Odd Behavior

Oscarsmom · January 07, 2008, 12:19:39 PM

Hi everyone,
My family and I recently adopted a nine year old Doxie and love him to pieces! We are new to this breed having mostly adopting spaniels in the past. Can you all tell me what this breed is like, temperment and behaviors you have noticed with your dogs? I ask because since we have had him home you can tell that he likes men, he loves my husband and my son, he has been acting strange. Its hard to explain but when we first had him home he was fine ( we were all on Christmas break ) but now since our schedules are back to normal he has been acting funny and I don't know if he is playing with us because I have heard that this breed is very smart. Well one minute he is acting normal letting you pet him and cuddle ect. then the next minute if you go to touch him or touch he will cry out like he is in pain then with in a half hour or less he is fine.

acting like he normally does. This morning I was gettin ready for work he went out to the potty and came in was all fine and dandy and I didn't see him and stepped on his little foot I know for a dog this size ( he's only 7 lbs ) that me stepping on his foot would really hurt but he carried on like he was in so much pain. Well I put him in bed with my daughter ( she gets up shortly after I leave for work ) well when she got up he was fine! My husband came home from work ( he works 3rd shift ) and I called to see how he was and he was just fine! He has only displayed this behavour only a few times but I am wondering if there is something wrong.
We have been very careful with him jumping we have little doggie stairs for him to get onto the sofa ( he figured this out the first day home! Where as my cocker still has no clue how to use this. ) We carry him up and down the stairs ect.. He has gotton along well with the other 2 dogs we have no fights ect.. So I don't know what is going on? Any ideas? Thanks!

Oscarsmom

cheryl186 · January 07, 2008, 04:30:01 PM

I read this post earlier in the day and I have been trying to think all day of what could be going on with Oscar. I am kind of at a loss....Has anyone else experienced this type of behavior before with their babies? Could it be some type of "separation anxiety"? He was okay while you are on Christmas break.

You said you just adopted Oscar. What type of place was he in before you adopted him? Could he just want attention or (Heaven forbid) could there be something physically wrong...I hope not a back or neck problem. Does anyone out there have any answers for Oscarsmom?

Kari · January 07, 2008, 06:43:51 PM

I agree...I have been thinking about this today as well...Not sure what to post. I know that Penny can be a bit of a drama queen! Wondering if it is separation anxiety since you had been home with him since you got him??? Odd?? Any other takers on this??

Oscarsmom · January 08, 2008, 04:37:00 AM

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the replies so far. I must say that Oscar is quite the character! Last night he was just fine. He was running and playing and acting as if nothing was wrong. I really don't think there is anything wrong with him. I think he is somewhat dramatic in his antics. I to wonder what type of home he came from all they told us was that his owner died and that he got along well with other dogs and cats, was a real sweethart was up to date on his shots ectt... I did notice that he doesn't like sudden movements or noises. Is this common? And last night when my husband went to work ( he works 3rd shift ) I noticed that his head was down and tail between the legs like he didn't want him to go. I told my husband to ignor his behavior and see what he does and sure enough if my hubby looked at him the tail was down ect. but when he looked away he was trotting around happy as can be. I just think he is really smart and I think he knows how to get attention when he wants it.
Also I notice that when my hubby pays attention to the other dogs that he will watch him for a moment then whoever is around will go to them and just kiss them to death all the while looking at my husband to see if he is noticing! Which leads me to believe that this odd behavior was a way just to get attention. What do you think? Do any of your little ones do this?

cheryl186 · January 08, 2008, 04:49:30 AM

My Winston can be quite the "Drama King" and he like Oscar, loves men and is very attached to my husband. When Winston wants attention he does "whine" but it is a different type of "Whiney noise" not like he is in pain but it starts out high and drops down low. He will roll over on his belly and keep this up until you pet his belly. If you quit petting his belly, he will start with the whiney noise again. This usually happens when we are in bed and trying to get to sleep

.

When hubby leaves the house, Winston will bark bark bark and come up with a "howl" that sounds like you are beating him to death. I really think Oscar's behavior may be that he wants attention. It seems that he has really bonded very strongly to your hubby and possibly is afraid he will walk out the door and not come back?

Doxies are "True Characters" with strong little personalities and off the hook "antics"....it sounds like we will be hearing many more stories about Oscar and his forever home....

Roberta · January 08, 2008, 06:34:56 PM

Yes they can pick one person that is "their life" . Yes they can be drama queens we have Oliver who is in that catagory, we have just gone back to work after 4 weeks and at the moment he is doing the depressed routine in the morning to see if we will give in and stay. We have found the neutred boys are bigger soooks than the girls.
They are very intense they know what they want and when they want it, hope you stay with us and tell some of his exploits .
roberta

Oscarsmom · January 10, 2008, 08:44:36 AM

Hi Everyone Again!
I have been observing Oscar for a while now with this odd behavior and have noticed that he sometimes does the whining/crying thing after eating his dinner at night. (this lasts about a half hour after eating) We currently have him on Science Diet for Seniors but I am wondering if this is causing him tummy upset. I had my other dogs on Science Diet for a long time and then they changed their formula and my springer developed really dry and flaky itchy skin. So they now are on California Naturals Lamb and Rice. I am wondering if I should have him on this food as well? Then I thought I was feeding him to much. We give him a half cup in the morning and a half cup in the evening. He weighs 7lbs, should I be giving him less. What do you recomend?

