Jodi Moen Webboard User Reg: 12-28-2010
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Amber is doing something weird, I'm not sure if its submissive or fear or what. If anyone can clue me in...
To start off with for the last two months I've had a personal situation that has been extremely stressful, I'm sure she's picking up on that but this new thing is within the last couple of weeks.
She'll be asleep in her normal spot and come over to me, when she does, she'll drop her head, divert her gaze, and turn her head away, she'll also tuck her tail. This is without provocation... Sometimes I may be eating something, sometimes not. To me it looks like submission but there's nothing to provoke it, although I am stressed I'm not acting any differently towards her, or because she is listening so much better with her reactivity could this just be her responding to me as her leader? I've never yelled at her, and she is typically not a submissive dog. I just don't like her looking like a "cowed" dog.
My animals are not "like" family, they ARE family.
Reg: 12-01-2005
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If she's coming over close to you and doing this, it might be asking for attention/petting in a non-demanding way. Have you tried petting her? Does she then relax?
Jodi Moen Webboard User Reg: 12-28-2010
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Connie, yes we are alone, it has only happened indoors
Melissa, Sometimes she comes right up to me, sometimes she'll stand five or six feet away. yes I call her and she'll put her head on my knee and I'll talk to her pat her.
Edited by Jodi Moen (11/20/2013 04:00 PM)
Edit reason: add info
My animals are not "like" family, they ARE family.
To me, it sounds like she's picking up on your stress and is offering you "calming signals" to make you feel better and ease your tension.
Even when we think we aren't showing signs of stress, our dogs can pick it up- it may just be a slight increase in respiration or slight muscle tension- they can read it.
Reg: 12-01-2005
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It sounds like she is just feeling stressed by your stress. My dog that is very bonded to me I often joke is my "emotional barometer". Maybe theses signals from her are a reminder to you to breathe and be calm. Hope your stress reduces soon!
Jodi Moen Webboard User Reg: 12-28-2010
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Kelly, what do you mean by calming signals? How should I respond?
Melissa, she's never been alone with anyone other than me in the past year.
Mara, yes, she was. She was more clingy, but not doing this submissive/weird thing.
My animals are not "like" family, they ARE family.
Jodi Moen Webboard User Reg: 12-28-2010
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On closer observation I think some of Ambers weirdness is pain related, she broke a front tooth awhile back which initially didn't seem bad but on looking at at today there is now a darker ring in the middle which I assume is the pulp? Its not black. She's not at all interested in playing fetch, she'll play two or three times then go lie down whereas normally she'd play for hours. And she's not that enthusiastic about eating.
I plan on taking her to my own vet and having a lyme titre done just in case she's having a flare. I'm not sure they do that much dentistry so am thinking about taking her to a dog dentist, I'd prefer to save the tooth if possible.
What questions should I ask of my own vet or the dentist vet? There are 3 dentists within a few hours, a private practice, a university clinic, and a large clinic that is a teaching hospital.
My animals are not "like" family, they ARE family.
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weird behavior I don't understand
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