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Help! Strange dog behavior

Posted : 7/12/2010 2:04:21 PM

Strange dog behavior-need help!

9year old mix black and tan coon hound. Excellent health, great temperament.

We are having a heat wave in NYC but have air conditioning in the bedroom where our dog hangs out. A week ago, she refused her night time walk. It was over 90 degrees outside, so we let it be. She went out fine the next morning and afternoon. Then it happened again-- same thing but day time was fine.When it cooled down to about 80 she did it again. Then the next day during the day time she refused until I picked her up and walked 5 feet and then ran into a neighbor who said hello to her and she seemed to have forgotten whatever was bothering her. The behavior continues-she refused to get out of the elevator. After coaxing with a treat-got her out-but walk was stilted paced with a quickened trot and then refusing to move until we crossed the street. So now its been a week, only got her out one night for evening walk but was not normal behavior. Hypotheses: The heat is making her strange, the heat started with fourth of july idiots and fireworks which she is afraid, but haven't heard any booms since then. Any other ideas?

I spoke to our vet who does not believe there is anything medically wrong with our pup, but believes it is emotional. She suggested DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) which we ordered via amazon and expect by the end of the week. She also suggested Xanax for short term and prozac for long term. We have not tried the xanax yet as my husband is very against this but will if the behavior continues. She refused the night walk again last night, refusing to even exit the elevator. We immediately turned around, went back up the apartment with zero reinforcement (positive/negative) and acted normal-getting ready for bed etc. We decided to not even offer night walk for a few nights to take the pressure off. Then we might try the xanax when we reintroduce it. Any other ideas?

Thanks so much. We are at our wits end!

glenmar

Posted : 7/12/2010 2:16:26 PM

Any sudden change in behavior merits a vet visit and blood work to rule out the physical.

It's entirely possible that she burned her paws on the hot sidewalks and that's why she doesn't want to go outside, anticipating a return of the pain. Dog boots, or heck, even human baby booties might be a thot if that's the case.

Honestly, it concerns me that the vet has ruled out the physical without even seeing your dog.

micksmom

Posted : 7/12/2010 2:18:29 PM

All I could think of as I was reading your post is that something spooked her on an evening walk. When I got to this part, my idea made even more sense:

Rosiethehound
...The heat is making her strange, the heat started with fourth of july idiots and fireworks which she is afraid, but haven't heard any booms since then...

I bet she's associating her even walks with the fireworks. The only thing I can suggest is to make those walks extra enjpyable- lots of treats, loving, fun stuff, etc when she's outside. You might need to start real small- when she gets off the elevator, reward then go back home, eventually working up to actually getting outside. How long it takes depends on your dog. Find something she really likes to use as a reward, and she only gets that reward at walk time.

calliecritturs

Posted : 7/13/2010 11:27:43 AM

Sometimes with dogs and fear they jump all the way to the mental 'high' of fear with just ONE bad experience.

I'd hate to see you go to heavy drugs as well -- HOWEVER -- why not try an easy herb like valerian tincture (get the non-alcohol one). Mix it in either a tiny bit of peanut butter and smoosh on her tongue or similar (actually valerian is a good taste mixed with pb for some reason -- altho it also goes super well with black licorice and most dogs like that).

Tincture works fast -- like within 5 minutes. And it's a nervine herb so it's simply a **relaxant**. It will dial back the "nerves" but leave the brain clear to think and re-train.

Actually ANY of these three: St. John's Wort, PassionFlower or Valerian. Get the tincture of any of them. All 3 are nervine herbs -- St. John's Wort might actually give an almost prozac effect -- it has sertonin components. But none will drug the dog senseless like a pharmaceutical will.

For re-training giving an herb to take the edge off so you CAN get the brain to kick in really works well.

Good luck!

FrisbyPI

Posted : 7/13/2010 11:46:59 AM

glenmar
It's entirely possible that she burned her paws on the hot sidewalks and that's why she doesn't want to go outside, anticipating a return of the pain.

This is what also came to mind for me; the sidewalks/roads just do not cool off quickly. I rarely walk Frisby outside of our yard when it's this hot unless I can protect her feet. I would also check with the vet. Is she drinking enough water?