Death and dogs?????

[Rachael x]

Im sorry for your loss.
I dont quite know why your little one is acting like this, but dont force her.. just give her time and Im sure she will come round.
I really do believe that animals can sense death...
I know when my gran was ill my schnauzer cross wouldnt leave her alone, usually she is very playful but around my gran she was really calm and would just sit at her feet constantly.
I know when my gran died Jess was very quiet for a week or two and really not herself.

When a family members dog was put down both Jess and my nana's dog charlie howled and howled all day and were not there selves for about a week afterwards.
Jess did the same when charlie died.. its very strange.

[baby yorkie]

Okay, now she is refusing to go in Tia's kennel. I thought things were going good because she followed me upstairs yesterday (only because she was excited; told them they were going for a walk). She didn't shake as much last night when I took her upstairs, but she just didn't want to go in. I gently placed her in there. I just didn't know what else to do. She can't sleep in the bed with us because she is so small that I think about smashing her all night. Both of us don't get any sleep. I really want to keep the kennel at night for safety; I know where they are and what they're doing. I don't know how a vet can help. She doesn't seem to be in any pain and is acting, for the most part, pretty normal. Some times she clings more and sometimes she wants her space a little too much, which is unlike her.

What do I do??? This Friday will be two weeks.

[margaritaville]

I'm sorry to hear your mil has passed. Try calling your vet and asking if Melatonin or Remedy might help. With everything going on in the home she maybe a little mixed up with her days and nights. Also, my sister is a firm believer in spirits and believes in leaving windows and doors open so the soul can travel. She also believes in smudging the house to remove negative energy (please those of you who think this is horse hockey-I said these are my sisters beliefs, but it can't hurt and after our house was robbed I did smudge-figured what could it hurt).

[ASTPhi877]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother in law. Cancer is such a hard way to go, for both the person ill as well as their family. My prayers are with you.

As to your question... do you think it is possible that she has entered into a "fear period"? Occasionally dogs go through these (I think there are normally at least two in a puppies life, although I forget the time frames for these) But perhaps your mil's death so happened to precede, or possibly initiated, this fear period. Admittedly, I'm no expert, but I seem to recall that these times are characterized by new and intense fears to objects or places that were previously benign... but that the period passes fairly quickly. It sound like that may be what's going on, and if that is the case, then just wait it out, crate her with the other dog for now, and be VERY careful that you don't by word or action give her any reason to think that her fear is a valid one (i.e. baby/soothe her when she is in that anxious/fearful state) as that might only make it a more long lasting issue.

Good luck with your baby, and may God be with you and your entire family right now.

[ASTPhi877]

I'm sorry, I didn't read that she now was having an issue with the other puppies kennel as well, although my advice is still the same, if this is indeed a fear period. Perhaps try googling "puppy fear period" to see if that seems to be what is going on, because if it is, there might be even better strategies for dealing with this out there.

[ASTPhi877]

I just finished reading the entire thread and...

I think that your own anxiousness may be the issue here. You said that you feel guilty and worried when you have to put her in her crate at night... and I'd bet almost anything that she can sense that. I'd bet that initially she sensed the sadness and grief in your home... and that the guilt and worry she has been sensing from you ever since has VALIDATED that she has a REASON to be fearful. Did, when she first became agitated, you speak in a soothing voice, maybe tell her "It's okay"? I know that may seem like the natural, comforting thing to have done... but dogs don't think like we do. When they hear "It's okay" in that soothing voice, what they hear is "It's okay that you feel fearful/stressed/anxious right now" and it serves to reinforce their fears. They think they are being praised for being fearful!

But if this is the case, then I think what you need to do is pretty simple. Try retraining her to her crate, only rewarding calm behavior with your attention. This may mean ignoring her and letting her cry it out again, which is sooooo hard, I know! (I'm sure you went through that process when you first got your baby, but it would probably help to start from scratch again. But, if she came to you already trained, please feel free to pm me and I can go over the steps with you - it's really pretty simple.) While you are doing this (this is really important!) you should never feel guilty, worried or anxious! You KNOW that there is nothing wrong with her being in her crate. She is not hurt, she is not in any danger... she is completely okay, just scared and with no reason to be. When you take control of the situation and reteach her that anxious/fearful behavior is NOT okay... She will be fine and right back to loving her crate.

Good luck, and I really think and hope that this will help you. And again, I am very sorry for your loss