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Tyson doing something sort of strange

Posted : 12/13/2006 7:14:29 AM

Well BF and I have finally done it, we are living together full time now... However, hes been going to upstate New York to work sometimes until he finds a job in his new city...

Which brings me to Tyson's behavior...

Hes now being crated during the day, which might have something to do with it, since hes not burning energy all day playing with a person of his, or just being out of the crate...

At night, there are times when he will bark at every little "sound" (I don't hear a thing sometimes), he will lay in bed and growl, jump out of bed and bark like crazy, etc.

Generally, during the day, if we hear someone come in the front door (we live in a 3 family house) he will bark, and sometimes growl a bit, but not at things that I don't even hear. This nighttime barking is a new thing, though this is not the first time its happened, and it only happens when BF is not here, or not in the room.
*Let me add that it is clear he is not barking at me... thats not my concern...

I mean, I was woken up *a lot* last night by this. Im not sure what would possess him to do it... That Im alone and he feels the need to protect me? That he has pent up energy from being in the crate? Both??

chewbecca

Posted : 12/13/2006 7:46:27 AM

I would think (and it's only my thoughts and I'm not a specialist, but...) that Tyson might be just experiencing a change in scenery, routine, and missing his human that he is used to having there all the time.
If he's not used to being crated or "caged" then he's adjusting to that. It might make him feel a tad nervous to be in a new environment (constantly in this new environment) causing him to feel a need to bark at every little thing until he adjusts to the new sounds.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I'd give it some time for him to adjust to everything.
Are you giving him anything to chew on, or a comfort toy when he's in his crate? That might distract him a little bit and make him feel a tad bit more at home until he realizes that this is his new home for good, he's not just visiting, you know?

Tyson is such a good guy. I think in time he'll be fine. He might also feel a need to protect you, I'm not sure.

chewbecca

Posted : 12/13/2006 7:48:05 AM

Also, CONGRATS on the man moving in with you!
I'm very happy for you and I think everything will be fine once everyone is used to the new move.

Julitza

Posted : 12/13/2006 8:01:15 AM

Im thinking both of your theories are right. He may be extra energetic because he has spent all day in his crate, I know when Lizzie had to be crated all day she was bouncing off the walls when she got out.
But if you are excersising him enough, its probably just edginess because his 'alpha' is not there to protect the pack. He is probably nervous and feels the need to make himself the tough guy and protect his pack.

g33

Posted : 12/13/2006 9:54:30 AM

Hi!

Tyson is adorable. What breed of dog is he?

I agree with the other poster who said that it probably has a lot to do with a change of scene/routine. Did you move, or did your boyfriend move to be with you? Is Tyson dealing with a total change in surroundings? I used to have a couple of cats and whenever I would move, for a few days they would growl at the strange new sounds until they realized that the strange new sounds were actually normal sounds.

If it's a matter of an issue that your boyfriend is no longer around at night, I wonder if Tyson is behaving that way because he realizes that the Alpha is not present. It looks like Tyson might be a guard-breed type of dog, so he is probably feeling like he needs to go into "protective" mode.

alieliza

Posted : 12/13/2006 3:34:27 PM

ORIGINAL: chewbecca

I would think (and it's only my thoughts and I'm not a specialist, but...) that Tyson might be just experiencing a change in scenery, routine, and missing his human that he is used to having there all the time.
If he's not used to being crated or "caged" then he's adjusting to that. It might make him feel a tad nervous to be in a new environment (constantly in this new environment) causing him to feel a need to bark at every little thing until he adjusts to the new sounds.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I'd give it some time for him to adjust to everything.
Are you giving him anything to chew on, or a comfort toy when he's in his crate? That might distract him a little bit and make him feel a tad bit more at home until he realizes that this is his new home for good, he's not just visiting, you know?

Tyson is such a good guy. I think in time he'll be fine. He might also feel a need to protect you, I'm not sure.

Tyson and BF have been living here for about a month and a half. It is just recently that he started to go upstate to work, within the past two weeks. He wasn't crated (that much) previously because when he was living upstate, someone was always home, and BF was here during the day down here.

He has been crated during the day for the past two weeks, but they've been here for 1.5 months.

alieliza

Posted : 12/13/2006 3:36:10 PM

Hi!

Tyson is adorable. What breed of dog is he?

Thanks!
Tyson is an American Pit Bull Terrier...

It looks like Tyson might be a guard-breed type of dog, so he is probably feeling like he needs to go into "protective" mode.

APBTs aren't a guardian breed, but he may be in "protective" mode anyway...

Tyson doing something *sort of* strange

Tyson doing something *sort of* strange

Tyson doing something sort of strange

Tyson doing something sort of strange