Our dog is a psychological mess. worried

I know there are some great animal people here on ATS. I can't remember who they are though. I was wondering, is it
mean to not get a female either bred or fixed? Our Dachsund is three yr's of age
and she just finished up her third heet. However this time, unlike the others
her whole personality seems to have ceased. She no longer sits by the door, about an hour previous to my wife getting home from work. My wife gets home, she dosn't even get up to go see my wife. If you knew this dog, you would know that right there she is all messed up.

All she does, all day and all night, is lay in her bed, with her newly adopted ,lil
toy stuffed puppy. Shes cranky. She barks at me if I call her. She's wacked.
A completely different dog. I hope to at least find out if we could be torchering
her by not either having her fixed or bred? I can see nothing wrong with her physically. Her nose is cold. She just seems to have gone off the deep end.
She hasn't snapped at any of us, even if we reach towards her baby.
But she will put her head on top of it and look up as if she's saying.

"OOH! Please don't take my baby from me to pay the mortgage. She's all I have in the worrrrld. If you do take my baby to pay the mortgage, why I, I fear I shall die.
wooohooo.

I'm not kidding, she's a freak'in ghetto drama queen. Lil help?

[edit on 13-3-2010 by randyvs]

Take her to the vet and explain the sudden change in behavior. Many physical issues can cause what seems to be emotional problems. It's NOT about her being spayed or bred. That has nothing to do with it.

But if you don't plan to breed her, get her spayed. If you plan to breed her, make sure she and the male have all the tests for medical issues of the breed (spine and disc problems, cleft palate, eye and ear defects).

I hope she's all right.

Have you seen Old Yeller randy ???


yeah.


You should take some of Cesar's advice ( Dog Whisperer), ... be the head of the pack and all that, ... don't put up with her crap !

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic

---

Thanks to both responses

Heretic

Ya i just wanted to see what some other opinions might be. She
needs to go get spayed then and will tell the vet What's been going on.
Taking her in the morning.

Stella

I'm fairly sure she knows I'm pack leader. I just can't believe you didn't
know.

thanks you guys. i will post what goes to so.

[edit on 14-3-2010 by randyvs]

Randy, maybe the doggie has a cold or something. Please take her to the Vet just to be on the safe side.

Glad you decided to have her spayed. I'm sure the doc will test her for things and you will know more soon.

I have had mostly cats and they were all spayed/neutered except one. She ended up with breast cancer. cancer of the mammary glands or whatever.

I'm sure that having her spayed will make her more even tempered and more comfortable, but in case it's something else, it's always good to have her checked. Good luck!

I'm no expert just another dog lover like yourself.
A couple of things spring to mind, she could be brooding if she's just finished her season,or she could also be having a phantom pregnecy (if the toy behavior is new). But best advise is to get her checked out by the vet.
Best of luck.

If you're up for it, a lot of dog behavioral issues can be solved with the addition of another dog for company.

While my wife has taken it a bit far (we have 4 chihuahuas)...when we had just the one, she was brooding when we weren't home...but the second dog really helped.

We were supposed to stop at 2 (the first one, was back when I was traveling, so it gave the wife some company, then the second one was after dogsitting, and noticing the improved attitude of the first). Then, my brother had issues with his snapping at people (which now, with us, the dog's an angel), and another was a runt of the litter, that the breeders couldn't sell (she's a couple years old, but will always look just like a pup)...so cute, and so sweet...

(She's tried to get more animals since, and I've held my ground though...)

I don't follow Cesar's advice. I have a problem with one species "lorded over" by another. I think it's unatural. I have a deep love of all animals, (not spiders). I have a strong sense of what they feel, this goes back to our getting our first cat when I was five. Im serious. We had dogs as well. Mayby we just lucked out. Only the dog's did we have to "train". We used positive reinforcement, and stood back. Our first dog liked fruit loops. As for the cats, you don't train them, they put up with you.

You need to ask your self when your dog is being bitchy, how do YOU feel? Animals are very good at picking up on other animals, including our, moods. As we know most animals have a far superior sense of smell then we do. If your nervous, or frightend, or confused, the strees hormones you produce may make you a target as far as the other animal is concerned. That may be a way predators select their prey. If your consistant whith an animal and they know you won't hurt them, it may take some time, but it will work.

Well,I wish I had your problem.

You have one female and no mate to bother her.

I live with 8 Chihuahua's 6 males 2 females.

None fixed.

I have to keep mine locked in our room because the boys are curious.

She puts them in their place though.

Nobody is getting her unless I say so.

She to is on her 3rd heat.