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Home: Behavioral Problems: Behavioural Issues - General:
Weird action.







DoggiePuppy
Member


Apr 19, 2004, 5:23 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1911 views)
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Weird action. Can't Post

Several actions that Zoe does which I don't understand. One, she will be in her sit position, and drag herself with her front hand. It looks cute and funny but I always wonder why she does that.

Secondly, she's 5 months by now and I don't know why she's getting very defensive and at the same time very chicken bout stuff that is new. If she sees a stranger in the house, she'll bark her head off, not that she dares to bite them or so, she barks till her back hair all come up. And lately if she hears any noise out there, she'll run towards window and bark...all these including if she suddenly hear another dog out there barking. She wasn't like this last time she usually don't care if got things pass about, she won't bark like this. My own opinion is that she's learning defense and offense that's all. Haha...ridiculous but I don't know why she's like that this time around.
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<-----Looks like a cockroach from this picture!!


surchinmy
Ultra ALPHA

Apr 19, 2004, 9:33 PM

Post #2 of 10 (1897 views)
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Re: [DoggiePuppy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

Hi ...

Your first issue:

When a dog does that funny dragging of it's butt ... it's usually because its anal glands are full and plugged ...

There are a pair of glands situated on either side of your dog's rectum ... these glands produce musk-like secretions, and they sometimes get plugged/stuck and become uncomfortable for your dog ...

Take your dog to a vet and ask your vet to show you how to squeeze & empty the anal glands ...

Aaaah ... the secretions can be kinda smelly ... TongueSmileCrazy ...

Your second issue:

You are absolutely right ... from about 6 months, most dogs go through their 2nd so-called 'fear period' ... At this age, the dogs are like teenagers ... young adults, and becoming much more aware of the world around them - the sights, smells and surrounding them ... It is during this period (if they were still in the wild) that they learn how to be careful and wary ... Hence, the barking at strangers and at new happenings in the environment ... she is also becoming more sexually aware of other dogs ...

The most important thing during fear periods is to continue extensive socialisation ... so that the dog becomes fully familiar with things and events going on ... Continued socialisation & good exposure will teach the dog to be a confident dog ... Fears acquired by the dogs during this time, will be very ingrained and very difficult to re-condition out of.

Some breeders we know, will actually start making sudden noises ... softly & from far away at first (and as the pups get used to the noises) they start making louder noises ... eventually, they even drop pans & pots ... they will bringing strange dogs and people into their homes ... all to help condition their growing pups not to be afraid of strange people, dogs, noises or events ...

Check the threads on "fear periods" ... and do some research on the internet ...

An owner who knows how to help a dog through fear periods will have sound, steady & confident dogs ...

Cheers Smile


(This post was edited by surchinmy on Apr 19, 2004, 9:46 PM)


DoggiePuppy
Member


Apr 20, 2004, 1:54 AM

Post #3 of 10 (1888 views)
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Re: [surchinmy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

Wow the whatever glands you talked about sound....need not remention.

About the socialisation, how do I actually get her to socialize. She used to allow ppl to see her and pet her last time even with strangers. Now, just like last two weeks ago, strangers she'll bark bark bark, non stop. Had a friend came over and she bark llike for one hour. Any suggestion I can help her?
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<-----Looks like a cockroach from this picture!!


surchinmy
Ultra ALPHA

Apr 20, 2004, 6:25 AM

Post #4 of 10 (1883 views)
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Re: [DoggiePuppy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

Hi ...

The anal gland bit is quite normal ... *Smile* ... and nothing to worry about ... we all get used to it in time ...

It sounds like your dog is barking because she is getting a little "fearful" of strange people ... and if you wish to help your dog overcome this fear, then you have to start socialising your dog.

And effective socialisation, entails more than just waiting for friends to drop by the house ...

You have to set out a programme whereby your dog is exposed to as many new people and new dogs as possible (in a reasonably gentle & systematic way) over this period ... We used to hold little gatherings & tea parties for our dogs, inviting friends and other dogs over - to help with our dogs' socialisation ...

Check the internet or a good training book on how to go about socialising your dog ... Also check the threads on how to "re-condition" a dog.

Cheers Smile


a_evie
Doggyman


Apr 21, 2004, 9:25 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1874 views)
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Re: [surchinmy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

agree with surchinmy that you do not wait for people to come over to visit you or zoe. you can start with taking zoe for walkies or even say hello to neighbours. simple things like taking her out for your makan etc will help socialise her better. then the barking will quit. of course when she barks not for teh right moment, you must also tell her in a stern "no" and once she shuts up...reward her...

...kekeke i think my shalom is over socialised! she is ultra friendly with just about every tom, dick and henry...tina, diana and henrietta...Wink these days we get people standing oustdie our apartment coming to see her or dropping her an apple...she loves apples.


surchinmy
Ultra ALPHA

Apr 24, 2004, 10:38 AM

Post #6 of 10 (1866 views)
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Re: [DoggiePuppy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

Hi ...

