the bed. .perhaps these new halucinations are making the dog uncomfortable and maybe sleepign closer to your heads comforts him in this strage time.
Now obviously as i said i have no proof that that is whats wrong with your dog.. but hey. ya never know.. jsut watch him.. see wehre he goes when your not with him, and check your yard out. if there are some growing there. then that COULD be it.
g/l with what ever it is!
2006-08-29 13:52:59 · answer #4 · answered by joyfulpriss 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have a ghost in the house... GET OUT!
*giggles...
I betchya they do make doggie prozac now day's don't they?
Seriously though... all joking aside. Has your pet hit their head lately? He could have swelling on his little brain. GO see the vet.
2006-08-29 13:49:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No i just think your dog has caracter... he isn't crazy. Look at the bright side, if u loose something, he'll soon find it because it isn't where it should be!
2006-08-29 13:52:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the first problem.
He is showing you he is the boss and you sleep below him.
The other problem.
I have no idea lol.
2006-08-29 13:47:43 · answer #7 · answered by BradToTheBone 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He sounds devine......... laff it off. let him enjoy being a doggie.
mine farts and then runs away from himself.....
2006-08-29 13:50:05 · answer #8 · answered by a cottage by the sea 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
nope......
2006-08-29 13:51:15 · answer #9 · answered by abeer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