Where is this fear coming from??

[cragarmom]

I'm nearly at the end of my rope! I'm not sure if this post would qualify for the behavior forum or the health forum, so I thought I'd be safe and post here!

I posted last week about Cragar's new and seemingly irrational fear of the breadmaker. Fear as in crying, whining, shaking, panting, tail-tucking, refusal to eat, etc.

Ok, so I can probably deal with not using the breadmaker to spare him the stress.

But the last couple of days, he's been doing this every night! He's been really clingy - from the time I get home from work (around 5) to the time my BF gets home from work (around midnight) - he's either on my lap, at my feet, on my feet, something. I just got up to do dishes about a half hour ago and he was at my heels, shaking, the whole time. I don't get it.

The only difference lately is that we've got a lot of furniture moved around since we're repainting/reflooring one of our bedrooms. A lot of that furniture has overflowed into the hallway and living room. But he's not scared of any of the "new obstacles" - he'll squeeze around the obstacles with no problem. And I think he's ok with lots of "obstacles", because when he visits his "gramma and grampa", they've got stuff all over the place because they run their business out of their house - so there's catalogs, samples, computer stuff, etc all over and he's fine with it.

I'm beginning to fear that maybe it's an issue with the refinishing we're doing - we're using latex paint, but the primer was pretty stinky (smelled a little like ammonia to me), but we've had the windows open airing the house out, and I really can't even smell it. He's even ok with the noise my BF makes with the sander (which is ungodly loud). We've been careful not to let him in the room when we've got the paint open, and he'll occasionally wander in when I'm in there, but he usually walks around once and leaves.

I'm just stumped at this sudden behavior. He never had any anxiety issues, he's always been a tough guy - I just don't know where it could be coming from. I'm beginning to think that maybe he should stay at "gramma and grampa's" until we're done with the refinishing (hopefully this weekend!!!). But that might not be good, either - they think he needs "fattening up" and constantly feed him treats, dog food, chicken, steak, scrapple, sausage, and other stuff. Ugh!

Sorry so long - I'm just frustrated and I feel so bad for him. Any ideas?

Thanks
Joanne

[KristineK]

Hello I am not an expert on this breed at all but maybe he is getting a bit of an anxiety attack with everything that is going on around the home. Check this site out and see if this is perhaps the same signs your dog is showing. Good Luck

http://dogs.about.com/cs/disableddog...xiety_main.htm

Some dogs just do not good with change in their lives. Maybe your dog is one of those.

[flyndog]

The coincidence of bad smells and a loud sander certainly could have triggered fear of the breadmaker. Add general household upheaval to the mix and Cragar is at his limit of tolerance for weird noises, strange smells and misaligned furniture! Remember that what you can hardly smell, smells very strong to him. And what is loud to you is unbearable to him. And don't forget he might hear frequencies put out by the sander or breadmaker that you can't hear.
Sending him to grandma's for day care might be a good idea.

[cragarmom]

KristineK - thanks for the link - I checked it out and he's got most of those symptoms (except for the drooling), and I know there's some noises he's afraid of (fireworks, thunder) - I just can't pinpoint a specific cause.

flyndog - it's entirely possible he's just at the limit of his tolerance. I was concerned with him being able to smell those "wierd smells" more strongly, too. And I'm concerned that they might be harmful to him. I can't find anything on paint toxicity or paint fume toxicity in dogs (at least not for latex paint). I'm kind of wondering if it should be a "vacation at gramma and grampa's" or a trip to the vet. It's just such uncharacteristic behavior for him.

And what worries me more is - if it is the general upheaval of the home surroundings - this is the first room we're refinishing!!! We've got the office, master bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and basement to go yet!!! (it's not like we live in a hovel or anything, but the previous owners had this thing with blue. It's everywhere. Makes me want to hurl)...anyway...

But yea, gramma and grampa's house is looking better and better. I just have to put a ban on all the "junk food"!!

Thanks!
Joanne

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

I agree with Flyn however if while at Grandma's house he begins to act the very same way I'd lean more towards a possible health issue that has him being so clingy.

[calgal]

My first step would be a good check up by your Vet. and let him/her know how he is acting. I would bet it's the combination of everything that has been going on in such a short time frame.

[fireworksinjuly]

Originally Posted by cragarmom

(it's not like we live in a hovel or anything, but the previous owners had this thing with blue. It's everywhere. Makes me want to hurl

I know I cant help you any more then whats already been said. But I do have to laugh at the blue comment. I know how you feel. The house we are waiting to close on still has origonal 1950's Blue Porcelain in the bathroom. Tub, sink, and toilette. As well as blue linoleum type stuff all through the bathroom...

[cragarmom]

The house we are waiting to close on still has origonal 1950's Blue Porcelain in the bathroom. Tub, sink, and toilette. As well as blue linoleum type stuff all through the bathroom...

LOL - ours too! Blue tub and toilet (although the sink is mercifully white), blue floor... in addition to the rooms with blue walls, floors, and ceilings, the house is blue, the garages are blue...

Last night I moved some of the stuff out of the living room and into the basement to give him a little more room. And I'm constantly prowling the carpet to make sure we didn't drag any nails, carpet tacks, or paint splotches out of the room that he can eat. I'm going to see how he does tonight, then go from there... it's a gorgeous day outside today - maybe if I get him out playing and running around, he'll be less anxious. I said something to my BF last night about Cragar staying at "gramma and grampa's" until we're done. His reply was "that's gonna be WEEKS!" LOL - he apparently has more in mind for that room than I do - I was planning to be done this weekend!

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Ohhhh come on girls that look is coming back! Just think, soon you'll have the most hip bathrooms in town! lol

[fireworksinjuly]

Originally Posted by Crossfire Bulldogs

Ohhhh come on girls that look is coming back! Just think, soon you'll have the most hip bathrooms in town! lol

haha people keep telling us to sell the stuff on E-bay...

cragarmom-Besides the bathroom, only one of our other rooms is blue, though the kitchen has blue accents. The house is tan, with BLUE shutters...
Blue is better then my mothers house- she has a thing for orange... the kitchen is BRIGHT pumpkin orange, the living room is a medium shade orange while the dining room is pale orange- all with blue trim. Both bathrooms are blue with orange trim....

but then their bedroom is purple...

[BuddysMom]

I just have to add a comment on the blue! I live with my BF, and ALL HIS STUFF IS BLUE! Living room sofas, bathroom, bedroom, etc. I'm about to go crazy! I love the color blue always have, but its driving me crazy. I have stoped buying cloths in blue, or blue doggie stuff [Buddy is black, and black and blue go together for him, but we are using GREEN/BLACK].

[cragarmom]

Maybe because blue is a "safe" color? I dunno. Personally, I think the whole blue bathtub and toilet is bordering on the need for some serious medication!! LOL

Had to laugh at the orange - we're actually painting the room we're doing now orange - actually, it's called marmalade, a light orange. But with white trim, not blue (egads! orange and blue??) I wanted to step outside my "color comfort zone" of warm colors and neutrals and do a cool, bright, but not too saturated color. We'll see how it goes.

Good news on the Cragar front, though - I came home a little early from work today - it was a gorgeous day outside (it was like 76 degrees today!!!) so I took Cragar out to play ball. He was having a blast: He hasn't been as clingy today. I did some painting later, and he wanted to come in the room, but then just settled for laying outside. No shaking, crying, or tail-tucking at all. So, maybe he's either getting used to all the hubbub around here, or whatever was freaking him out isn't doing so today. I still have to go do some dishes yet tonight (which is when he really starts to get underfoot), so hopefully he'll just keep relaxing like he is now!!