| Author |
Barnyard Buddies:  Puzzling dog behavior  |
|
|
FARMALLChick
True Blue Farmgirl
978 Posts
Lora
Alexandria
IN
USA
978 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 25 2015 : 08:50:08 AM
|
Ok so our English Shepherd puppy is now 7 months old. She just started doing something that has us all puzzled. In our living room, we have a large sectional sofa, a coffee table, 2 end tables, a tv stand and a recliner. Nothing is new in the last week, but for some reason she is terrified of the recliner. She'll walk by it but at a distance, but is someone is sitting in it, she'll cower on the sofa or hide in the bedroom as if someone just beat the crap out of her. I'm not exaggerating either. She will tuck her tail, lick her lips, shake uncontrollably and pull her ears back. This morning was a good example. My DH was sitting in the recliner and I was on the end of the sofa nearest the recliner. Allis was sitting with me - no problem. As soon as my DH looked at her and called her over to him, she got up and went to the end of the sofa furthest away, displaying all the behaviors as described. My DH got up from the recliner and moved to the sofa and laid down. She came right over to him and snuggled. I don't get it. That recliner has been in the house since she was born. It's been in the same spot in the living room as well.
Any thoughts?
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway" -John Wayne
www.farmallchick.blogspot.com www.farmallchickphotos.blogspot.com |
|
|
Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2015 : 11:05:01 AM
|
Is she mostly afraid of the recliner when it reclines? Maybe the action of the chair extending scares her. I'm curious also. Keep us posted.
Did she get hit by the chair reclining?
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
 |
|
|
gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2015 : 3:16:50 PM
|
That's what I was thinking too something happened to startle her and she now doesn't like it.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
|
|
|
cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2015 : 4:56:26 PM
|
I also think she got spooked by it some kind of way. But, I guess it doesn't really matter what happened. What matters now is trying to help her.
Like with applied behavior analysis or behavior modification, you need to start introducing the recliner in positive situations and experiences. Try your methods slowly and with edible treats. Because of her age, do it in short amounts of time but often during the day.
Keep us posted! I pray it goes well and she's back to normal.
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
|
|
|
|
oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2015 : 5:10:25 PM
|
I had a dog get pinched in one, when it was being closed, so everytime the recliner moved, she ran out of the room in terror, it took about 8 months to get her un-afraid of that chair...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
|
|
|
GibsonGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Diana
Cottage Grove
Oregon
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2015 : 6:23:42 PM
|
Try putting a couple of her favorite treats closer and closer to the chair until you can put them on the chair. My girl Sigred had been through a house fire before I adopted her and my house has a fireplace. I had to walk her through lighting the fireplace and coaching her to be able to be in the same room. Finally got her to be ok with it but it did take a while to do. Good luck. You might even try putting a sheet over the chair and see if she notices it or if it makes a difference.
Living life in a Grove-y way! |
|
|
|
FARMALLChick
True Blue Farmgirl
978 Posts
Lora
Alexandria
IN
USA
978 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2015 : 7:13:25 PM
|
This morning as we were all getting ready to leave,she jumped in the chair. So my DH sat in the chair, not reclined, and she took off. When we got home she jumped in the chair again. Also she chewed the corner of the chair on the back. Guess she's going back in the crate when we leave the house.
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway" -John Wayne
www.farmallchick.blogspot.com www.farmallchickphotos.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2015 : 05:20:49 AM
|
oooops! Definitely don't want chewed furniture. I hope it all works out better.
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
|
|
|
|
ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4742 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4742 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2015 : 06:22:03 AM
|
Our recliner makes a metallic grinding noise when we recline in it. Does your chair make a sound too? Even subtle, it could hurt her ears and perhaps someone did it really loudly once and scared her. Good luck figuring out what to do about this!
Dawn in IL |
|
|
|
FARMALLChick
True Blue Farmgirl
978 Posts
Lora
Alexandria
IN
USA
978 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2015 : 05:44:23 AM
|
This morning as we were all getting ready to leave,she jumped in the chair. So my DH sat in the chair, not reclined, and she took off. When we got home she jumped in the chair again. Also she chewed the corner of the chair on the back. Guess she's going back in the crate when we leave the house.
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway" -John Wayne
www.farmallchick.blogspot.com www.farmallchickphotos.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
churunga
True Blue Farmgirl
3950 Posts
Marie
Minneapolis
MN
USA
3950 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2015 : 12:02:16 PM
|
Very odd. From what has been said it appears that she doesn't like it when someone actually sits in the chair. She may be chewing on it because she feels it is a threat. She may sit on it to try to dominate it or to communicate something to the pack. Definitely seek some expert advice. A vet would be able to give you a referral.
Marie, Sister #5142
Farmgirl of the Month May 2014
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
|
|
|
Goat Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
51 Posts
Katherine
Lunenburg
Vermont
USA
51 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2015 : 07:27:37 AM
|
Have you figured out the problem with the chair yet? It seems like something must have happened one time when someone was sitting in the chair. Maybe you had company and they accidentally hit her with the chair or yelled at her when she tried to get into their lap. Ask around. My GSD slipped once on a linoleum floor and after that she would not walk on any floor that looked shiny or slippery. At the vets office they would bring out a rug for her to walk on to get into the exam room. One time is all it takes and it can be something pretty simple that you haven't even thought of. Hope everything is ok.
Vermont Goat Girl |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
|
|
36paws20hooves
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Danielle
Weirsdale
Florida
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2015 : 7:46:14 PM
|
Tina, that was my first thought. Maybe her tail was rocked upon or she was pinched in someway. I know of a rescued therapy dog that now sits tail tucked and with front paws drawn in. We believe it is habit from being accidentally ran over too many times.
I'm so busy I don't know if I just found a rope or lost my horse! |
|
|
|
FARMALLChick
True Blue Farmgirl
978 Posts
Lora
Alexandria
IN
USA
978 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2015 : 06:33:42 AM
|
Whatever her issue was with the chair, she seems to be over it. That is, after she chewed on it a few times. She will jump in my lap without much hesitation now. Silly dog.
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway" -John Wayne
www.farmallchick.blogspot.com www.farmallchickphotos.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2015 : 09:01:16 AM
|
They can be weird. My sister brought her dog to visit for a few weeks while I was recovering from surgery. They had been there over two weeks when the dog suddenly noticed that huge 6 point elk mount on the wall. Freaked her out! It was like the elk just stuck its head through the wall at that moment. We are still laughing about it.
Sherone
Farmgirl Sister #1682
My Blog
www.annapearlsattic.blogspot.com
My Etsy
www.etsy.com/shop/annapearlsattic
Women are angels. When someone breaks our wings, we just jump on our broomsticks and fly! We are flexible that way! |
|
|
|
FARMALLChick
True Blue Farmgirl
978 Posts
Lora
Alexandria
IN
USA
978 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2015 : 2:15:45 PM
|
That is funny. We had an elk mount in our old house and every time the dog would walk thru the dining room, he would growl. He never looked up, he just growled.
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway" -John Wayne
www.farmallchick.blogspot.com www.farmallchickphotos.blogspot.com |
|
|
| |
Barnyard Buddies: Puzzling dog behavior |
|
Puzzling dog behavior
