Barking at the rodents- help!

TinyAlbinoDancer · 02-23-2005, 04:33 PM

I've had my rat Darren since the middle of January. He lives in my bedroom, in a cage atop my dresser. My dresser is at the end of my sister and I's bunkbed, so Missie has access to one side of the cage if she stands on the end of the bed. So from the beginning we've had a blanket secured over the whole end of the bed so she CAN'T get to Darren. She can't even see him. She can see him if he's in the front of the cage and she's standing in front of the dresser.

Just this week, Missie's taken to barking incessantly at him regardless of whether she can see him or not. Sometimes he's making noise, sometimes he's not even up and she's barking at the cage. She does this mostly at night. I've tried ignoring the behavior to no end, but I cannot ignore it at night when her barking is going to wake everyone else up.

Why does she have a sudden fascination and OBSESSION with him, and how do I stop this behavior? It's so bad, she keeps my sister and I up at night sometimes trying to keep her quiet intermittently whenever she decides to get up and bark at him. I'm at my wits end.

Thanks so much for any help!!

Crossfire Bulldogs · 02-23-2005, 04:46 PM

Since she already knew he was there and didn't do it before my guess is simply that Missie is bored and wants to play. Maybe something new to get her attention?

Pugdawg1 · 02-23-2005, 04:48 PM

Maybe she gets attention from you, when she does that?

TinyAlbinoDancer · 02-23-2005, 05:04 PM

Sonja, I've tried distracting her with toys, but she wants nothing to do with me. She does need more exercise, but it's been raining here for days now, so I haven't been able to walk her. I do try to play with her right before bed, and it does help a little.

Pugdawg, because I ignored it in the beginning no matter what she did, I can't imagine she'd keep on doing it for the attention. And she certainly doesn't get any positive attention for it.

Crossfire Bulldogs · 02-23-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyAlbinoDancer

Sonja, I've tried distracting her with toys, but she wants nothing to do with me. She does need more exercise, but it's been raining here for days now, so I haven't been able to walk her. I do try to play with her right before bed, and it does help a little.

Pugdawg, because I ignored it in the beginning no matter what she did, I can't imagine she'd keep on doing it for the attention. And she certainly doesn't get any positive attention for it.

Always bad when they can't get out as often

Did it start about the time the bad weather started in?

linnie · 02-23-2005, 10:09 PM

roflmao all my girls think rats in cages are doggy tv and are avidly facinated by them.
Perhaps try moving your ratty?

flyndog · 02-24-2005, 07:10 PM

She's doing her job. She was bred to hunt and kill rats! She just can't help herself anymore!

TinyAlbinoDancer · 02-25-2005, 11:50 PM

Sonja- I can't remember! Days are just blurs when you're inside sleeping half the time.

lol

Linnie- Lord knows I would've already if it was possible.

Ah well...

Kit- don't I know it.

I don't know what I was thinking when I got back into rodents after getting a Terrier. *sigh* 'Twas my fault, so now I have to suffer the consequences!

02-23-2005, 04:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
TinyAlbinoDancer Always room for one more Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,580 Rep Power: 168	Barking at the rodents- help! I've had my rat Darren since the middle of January. He lives in my bedroom, in a cage atop my dresser. My dresser is at the end of my sister and I's bunkbed, so Missie has access to one side of the cage if she stands on the end of the bed. So from the beginning we've had a blanket secured over the whole end of the bed so she CAN'T get to Darren. She can't even see him. She can see him if he's in the front of the cage and she's standing in front of the dresser. Just this week, Missie's taken to barking incessantly at him regardless of whether she can see him or not. Sometimes he's making noise, sometimes he's not even up and she's barking at the cage. She does this mostly at night. I've tried ignoring the behavior to no end, but I cannot ignore it at night when her barking is going to wake everyone else up. Why does she have a sudden fascination and OBSESSION with him, and how do I stop this behavior? It's so bad, she keeps my sister and I up at night sometimes trying to keep her quiet intermittently whenever she decides to get up and bark at him. I'm at my wits end. Thanks so much for any help!!
	__________________ ~Karen Missie~Trixie~Little Guy~Ollie

02-23-2005, 04:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Crossfire Bulldogs Sourmug Mom Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Snuggled Between The Snorts & Snores. Posts: 7,844 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 287	Since she already knew he was there and didn't do it before my guess is simply that Missie is bored and wants to play. Maybe something new to get her attention?
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief. ~ Gerry Spence As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

02-23-2005, 04:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pugdawg1 Pug Mom Join Date: May 2004 Location: Elko, Nevada Posts: 2,418 Rep Power: 138	Maybe she gets attention from you, when she does that?
	__________________ www.PugSavers.com

02-23-2005, 05:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
TinyAlbinoDancer Always room for one more Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,580 Rep Power: 168	Sonja, I've tried distracting her with toys, but she wants nothing to do with me. She does need more exercise, but it's been raining here for days now, so I haven't been able to walk her. I do try to play with her right before bed, and it does help a little. Pugdawg, because I ignored it in the beginning no matter what she did, I can't imagine she'd keep on doing it for the attention. And she certainly doesn't get any positive attention for it.
	__________________ ~Karen Missie~Trixie~Little Guy~Ollie

02-23-2005, 10:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
linnie tibbie girl Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 3,051 Rep Power: 174	roflmao all my girls think rats in cages are doggy tv and are avidly facinated by them. Perhaps try moving your ratty?
	__________________ Caution...Dogs can leave footprints on your heart

02-24-2005, 07:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
flyndog Unleash The Possibilities Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Marfa, TX Posts: 3,969 Rep Power: 185	She's doing her job. She was bred to hunt and kill rats! She just can't help herself anymore!
	__________________ mARFa Dog Training and Behavior

02-25-2005, 11:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
TinyAlbinoDancer Always room for one more Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,580 Rep Power: 168	Sonja- I can't remember! Days are just blurs when you're inside sleeping half the time. lol Linnie- Lord knows I would've already if it was possible. Ah well... Kit- don't I know it. I don't know what I was thinking when I got back into rodents after getting a Terrier. sigh 'Twas my fault, so now I have to suffer the consequences!
	__________________ ~Karen Missie~Trixie~Little Guy~Ollie

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