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03-03-2009, 08:04 AM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 159
| Strange behavior: "jogging" in circles Buster has recently started acting strangely, and I was hoping someone might know what's going on. His new favorite thing to do is to "jog" around a 6x9" rug on which our kitchen table sits. He'll do this for a couple hours at a time. His pace is quicker than a walk, but slower than the "zoomies" he used to do as a real little puppy. He'll sometimes stop and look either out a nearby window or up at a light switch, and then continue jogging. His behavior is bordering on the obsessive. While he's jogging, he's almost completely unresponsive to what were formerly his favorite things--fetch, treats--and also to basic commands. Really the only thing that breaks his obsession is a trip outside. But even then, he'll go right back to jogging when he gets home. And he'll do this for hours at a time. He's one year old and neutered, so I'm not sure if he'd be affected by a nearby dog in heat. I think he might just be stir crazy, but it's cold here in Wisconsin, so our ability to spend time outside is limited. Also, I could usually get him panting harder after a long game of fetch, so if it's just simple exercise he craves, I don't understand why he prefers his jogging to fetch. This pattern has been going on for about 4 days now. Does anyone have a dog that behaves similarly? Any suggestions on how to break him of his jogging obsession? We miss his playful, interactive personality. Last edited by Hansch99; 03-03-2009 at 08:07 AM. |
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03-03-2009, 08:08 AM | #2 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,421
| Hm, I wonder what would happen if you moved the table or put it away temporarily. Have you tried any of Cesar Milan's techniques for dealing with dogs who have obsessions? This much be frustrating for you.
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03-03-2009, 08:08 AM | #3 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Snowflake, AZ, USA
Posts: 672
| My babies don't do that...but Cesar (the dog whisperer) would have your baby on a tread mill!!!
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03-03-2009, 08:10 AM | #4 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 159
| I've seen his show and like his approach. Do you have any examples of his techniques, or where to find them? |
03-03-2009, 08:13 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,421
| If you go to www.youtube.com you can watch snippets from his shows. I do that when I'm bored. He also has DVD's you can buy, and books you can read. You can even browse around his website. I've watched him break a few dogs of their obsessions on youtube. One dog was obsessed with rocks, it was pretty bad...but he fixed the problem and quite quickly too. Good luck!
__________________ Shaunna with Missy (my princess) & Dora (my tomboy) |
03-03-2009, 11:04 AM | #6 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| This is really bizarre... Maybe you should have bloodwork done and also a Bile Acid test as well...Something 'funky' may be going on.. My Roxy has anxiety issues and they cause her to do 'laps' too, but not for hours at a time, it's only for minutes when she is under dire stress (in her mind at least)... |
03-03-2009, 11:11 AM | #7 | |
Princess Poop A Lot Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado
Posts: 6,728
| Quote:
I agree with you. Before any behavior modification is started this little one should see a vet....no telling what is going on.
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03-03-2009, 12:31 PM | #8 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 159
| Thanks for all the responses. I've thought about taking him in for a visit, but nothing appears out of the ordinary aside from his jogging. Are there any other symptoms (of anything) for which I should look? |
03-03-2009, 01:00 PM | #9 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| ...welll to me, this is odd behavior, since he never did it before and he will do it for hours...sounds like a Neuro Issue, and I would have bloodwork done |
03-03-2009, 01:14 PM | #10 |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| This behavior is not normal. That poor pup must be in some kind of distress. Dosen't a puppy with a shunt walk in circles? |
03-03-2009, 02:07 PM | #11 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 159
| Thanks for impressing on me the potential seriousness of his behavior. I found this description of shunt symptoms: ---------- "If your dog has a congenital portosystemic shunt, you will likely see signs of this while he or she is a young puppy. These signs are generally associated with the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract, or the urinary tract. Most consistently, there are signs of hepatic encephalopathy - neurological and behavioural evidence of diffuse brain disease due to liver dysfunction. These signs can be quite vague and may include loss of appetite, depression, lethargy, weakness, poor balance, disorientation, blindness, seizures, and coma. The signs may wax and wane, and may worsen after eating a protein-rich meal. Your pup may appear to be growing very slowly. Other non-specific gastrointestinal signs can include intermittent loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Failure of the liver to clear ammonia means that there will be increased excretion in the urine. This commonly leads to urolithiasis - kidney, bladder or urethral calculi or stones due to the build-up of mineral salts. Your dog may have blood in the urine, or difficulty or pain in urinating. The first sign of PSS in a dog may be a prolonged recovery from anesthesia, or excessive sedation after treatment with some medications. This occurs because the drugs are not metabolized as they would normally be by the liver, but instead are recirculated in the body." ----------- He doesn't seem to match that description, which I think is a good thing. Still, I think your idea to take him into the vet is a good one, and I'll arrange for it. |
03-03-2009, 02:21 PM | #12 |
Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island
Posts: 7,247
| Depedning on your area...the costs are pretty inexpensive. A full blood panel is $60 to $100 A Bile Acid Test is $60 to $100 I think it may be worth it |
03-03-2009, 02:40 PM | #13 | |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: England,UK
Posts: 1,176
| Quote:
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03-03-2009, 02:48 PM | #14 |
& Reicher Baby, too! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,675
| I agree. I don't want to scare you, but circling is a symptom of some very scary illnesses. I believe dogs with hydrocephalus also circle (and maybe others?), but I think you may have noticed if it was hydrocephalus since this is typically a very severe disease. I'm so sorry Please take him to your vet and get at least a bile acid test done and see what your vet things.
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03-03-2009, 03:17 PM | #15 |
Thor's Human Donating Member | Definitely get a physical. However, it is possible that it is a symptom of something more mild and psychological. I was just a reading a book about how animals in zoos often develop obsessive patterns like this - they are called "stereotypies", I believe. If that's the case, it's likely partly exercise and also boredom. He doesn't just get exercise on walks; he gets to sniff things, mark his territory, meet other dogs, etc. I would try challenging him mentally, particularly his predatory instincts. Try feeding him his meal in a kong, for instance. Hide treats in boxes and let him "dig" them out. Is there anywhere indoors you can go, maybe take him to a doggy daycare a couple times?
__________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger. Last edited by QuickSilver; 03-03-2009 at 03:18 PM. |
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