Any dog whisperers around. Dog acting very strangely!!
Discussion
Hi all. Chap in question is a 10 year old GSD. Lovely nature, just a big slobbery hairy thing. Never aggressive and to be honest a bit of a wimp.
We moved recently to include living with mother in law who’s dementia is getting worse. We have been here three months now.
Mother in law has her own self contained annex to the house, consisting of lounge, kitchen, utility room and bedroom which in itself is the size of a small bungalow itself.
‘Chip’ initially used to wander in and sit with her, to the point he was a bit of a therapy dog and she enjoyed the company.
However for approximately a month he has actively avoided her, this is since her dementia has dipped whereby she is always very sad, not really communicating but occasionally does have a good day or part of day.
His behaviour is so obvious it’s really odd. He never goes near her annex, if she wanders into our lounge or kitchen (connects ours and annex) he immediately gets up and walks out. Recently she has sneezed or coughed a bit. If she sneezes he legs it and goes to a far area of the house or runs to me. If she coughs the same but acting really distressed.
I’m baffled. Is it true that they can sense something?
She has never hurt him and loves him to bits. She has known him all of his life and he always got on with her but literally the iller (is that a word) she has become the more he has distanced himself and become very distressed when around her.
Obviously I don’t want him distressed so any ideas??
Baffled!!
We moved recently to include living with mother in law who’s dementia is getting worse. We have been here three months now.
Mother in law has her own self contained annex to the house, consisting of lounge, kitchen, utility room and bedroom which in itself is the size of a small bungalow itself.
‘Chip’ initially used to wander in and sit with her, to the point he was a bit of a therapy dog and she enjoyed the company.
However for approximately a month he has actively avoided her, this is since her dementia has dipped whereby she is always very sad, not really communicating but occasionally does have a good day or part of day.
His behaviour is so obvious it’s really odd. He never goes near her annex, if she wanders into our lounge or kitchen (connects ours and annex) he immediately gets up and walks out. Recently she has sneezed or coughed a bit. If she sneezes he legs it and goes to a far area of the house or runs to me. If she coughs the same but acting really distressed.
I’m baffled. Is it true that they can sense something?
She has never hurt him and loves him to bits. She has known him all of his life and he always got on with her but literally the iller (is that a word) she has become the more he has distanced himself and become very distressed when around her.
Obviously I don’t want him distressed so any ideas??
Baffled!!
Some dogs are incredibly intuitive and sense our moods and emotions, especially non-agressive big softies like chap sounds to be.
He will almost certainly have picked up on MIL's unpredictable and erratic behaviour especially if she's showing signs of frustration and ill temper and that's now unnerved him.
Our Flattie is incredibly sensitive towards our moods, he can detect the slightest signs of frustration or exasperation, just a simple tut or a sigh or even just from body language alone, and he usually starts to panic and wants to leave the room even though we are a very calm and peaceful household with no raised voices or loud arguments.
He will almost certainly have picked up on MIL's unpredictable and erratic behaviour especially if she's showing signs of frustration and ill temper and that's now unnerved him.
Our Flattie is incredibly sensitive towards our moods, he can detect the slightest signs of frustration or exasperation, just a simple tut or a sigh or even just from body language alone, and he usually starts to panic and wants to leave the room even though we are a very calm and peaceful household with no raised voices or loud arguments.
an awkward thought but having dealt with people suffering from this disease, could she have lashed out towards the dog (physically or verbally?)
I know its an awful thought and its nobody's fault if it happened, but maybe worth considering?
either way you have my sympathy for all involved.
I know its an awful thought and its nobody's fault if it happened, but maybe worth considering?
either way you have my sympathy for all involved.
hkz286 said:
an awkward thought but having dealt with people suffering from this disease, could she have lashed out towards the dog (physically or verbally?)
I know its an awful thought and its nobody's fault if it happened, but maybe worth considering?
either way you have my sympathy for all involved.
If he's anything like as soft and sensitive as our dog then she won't have needed to do anything as serious as lashing out at him, just her subtle change of personality, mild mood swings and signs of frustration would be enough to unsettle him.I know its an awful thought and its nobody's fault if it happened, but maybe worth considering?
either way you have my sympathy for all involved.
Thanks all for your input(s) much appreciated indeed. It must be down to her mood/behaviour, he’s like a limpet to me and just hope he isn’t too freaked out at his age.
I guarantee she hasn’t hit him with anything, I’m about most days and she simply doesn’t have it in her.
Sad times and thanks again all.
I guarantee she hasn’t hit him with anything, I’m about most days and she simply doesn’t have it in her.
Sad times and thanks again all.
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