My female labrador, aged 9 has been behaving very out of character lately. She keeps getting me up at night by jumping up at the door of one of the rooms she's kept in. It's been going on for months now, and at the start I'd let her outside because I thought she might have needed the toilet, but she used to just sniff around the garden. So, I've stopped letting her out and now when I come down after she's been jumping at the door, she just goes straight back to her basket. I'm never violent with her, so it's not that she thinks I'm going to hit her and she's scared, so she must know that what she is doing is wrong.
She's also started digging up our garden, something she's never done even as a puppy. It seems very strange for a dog which has always been so well behaved.
Does anyone have any idea what it could be? Do dogs go through some sort of period of being like this? And does anyone have any suggestions of what I could do to stop her and get a good night sleep?
2007-03-16 01:08:56 · 20 answers · asked by Lisa 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
She's been spaid so she's definately not pregnant.
It's been going on for about 3 or 4 months now.
I don't think it's another animal in my garden because she'd bark. She's a good guard dog :)
2007-03-16 01:21:29 · update #1
Sorry to keep adding details, but she's been getting 2 long walks everyday, and my mum is in the house all day so I don't think it could be attention seeking.
2007-03-16 01:22:34 · update #2
i have three senior dogs that i have had all thier lives,i don't really have a solution to your problem but i wanted to let you know you are not alone,all my dogs at a certain age started to act differently,it is like they are going through some type of old age senility or something,i sometimes think they have lost all thier sences,my female Rottie who is now 13 does the same thing your lab does, i wish i could help you
2007-03-16 01:23:13 · answer #1 · answered by onyxpryzm 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hi, first of all I do not think that putting the dog in the bedroom with you is a solution. Animals should sleep outside the bedroom, and if she is used to it just leave it that way.
You may want to take her to the vet for a check up - I agree with that, or maybe something did change in your household. If she has enough exercise during the day there should be no reason for her to do it. Try and give her an even longer walk in the evening, and make her run, so she is really tired before you go to bed. You may want to read up on things on this website:
www.dogpsychologycenter.com
It's really good and you may find someone has a similar problem.
Good luck!
2007-03-16 09:44:19 · answer #2 · answered by Tomas R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I were you I'd check out the garden carefully for holes.
It's my guess you have a bunny rabbit,or ground hog that's taken up residence and is roaming at night.Your dog hears it and is alerting you that there's someone new on the property and it's not paying rent.
For a month my dog went to the back corner of our garage and would bark frantically while looking up.We thought a squirrel was chased up there and ignored him.Turns out a bird had found a little opening under the eaves and had gone into the garage and built a nest.He was barking at the birds going in and out and we did'nt realize it until we went into the garage and found several little baby birds testing their wings inside.
2007-03-16 09:02:44 · answer #3 · answered by misbehavin165 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has anything in the house changed? New company or a new pet? We have a Lab and she is the best dog, but she has gotten naughty when she feels she is not getting enough attention, also at night sleeping she wants to be in the same room as us, then we don't have any problems. Can she sleep in the same room as you? Reason why she is locked in another room?
2007-03-16 08:17:46 · answer #4 · answered by eeyore9573 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps your dog senses something outside that you can not hear or smell. My Lab and Rottie do the same. Also, if you leave where there has been snow, maybe she is looking for something that she buried outside. It is obviously something that can't be detected by humans. Maybe if you have a motion light outside, direct toward the area where she runs to and digs, you might just happen to see what all the fuss is about.
Debi
2007-03-16 09:37:52 · answer #5 · answered by PETSITTER DEBI 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chance s are she has a bone or somthing in the garden and that why she diigging up ur garden as for going out at nite she might want the toilet but aslo needs a to sniff my dog does this i let him out or she hear s a cat outside thats why she wants to go out aslways check as u never know who hanging around
2007-03-16 09:16:54 · answer #6 · answered by dd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe she is trying to tell you that she is not feeling well. Prehaps a quick check up at the vet would clear a few things up. When a dog behaves out of character there is something wrong.
2007-03-16 08:29:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be separation anxiety.... you can go to the vet and get perscribed Xanax. Also, the dog may have become obsessive compulsive... continuous bad habbits... usually starting from bordom. Get him one of those balls that slowly despenses small treats to keep him busy, give him an hour walk every day, or go to vet vet to get a perscription :)
2007-03-16 19:53:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
whell he door thing is probley an attention thing so dont go to her or call her as any attention she gets good or bad will reinforce it. also try a dog gate instead of a door and a quiet radio this sometimes helps
the digging could be a boardum thing so give it more toy and chews.
2007-03-16 08:35:01 · answer #9 · answered by Joanne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it possible that a new critter has moved into your yard? A week ago my dogs were driving me crazy because they kept barking at the windows and doors and I couldn't see anything. Turned out some possums had gone into both our chicken coop and our duck house.
2007-03-16 08:15:37 · answer #10 · answered by th3dogmomma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