Was just thinking about your dog and the barking ...

If a dog barks because it is anxious or afraid ... then there is one thing, owners ought not to do ... Owners should not "accidentially" encourage such barking or "accidentially" condition the dog to bark ...

For example: ... When an anxious dog starts to bark ... If the over-anxious owner tries to stop the barking by petting, comforting or treating the dog ... then the owner is actually "accidentially" teaching the dog that it is okay to be anxious, nervous or scared ... and that its okay to bark ...

Comforting a dog at the wrong time ... can condition or encourage bad habits ...

And this same basic principle will apply to all forms of anxious or nervous behaviour ... from being afraid of thunder to being afraid of strangers ...

What should an owner do? ...

It depends on the type of anxiety shown, how severe is the anxiety ... and the general temperament of the dog ... But there are several accepted methods of dealing with the situation ...

(a) In mild cases, just ignoring the dog might be sufficient ... and make like everything is normal, and the dog will pick up your confidence & settle back down ...

(b) Sometimes, distracting the dog works ... Engage that dog in an activity that it likes ... and distract the dog from what it finds scary ...

(c) In a more serious case ... the owner may need to institute a "re-conditioning programme" ... Check the threads, for more information on re-conditioning a dog.

A good book on dog behaviour will help you understand dog anxiety and nervousness ... There are also many articles on the net.

Cheers Smile


DoggiePuppy
Member


Apr 24, 2004, 10:47 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1859 views)
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Re: [surchinmy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

Actually she does go out for walk just for your info la that is. She sometimes see other dogs she'll like wanna go attack them yet those other dogs won't even care about her bark. When she see ppl she will bark also. But actually I also don't want her to be overfriendly. At least I don't want her to welcome any strangers that she doesn't know. I want her to bark at cats too cause a lot of my neighbour's cats are really destructive in my house, jumping on cars, giving scratches, shitting in the car porch and so on, so if Zoe would bark at them and scare them, it would be good for me, oh well she did but I don't know why the cat just didn't care and I thought cats are afraid of dogs. Besides that things are all ok with her. She's learning more and more human manners in the house already. Only thing I want to teach her is to differentiate a threatening person to another who is not(friends,etc).

By the way, is nail cutting painful to them?
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<-----Looks like a cockroach from this picture!!


surchinmy
Ultra ALPHA

Apr 26, 2004, 7:22 AM

Post #8 of 10 (1847 views)
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Re: [DoggiePuppy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

Hi ...

No ...nail cutting is not painful for dogs ... provided you don't cut the "quick" ...

Check ...

www.planet-pets.com/clip_nails.htm

allsands.com/Pets/Dogs/dognailstrimmi_rby_gn.htm


Quote
But actually I also don't want her to be overfriendly. At least I don't want her to welcome any strangers that she doesn't know. I want her to bark at cats too ... Only thing I want to teach her is to differentiate a threatening person to another who is not(friends,etc).



All the above that you mention ... Wanting her to be friendly but not too friendly ... Wanting your dog to bark at strangers and cats ... but not at friends and visitors ... All these require precision training ...

I will repeat what I posted earlier ... start with the basics ... And get a good dog training manual ...

Cheers ... Smile

PS ... Not all cats are afraid of dogs ... and not all dogs dislike cats ... Cats are highly intelligent animals, and most of them are able to tell when its dangerous to be near a dog and when its not ...


DoggiePuppy
Member


Apr 27, 2004, 3:47 AM

Post #9 of 10 (1842 views)
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Re: [surchinmy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

Hi

Thanks for the reply. Well I asked bout the nails cause I thought of trimming at least a bit of Zoe's nail cause its getting long and actually I thought as she grows bigger her nail will be a bit more blunt but it stills hurt when she press her body weight down on me with her nails out. Funny I don't see her keeping all her nails inside her paw. Cause I used to own cats last time and when they keep their nails all of it can't be seen.

Cats are intelligent? Ok that's one thing I don't know, my neighbour's cat and the cat I used to own seems to be a little stupid somehow.

I dug my bedroom and I rmbred actually I have a dog training book and a section on behaviorial problems. One on exessive barking. Althought it only teaches now to handle how to ask them to quiet when we asked them to but I guess that's enough just for now. I shall try that first.

Thanks.
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<-----Looks like a cockroach from this picture!!


surchinmy
Ultra ALPHA

Apr 27, 2004, 8:09 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1840 views)
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Re: [DoggiePuppy] Weird action. [In reply to] Can't Post

Hi ...

Dogs don't retract their nails like cats ...

And unless you take your dog for long walks, and thus wearing their nails down ... dogs will need to have their nails trimmed every month or so ... Too long nails can cause all sorts of problems ... It's best to get your dog used to nail trimming right from young ... otherwise, it can be difficult.

As for training manuals ... training methods have changed a lot over the last 5 years ... and if your training manual is old, it would be wise to update with a new book ...

I don't think there is such a thing as a stupid animal ... their intelligence is just different from ours ...

Cheers Smile

 
 




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