Oscarsmom

Mike · January 10, 2008, 10:58:56 AM

1/2 Cup for a 7llb dog seems a little high. I feed Clifford (15 lbs) about that same amount. What does the bag recommend for a dog of Oscar's weight?

Oscarsmom · January 10, 2008, 11:54:27 AM

It says 5-10lbs should get anywhere from 3/8 cup to 1 cup. I think he should be getting less than a half cup right?

Kari · January 10, 2008, 12:14:04 PM

Probably needs to be cut back. Penny is 12.5 lbs and is getting a 1/4 in the morning and a 1/4 at night. It all depends on how he looks...if he is gaining weight I would cut back. Maybe trying a different food would be a good idea to see if his behavior changes at all. Good Luck!

papbouv · January 10, 2008, 10:18:42 PM

I'm sorry I know you are new but please upgrade your dog food Science Diet is really a bad food for dog if you will read the ingredients on the bag 1st is CORN it is hard for dogs to digest corn,cause allergies in dogs. Please go to http:www.dogfoodanalysis.com surf around and you will get to a page with letters at the top click on the S then scroll to Science Diet and it will tell you all about the food & what is wrong with it. I feed Canidae All Life Stages to my Doxie & Dobe they have great coats yes it cost more but you feed less of it because it is a better food so price of food is not a factor. See vets get a huge kick back to peddle that food vets do not know much about the foods to feed a dog nutrition the do not spend much time on. I have to get on my soap box every time some one is feeding a grocery store food, or that Science diet junk. Yes I realize not all dogs will do well on Canidae nor is it available every where but California Natural, Evo, Chicken Soup for the Soul, a new one Taste of the Wild,Wellness foods.These are rated 6&5 stars on the dogfood analysis web site they also have lower rated foods. You try to buy the best foods you can afford I bet your new little Doxie is having stomach pain from his food????
Papbouv
Sorry for getting on my soap box with all the China stuff that went on last year please read you dog's food ingredients.

Oscarsmom · January 11, 2008, 04:23:32 AM

I have no problem switching his food. As a matter of fact I think that is what is the problem. He was laying on the couch last night and he had the worst gas! I didn't think some thing so little could produce such a smell!!

I will look at the web site! Thanks for all your help.

Oscarsmom

papbouv · January 11, 2008, 05:23:05 AM

Thank you for looking into the site you will be well informed on allot of different foods just remember it is easier on the dog if you change dog foods slowly.Even I was wondering about Canidae when I switched Buddy to it he had loose stools I called the company's number on the dog food bag found out i was feeding too much it was causing loose stools cut back all was fine.Never a worry when all the China stuff was going on no grains just rice.Good luck hunting a new food for your babies. Rule of thumb try any new food for about 3 months to see if it is well tolerated by the dog.Went to the site myself they just updated the site to get to dry foods it is in little letters middle left hand side.
Papbouv

Oscarsmom · January 11, 2008, 06:09:59 AM

Do you think he would do well on the California Natural? My other two dogs have done fantastic on it. Our cocker in particular he has alot of skin problems. Thanks for your help.

Oscarsmom

papbouv · January 11, 2008, 06:43:54 AM

1000% better than the Scince diet junk try it & see can't hurt.
Patches Mom

Oscarsmom · January 22, 2008, 05:05:37 AM

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to give you and update on Oscar. Well we have completely switched his food and his odd behavior has gone away. I am sure that it was the food he was on from the human society. We have him now on California Naturals Lamb and Rice our other dogs have done really well on it and I think Oscar will to. He got into a running spree yesterday and I just about wet myself from laughing so hard the other dogs didn't know what to make of him. The other dogs we have are also breed rescues and I don't think they were ever played with, they just don't know how. So I am sure the probably thought Oscar was completely crazy. Anyway thanks for all your concern about Oscar I think we have figured out his ODD behavior.

Oscarsmom

Barb · January 22, 2008, 01:34:48 PM

Thats great news !!! So Oscar got the zoomies, eh? Hopefully the other puppers will learn how to join in..... then get a Depends....it will crack you up !!!!

papbouv · January 22, 2008, 09:37:46 PM

A cup of food is way too much for a 7# dog Patches weighed 14.5# I have been trying to get weight off of her for the longest she only gets 1/4 cup in the morning & 1/4 cup in the evening.
Papbouv

Oscarsmom · January 23, 2008, 08:25:54 AM

QuoteA cup of food is way too much for a 7# dog Patches weighed 14.5# I have been trying to get weight off of her for the longest she only gets 1/4 cup in the morning & 1/4 cup in the evening

Nope we give Oscar the same 1/4 morning and 1/4 evening. He has done much better with that. Although he would prefer to have what you are eating. But we never give any of our dogs people food.

QuoteSo Oscar got the zoomies, eh?

Yes I would say he does. He has a little toy wiennie dog which is green ( we call it Mr. Greenie ) and he attacks, it chases it rolls all over it, then buries it in his blankie. It is too funny!

Everyday he is coming more and more out of his shell!