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Post by suziriot on Jun 5, 2014 11:44:36 GMT -5
Lebowski has been acting unusually needy the past couple weeks. Most of you are familiar with his background, but here's a brief refresher. We rescued him at 12 weeks, he's now 6 years old, he became DA at about 1 year old, he's a Dogue de Bordeaux/APBT mix, he's pretty laidback and mellow, and he follows a pretty consistent routine. He loves people and is very friendly, but his interactions never last long and when he's done with you he just goes to find a spot by himself to nap. He doesn't usually like sleeping with a person. We do room/rotate, and he actually has his own bedroom. He likes to go in his room and sleep under the covers on his very own futon. At night he'll stay up with the hubby for an hour or two, then go in his room for the night and won't make a peep until morning. When I get home from work in the evenings, he hangs out with me most of the evening, then he goes in his room when I go to bed with the other dogs until Brook gets home later at night. Same routine every day. The past couple weeks he wants to be with us ALL THE TIME. He whines and scratches at the door/baby gate until we let him out. We've tried taking him potty when he does that, most of the time that's not what he wants and if we tuck him back in bed he's up again five minutes later. I just took him to the vet last Friday for his annual check up and everything was fine. He's eating and drinking normally, etc. When he's out with us, it's almost like he's bored or restless. He'll settle down on the couch for a bit, then get up and lie down on the floor, then go lie down in the kitchen, then go to his crate, then come back to the couch. At first I thought maybe it was the hot weather, but it's been pretty cool this week and he's still doing it. I let him sleep in bed with me last night, and it was the first time he actually stay put through the night. It seemed like that's all he wanted. This is just atypical behavior for him, so I don't know if I should be worried. Having been through the nightmare of Barley's brain tumor a few years ago, our minds always go to worst case scenario. But I'm really not getting that vibe from his behavior. He's not confused, or wandering aimlessly, or anything like that. Best way I can describe it as he seems kind of bored/restless, and just doesn't want to be alone. But he doesn't really want to play any more than he normally does either. So.... thoughts?
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Post by michele5611 on Jun 5, 2014 12:58:09 GMT -5
That is very odd Suzi. Doesn't sound healthy related. The only thing I can think of is sometimes as they age they get more dependent....not that he is old but I do remember my co-worker telling me her dog was very independent and then one day her personality changed and she was much more social and wanted to be with them more.
I can relate to the restless behavior. Harley is extremely restless but hers is tumor and age related....so not sure why Lebowski is so restless. Can you try giving him a kong or something to see if he sits still with that.
Sorry I can't be of much help with this...hopefully others will have some idea.
Just wondering if this behavior will continue or it is just a phase.
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Post by suziriot on Jun 5, 2014 16:24:34 GMT -5
Michele, I'm also wondering if this is just a phase. We're going to keep watching him closely and if anything else is out of the ordinary, we'll probably take him to the vet for bloodwork and maybe checking his joints, etc.
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Post by Dave on Jun 5, 2014 21:29:13 GMT -5
Suzi, about a year ago Rocky changed for no apparent reason. Previously, when I took Sedona out for potty runs there never was a reaction. Seemingly out of nowhere he began having anxiety attacks when I took Sedona outside. It hasn't let up at all over time, and now we just deal with it. I don't make a big deal of it, but I do try to tone him down, which works only sporadically. I have not been able to pinpoint the cause, but over time I've been trying things to ease his anxiety. Little helps. I just accept he won't change, and have added precautions for the other dogs' safety.
I wish they could talk to us in English.
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Post by suziriot on Jun 5, 2014 21:50:40 GMT -5
I wish they could talk to us in English. No kidding, Dave. Tonight again he just refused to be alone. He wasn't worked up or anxious, just did not want to be alone. Then when he saw I was getting ready for bed just now, he pranced his butt into the bedroom and curled up in bed. I told him no and tucked him in his own bed in his room, because the other three need my attention too. Just really unusual for him. We'll see where this goes.
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Post by Dave on Jun 5, 2014 22:03:08 GMT -5
It's so hard to divide one's time between multiple dogs. Especially if some are more needy. Thankfully Lola is very independent, so I really only need to consider the other two. I can really relate to your situation, and don't envy it.
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Post by michele5611 on Jun 6, 2014 7:49:39 GMT -5
For sure see what happens. It might just be like Dave said a change for no apparent reason or condition. I can only imagine how hard it is. I have my hands full with one velcro, neurotic dog and I can't imagine having to divide my attention up between multiple dogs when one is so needy.
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Post by sugar on Jun 6, 2014 10:04:05 GMT -5
This is so bizarre! I've been having a 'suddenly very clingy' dog problem too and was JUST coming here to see if other people had this issue! Small, neurotic-dog world eh?
Chubby used to be pretty independent. He would go by himself into other rooms to relax and if you waled around the apartment he didn't follow unless he heard food or fridge opening. If you left for work, He would watch you and before you even closed the door he was walking back to his bed to lay down. Last few weeks he has gotten super clingy! Like if you leave the room he's in to go to the bathroom he tries to follow you in. If you leave for work he's now trying to follow you out. He no longer eats if you walk away from him or out of the kitchen. If you stand there while he eats, he stop every so often to look at you like he needs to make sure you are there. He opens doors with his head or paws (our doors are old and don't close well) if you in a different room.
The thing that gets me is the eating. He's never done this (and I was afraid he was feeling too sick to eat or something) but if you either a) stand there for a while he'll eat (you better not move a step!) or b) I sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on his food and he'll munch it down (and you can move about the kitchen as long as you don't walk out of it).
The vet is now approx. his age around 8-9yrs (he's getting really gray faced). I've always had very independent dogs, so this is new for me.
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Post by melonie on Jun 6, 2014 11:10:12 GMT -5
Just a thought. Is everyone in the house feeling well?
Sent from my SM-G730V using proboards
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Post by sugar on Jun 6, 2014 12:39:33 GMT -5
We just got back from DR. We were gone about 10 days. My cousin (who has puppysat him several times) stayed in the apt. with him for most of the time, he spent 3 nights at our local kennel (he really likes it there and he love the owner Joe). But we was acting like this before we left too, but it has gotten worse since we got back. I thought it was because we was afraid we would leave again maybe? This is not the first time we've been separated though. We gone away for long weekends (and he either stayed in the boarding place he likes or my cousin who is a dog sitter stayed with him in our own place).
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Post by melonie on Jun 6, 2014 20:53:40 GMT -5
Cleveland has slowly grown a bit clingy. Nothing sudden. These dogs conspire to make us pull our hair.
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Post by sugar on Jun 6, 2014 21:19:20 GMT -5
Cleveland has slowly grown a bit clingy. Nothing sudden. These dogs conspire to make us pull our hair. Dude, I bet they have their own message boards! How else could they all decide on the next way to confound us
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