My GSD is 22 months old and has lived indoors with us since she was 8 weeks. She is obedience and personal protection trained. She has always gotten into bed with us to watch TV in the evenings before she is crated for the night. Beginning two weeks ago, she started staring at shadows on the walls and ceiling of our bedroom caused by a lamp we have previously used when she would get into our bed. She now avoids our bedroom and will often retreat to her crate if we have our bedroom door open in the evenings. Even her feces is runny. Our vet did stool tests but results were negative. Any suggestions on what is happening? Thanks.
Is that lamp in the bedroom the only source of shadows that scare your dog? If so, get it the hell out of there. Consider yourself lucky to have narrowed the source of the fear down so easily.
Ben McDonald Webboard User Reg: 05-25-2011
Posts: 439
Loc: Lawton, OK
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A few questions - Are you sure she's not hearing something in the walls/ceiling? (Dogs hear alot better then we do!)
Did the vet give you any suggestions as to how to fix her runny stools, or possible causes? Feeding your dog a healthy diet does a number of things including heading off health problems later in life, increased energy, proper digestion and a healthy digestive system, better mood, healthy teeth and coat ...
Every dog is going to get runny stools at some point, it should clear up in a few days. If it hasn't, then I would take a closer look at her diet, or maybe she got into something she shouldn't have. If there is no change to her diet and she keeps having the runny stools, then perhaps she has developed an allergy and needs a change. I've heard GSD's are particularly fond of raw. =)
"Obedience and personal protection trained"
What sort of personal protection training did she have?
Done correctly, with the CORRECT dog, it should build confidence in a dog.
Done incorrectly or with the wrong dog it will do nothing but make the dog a fear biter that will start looking for the boogie man...and shadows.
Not saying this is what's going on but a dog with nerve issues would be the last one I'd do PP with.
Reg: 12-06-2010
Posts: 721
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
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Is it possible she is smelling something that is upsetting her? Something that might be in the walls where the shadow is cast? It might be that the lamp shadow is incidental, it happens to be where she is detecting something and you are interpreting it as lamp shadow.
If you add another light source and dispel that shadow, is she still avoiding?
Is she showing anxiety in other areas of her life? If her anxiety is intense enough to cause a digestive disorder, then I would be curious to look at a bigger picture. It sounds like that kind of physical reaction to that much exposure (ie. tv watching in the evening) is out of proportion.
And, as mentioned, the runny stools could also be incidental, unless there is reason to believe she is suffering a generalized state of anxiety (that is stressing her digestive system) and it is showing up most intensely in your bedroom.
I think you should be able to work her through it. all dogs have a issue or two. that's why we train turn the bedroom light on play with her,. slowly darken the room or put her on a leash and in the bedroom we go
Thanks Ben. She does hear things in the ceiling; we do too. It is the air conditioner kicking on. But she has heard that for nearly two years. The vet prescribed a powder we sprinkle on her food once a day, but it does not help. We feed her Royal Canin food. She came from the breeder on Royal Canin. She does get treats, and we are re-evaluating her diet.
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