I have always known our dog was a bit weird.
Recently though she has been putting her biscuits or treats in strategic places, like half way between where she is and where I am or on a route to another room, like my office.
Then if I make any move, she will growl at me. If I move more she will run towards me barking and gnashing but never follows through.
If I get up the biscuit of treat is retrieved or devoured.
(She looks very worried when she places the biscuit or treat and watches it.)
Has anyone any ideas why she does it and how to stop it.
Thanks
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Clearly, she's barking...
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>> Clearly, she's barking...
>>
That's Wuff!
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Sort of sounds like she's bored and wants to play.
Mine never did that with food, but it was fairly common behaviour with a ball when they wanted t play.
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It's called guarding behaviour, kind of thing strong dogs do in teen years, it's mostly an insecurity thing. It can be an invitation to play, if the dog is bored, but yours sounds like insecurity.
How old is said dog? When it occurs in a previously settled dog it's usually one of two things. A lifestyle change, or a medical condition.
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 1 Jul 21 at 20:41
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Thanks for your replies.
She's 10. Still looks like a puppy.
She had a mini stroke earlier in the year.
It's not play. I thought that and tried but she's not interested.
She is very much a creature of habit and still has a very good recall for routes.
Re the insecurity thing, it could be, we have a full house with the kids back home for a while and I think I will take her to the vets for a check up.
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>>She had a mini stroke earlier in the year.
My vet told me 'dogs can't have strokes'.
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My dogs grew up with children and I would never tolerate any adverse behaviour with food. MIL had a dog that would snarl and snap as soon as its food was put down.
I used to take my dog's food away shortly after putting it down, as advised by Barbara Woodhouse (now much despised), but I'd replace it shortly, so they knew they weren't losing it.
This resulted in my children happily interacting with the dogs, without any threat. I could feed them a bonio with my finger hidden under it and they'd never harm me as soon as they felt my finger.
Local butcher would turn up with a bone that they'd disappear with down the garden for an hour or so. I'd hear the shards in the mower.
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This morning I was in the lounge, drinking my first cuppa of the day when she waltzes in jumps on to my lap touches nose to nose and rolls over so she is lying as close as possible.
After a stroke she positions herself so her back is being supported by my arm and chest and just lies there with her tummy being stroked.Eyes closed.
Mrs Z thinks the dog and I are soppy!
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When I got made redundant we got our lab puppy.
I finally got a job and after 11 weeks working, was then furloughed and been working from home since.
Which means that other than 11 weeks if it’s life, the dog has had me me around the house on a daily basis. I put him to his bed every night.
On Monday night, a late call from my daughter to collect her in Edinburgh meant that when I came back just after midnight, my wife had put him to bed and apparently he had howled ever since.
I went down, took him into living room, immediately told him bedtime, and he happily trotted into his bed and not another sound was made!
Yes I know I have made a rod for my own back but it is actually interesting to see how much of your life is routine and the dog adapts to that. Even if you yourself are not aware of your own routine.
In fact, during the “searches for jobs” times I realised that I had adopted a routine of looking on laptop at night before I went to bed. I subsequently discovered that simply shutting the laptop over and putting it on a table prompted the dog to get up and go into his bed!
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Your final paragraph.. Perfect. That's how it is.
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We are recent Foster Carers for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. After a long drought we have had 2 in fairly quick succession. The idea is that if the 'Recipient' has to go into hospital or some other reason the dog is fostered out. We have had 2 quite barky female Retrievers ourselves over time and although would like another dog are aware of the restrictions and commitment they can bring. Daughters have been nagging and nagging to get another dog. Fostering scratches the itch.
The first was a 8 and half year old cross Lab / Retriever. We had him for about 5 weeks. Strong as an Ox and could out walk anyone. Specialised in carrying back the largest stick he could find. A real gent and was quite happy sitting on the sofa alongside you. Responded to all the usual requests. Selective hearing when off lead :). Really miss him.
We've just had a Lab for a week. Persil white. Re fostered due to its foster carer having a holiday. He was 10 but didn't look it.
Different kettle of fish. Lovely dog and no issues. Not keen on walking at all but no apparent physical issues. Occasionally got into bounding puppy mode but more happy to come home. He had a habit of nudging your leg but when you went to stroke him would step back. This is a Hearing Dog attribute to notify its Recipient of something like a doorbell. None of those things were happening.
He was also fond of the sofa. Thing is when we had our Retrievers they never got anywhere near the sofa. We must have mellowed.
The beauty of these two were that they hardly ever barked. Certainly the first one.
I think he's due for retirement soon and maybe not settled due to being passed about.
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I've never allowed any of my dogs to get up onto furniture or beds, and the only time he gets "treats" is if he is being rewarded for doing something when asked.
But, for a terrier, he's very obedient. He'll run off the lead beside my bike for miles, or on a walk, again almost exclusively off the lead, unless of course we're near traffic, he'll stop, return or walk to heel when told. He also knows to "check" with me before playing with or approaching another dog.
He's 10.5 years old now, and I have noticed him slowing down a bit recently, but I hope he carries on for a while longer, he's been a great wee dog.
Barks a bit more than he used to at people approaching our house, but he soon shuts up when told. Guess he's just become a bit grumpy in his old age.
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Weird Dog Behaviour - smokie
