Dog Community

Puppy stopped wanting to go/play at doggie daycare -- sudden!

Posted : 1/24/2008 9:09:21 AM

We have a 1.5 yr. old lab mix (mutt) with tons of energy. While we exercise him as much as possible, we decided to start taking him to doggy daycare 2/week where he can run & play with about 20 other dogs while we work. We work 5 days/week and feel sorry leaving him at home even though he now "rules the roost" and is crate-free all day.

He's been there for about 9 months & love it -- pulls you to the door he wants to get in there so badly. He's very social, loves to play, loves other dogs & people. He even has his best friends there... he cries when he even sees the shopping center camps in & starts wagging his tail.

All of a sudden, after the holidays (where he was boarded in the same facility & was fine - 2nd time boarding there), he started acting strangely in camp. He won't play, tail between his legs, panting constantly. Goes to all sides of the gated in room & furiously digs the fence like he's trying to escape. So much they're afraid he's going to hurt his paws & they pull him out. No fights, no new dogs... he is normal & fine at home & on walks.

He did suffer from an ongoing ear infection for the last month, but we've finally gotten that under control with our vet & his ear looked great this week. No more pain to the touch, either. Plus, even throughout the ear infection, he was fine at home -- tail up, wagging, playing, running like normal.

I cannot, nor can anyone else at daycare, put my finger on why our pup -- the life of the party at daycare -- has all of a sudden stopped wanting to be there.... like he's viciously trying to escape. Everyone is thrown by this. He's a perfectly happy dog!

Does anyone have ANY idea????

Cita

Posted : 1/24/2008 9:49:43 AM

Yikes, poor pup! I really have no idea, but I'd recommend respecting his feelings - don't force him to go right now if he's really frightened, you might end up making things worse.

Dogs can make associations sometimes that make no sense to us... maybe someone smarter than me will have some good ideas as to what's going on.

Welcome to the forums, by the way!

Pomeranian <3

Posted : 1/24/2008 9:59:08 AM

Where did you take him? PETSMART? Just a question b/c I know they have daycare & boarding! I was thinking about doing the SAME THING... two times per week...

Dogs are smart, they recognize situations. Your dog loved daycare because he would have fun then come home to you. When you left him there for boarding he realized wait I'm not going home... so now everytime he goes back he will be reminded of that and thinks your leaving. Kind of the same situation dogs have with the Vet: if they go and feel pain, don't be surprised if they never want to go back.

The panting is the HUGE sign of anxiety. I honestly think your dog is worried you will leave him there again. Good experience or not he was away from you... and some pups just don't like that :o)

Once he realizes your not going anywhere he'll be better. Let him socialize and get used to the situation again...

erica1989

Posted : 1/24/2008 10:19:02 AM

aww, poor puppy.

I would leave him at home for a while, then re-introduce day care to him. Maybe he just needs a break?

schleide

Posted : 1/24/2008 1:37:03 PM

While I don't think any of us could definitively tell you why your pup is acting like this - if he were my dog, I would take a break from daycare...

Maybe your could reintroduce it in a few weeks/a month and see if it is any better, but if not, it may just be that daycare is not for him anymore - it is certainly not worth bringing him there to be stressed and unhappy (which his behavior indicates that he is). Maybe you could substitute a walker/playgroup for him instead and he will be fine in another context?

luvmyswissy

Posted : 1/25/2008 9:46:57 PM

If it started right after boarding something about that experience has made him anxious. It could have been something you would never think of in a million years like maybe a thunder storm rolled by when he was there and now he is fearful (expierence ='s facility). Or there was construction near by some loud noises or a fire alarm went off for a long time. Or maybe he and another dog had problem. It's easy to assume it was someone mistreating him but hopefully not that. Maybe his paw got caught in the gate at night when no one was there, and he freaked out. LOL I’m just saying you may never figure it out.

But the fact that he is now fearful is a problem. So you can work at slowly re-introducing giving him treats and plenty of fun time or stop bringing him. Does he have an anxiety anywhere else other than there?

And at 1.5 years old adolescents, he just may have developed some new fears. This is a fuuny age for dogs lots of different behaviors can crop up.

spiritdogs

Posted : 1/26/2008 10:57:06 AM

luvmyswissy
If it started right after boarding something about that experience has made him anxious. It could have been something you would never think of in a million years like maybe a thunder storm rolled by when he was there and now he is fearful (expierence ='s facility). Or there was construction near by some loud noises or a fire alarm went off for a long time. Or maybe he and another dog had problem. It's easy to assume it was someone mistreating him but hopefully not that. Maybe his paw got caught in the gate at night when no one was there, and he freaked out. LOL I’m just saying you may never figure it out.
But the fact that he is now fearful is a problem. So you can work at slowly re-introducing giving him treats and plenty of fun time or stop bringing him. Does he have an anxiety anywhere else other than there?
And at 1.5 years old adolescents, he just may have developed some new fears. This is a fuuny age for dogs lots of different behaviors can crop up.

These are all great points. Any chance you can try him at another day care?

Sunshinegirl

Posted : 1/27/2008 8:47:33 PM

Are there any new employees at the daycare? Perhaps a new dog that bullies him? Do they have live webcams so that you can observe what happens while he's there? It could be any number of things, but, if it were me.......I would take a break and/or try to find a new daycare. Obviously something isn't right.