Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal??

• 02-06-2008 2:26 PM

  BlazinB Joined on 12-31-2007 New Mexico Posts 22 Points 0

  Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact I was gating my dog Jasper in the kitchen. Well one day I guess I didn't do such a great job securing it because he had knocked the bottom gate down (had to use 2 because he can jump) but surprisingly the apartment was in great shape and no accidents, so I dog-proofed anything I think could be dangerous for him and have been letting him have the run of the apartment when I'm out. I've been doing this the past 3 days. Anyway, each time when I've come home I've found he's dragged a blanket to the front door and wraps himself up in it, when I open the door he unwraps himself from the blanket and goes ballistic. Is it normal for a dog to just park themself by the front door when you're gone?  He had his kong and toys and everything but he didn't start working on the kong until I got home...There is no scratching on the door or anything.

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• 02-06-2008 2:29 PM

  In reply to BlazinB

  Pomeranian <3 Joined on 01-03-2008 MASSACHUSETTS Posts 1,065 Points 545

  Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact BlazinB: Anyway, each time when I've come home I've found he's dragged a blanket to the front door and wraps himself up in it, when I open the door he unwraps himself from the blanket and goes ballistic. Is it normal for a dog to just park themself by the front door when you're gone?  He had his kong and toys and everything but he didn't start working on the kong until I got home...There is no scratching on the door or anything. I would deff say that is normal :o) My little one used to do the same thing. Then she moved slowly farther and farther away... lol now she waits for me on the couch. He's just lonely and misses youuuu it's cute... It always makes me feel bad each day leaving her but she doesn't bark and she doesn't destory things so she's fine... she's got her toys and food and water... they just have to get used to it :o) She too also so waits for me to come home to eat... she'll only eat in front of me. But I did hear some dogs are like this? And she also goes "ballistic" when I get home meaning her butt wags so fast and hard and sometimes she'll make little soft whimper noises like yay mommy yay mommys home!

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• 02-06-2008 2:51 PM

  In reply to Pomeranian <3

  huskymom Joined on 09-10-2007 Thunder Bay ON Posts 7,534 Points 630	Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact  To me it says you're doing a good job keeping him exercised and entertained when you are home, and so he just uses his alone time to rest.  Candace
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• 02-06-2008 2:52 PM

  In reply to Pomeranian <3

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Posts 9,906 Points 655

  Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact   Pomeranian <3: She too also so waits for me to come home to eat... she'll only eat in front of me. But I did hear some dogs are like this? And she also goes "ballistic" when I get home meaning her butt wags so fast and hard and sometimes she'll make little soft whimper noises like yay mommy yay mommys home! My dog is like this.  It really depends on the dog and how "velcro" they are.  Kenya is a one person dog and she only cares to be with me.  When I am gone, she spends all day sleeping under my desk or in her crate.  She has free access to the house, but all she does is sleep (my husband is home).  When I come home she goes ballistic.  We've been working on the jumping and are now working on the spinning.  She also makes whining and huffing noises at me b/c she's so excited I'm home.  She also will not eat if I'm not there.  She will not take food from anyone (often not even treats) and she does not like to do commands for anyone else.  She will do them because she knows them, but it's not a fun game like it is when we are training or performing. http://vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net http://www.schhmi.com

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• 02-06-2008 2:54 PM

  In reply to Liesje

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 7,307 Points 4,610	Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact Yep, after Dakota checks the house for any and all food I might have left out she lays by the door until I come home. Very normal imo
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• 02-06-2008 2:59 PM

  In reply to BlazinB

  timsdat Joined on 03-05-2007 Florida Posts 2,055 Points 220	Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact Funny my guys will do that but only when we are staying in a motel room.  At home they will either be laying out on the porch or in the usual spots but when we go to a motel and I go out for dinner or something they will always be laying right at the door when I return.   Steve and the pups Timmy and Sprite
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• 02-06-2008 4:02 PM

  In reply to BlazinB

  Krissim Klaw Joined on 08-26-2007 Posts 647 Points 100

  Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact Kirby will do that if left out.  Normally I crate him but I've been starting to trust him for really short outings and he seems to just park infront of the door.  He will also do that if someone else is home but he has gotten better at letting other people distract him (especially if they are offering treats/belly rubs).  Initially when I got him he also wouldn't touch his food (not even treat filled kongs) while I was gone.  Must admit that worried me a bit because in my opinion he was stressing more than I wanted to see, especially since I think he would also spend the time sitting and staring without relaxing enough to rest while I was gone.  Slowly however he has started to trust I'm coming back, but I have a feeling he will always be a velcro baby who just kind of plop and wait for me to return.  One thing is when I do greet him they are always real low key, no barking, whining, pawing, or jumping up.  Because I felt he was verging on the edge of separation anxiety when I first got him, I made a big deal about ignoring him when I would first come back and I think it has helped him see me going is not the end of the world.  Plus it is nice to come home to a dog who will greet me real calm even if I know he is all excited on the inside.

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• 02-06-2008 4:10 PM

  In reply to Krissim Klaw

  katiegirl917 Joined on 01-15-2008 Philadelphia Posts 69 Points 225	Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact I'm so glad to read this because Jack does the exact same thing like to a T! I thought for a sec I was not doing something right! Happy to hear other doggies do it too!
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• 02-06-2008 8:21 PM

  In reply to katiegirl917

  blackrose Joined on 01-09-2008 Posts 47 Points 60

  Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact lol.... my dogs do this everyday not only to me but to mom and my dad only not my brothers or sister its so cute they wimper and yell and jump all over us all the time and my pearl will only eat in my moms room on her own plate and  only when shes there. so yeah all dogs do this i guess weird hehe!! :) :)I LOVE MY FURBABIES!!:)

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• 02-07-2008 7:33 AM

  In reply to blackrose

  l.michelle Joined on 06-15-2007 Ontario, Canada Posts 1,680 Points 20	Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact My two sit in the window of the living room on the couches lol they like to watch the cars go by.
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• 02-07-2008 8:54 AM

  In reply to BlazinB

  jessies_mom Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 4,971 Points 140	Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact   I think it's normal; Jessie used to do this for awhile when we adopted her. We've had her for more than 8 years, and she still won't chew any treats we leave for her until we come back. Janice
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• 02-07-2008 1:34 PM

  In reply to jessies_mom

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,831 Points 105

  Re: Dog lies by the front door until I get home - normal?? Reply Contact I have had the opportunity to work from home from time to time. I found it very interesting to see my dogs behavior. When we "leave for work" they lay down upstairs in the living room, in specific spots. Belle after maybe 30-60 minutes moves to the basement and climbs on the couch to sleep. Then about 3:45 (DH arrives home first) Belle goes upstairs and starts watching for his return standing in the window. She is almost like clockwork. The other dogs stay resting until they hear his car in the driveway. When I get home Belle is again in the window, waiting. I think Teddi now moves to the basement to sleep until Belle goes back upstairs but I have not worked from home to figure her pattern yet. Max just sleeps under the bay window. There was a show on National Geographic about dogs I saw recently and they actually addressed this very phenomina. They said that the dogs acute hearing can pinpoint the specific sound of the masters vehicle before we would get into view. It was a bit conditioned repsonse, the dog hears the specific noise then the result he wants soon follows master is home. I think Belle has just synchronized it one more step to auto wake and be ready. I know there are times I wake up before my alarm clock because I am conditioned to get up at a specific time. My dogs do not play with toys unless we are home. Perhaps they like the audience. Belle and Teddi will investigate the bathroom trash (only) and might get into that but they leave all else alone.

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