Weird behaviour

[docmartin]

Twenty four hours ago at 11pm Crystal settled nose to the cold floor in the kitchen by the fridge. A curfew had begun, after an hour I visited her at this vigil and tried to lift her up. She growled most aggressively and snapped at my hand in a most convincing manner, the like of which I'd never experienced before in 18 months. Irina attempted a similar interruption and drew the same response. I got a sling lead around her neck and led her into the hall, where her response was definitely feral.

I have ignored her, apart from feeding her at breakfast and dinner, until tonight. All day, she has slunk around with a besmirched look on her face, like a recalcitrant child after parental admonishment. Friends suggestions have ranged from 'she's seen a ghost', to 'she got fed up with mom picking her up every 10 mins for a kiss etc. and tried to find a calm spot for a rest'.

As mom's been away for 7 weeks, she's perhaps grown accustomed to my more laissez faire approach, ie I leave her to live her own life and don't keep lifting her all the time. Most times anyway she sits on me almost continuously whenever she can, but thats always her choice. In other words I respect her space and existentialism.

I suppose they too must get grumpy moods, which I accept and give her privacy whenever they occur. Today she's mainly back to normal and doesn't seem to have any painful places anywhere?

Any ideas?

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by docmartin

Twenty four hours ago at 11pm Crystal settled nose to the cold floor in the kitchen by the fridge. A curfew had begun, after an hour I visited her at this vigil and tried to lift her up. She growled most aggressively and snapped at my hand in a most convincing manner, the like of which I'd never experienced before in 18 months. Irina attempted a similar interruption and drew the same response. I got a sling lead around her neck and led her into the hall, where her response was definitely feral.

I have ignored her, apart from feeding her at breakfast and dinner, until tonight. All day, she has slunk around with a besmirched look on her face, like a recalcitrant child after parental admonishment. Friends suggestions have ranged from 'she's seen a ghost', to 'she got fed up with mom picking her up every 10 mins for a kiss etc. and tried to find a calm spot for a rest'.

As mom's been away for 7 weeks, she's perhaps grown accustomed to my more laissez faire approach, ie I leave her to live her own life and don't keep lifting her all the time. Most times anyway she sits on me almost continuously whenever she can, but thats always her choice. In other words I respect her space and existentialism.

I suppose they too must get grumpy moods, which I accept and give her privacy whenever they occur. Today she's mainly back to normal and doesn't seem to have any painful places anywhere?

Any ideas?

My first thought would have been that there was some unseen injury. However, if you're convinced there are no injuries and she's back to normal, well...? Perhaps you are correct in assuming she doesn't want to be picked up unless you are called? I'd keep an eye on her for another day and maybe try to pick her up again to get her to react and go from there?

[Graneet]

My thought is food some where and she is gaurding it maybe under the frige or somewhere you cant see it. Or maybe something dripped on the floor she liked. Or maybe a mouse scampered behind the fridge and she was on gaurd duty. Id let her out and see if she goes back to that spot.

[docmartin]

Originally Posted by Graneet

My thought is food some where and she is gaurding it maybe under the frige or somewhere you cant see it. Or maybe something dripped on the floor she liked. Or maybe a mouse scampered behind the fridge and she was on gaurd duty. Id let her out and see if she goes back to that spot.

Hello, my wife thinks she lost a chew stick under the fridge months ago and keeps scrabbling her paw underneath spasmodically, attempting to retrieve something that is now no longer there. We let her back minutes after her little grimacing performance. However she's ignored this preoccupation entirely since and seems now to have lost all memory of the obsession to attend? We'll keep an eye out, though?

[docmartin]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

My first thought would have been that there was some unseen injury. However, if you're convinced there are no injuries and she's back to normal, well...? Perhaps you are correct in assuming she doesn't want to be picked up unless you are called? I'd keep an eye on her for another day and maybe try to pick her up again to get her to react and go from there?

Everything is back to normal, as I've stated above she's not returned to this behavior since. I reckon our little terrier gets fed up with being treated like a cuddly toy all the time by 'she who must be obeyed'. Eventually seeking a quiet little haven, a place to avoid all the slobbering and baby talk etc, just wanting to be herself for a time of repose and privacy. Then along comes PC Dad to see if all is well so he got a warning for his trouble too! My wife has just returned from 7 weeks with her first and brand new grand daughter. So she could be suffering withdrawl symptoms and poor Crystal is a substitute offering for obtuse renderings of slob-a-lob etc etc!

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by docmartin

Everything is back to normal, as I've stated above she's not returned to this behavior since. I reckon our little terrier gets fed up with being treated like a cuddly toy all the time by 'she who must be obeyed'. Eventually seeking a quiet little haven, a place to avoid all the slobbering and baby talk etc, just wanting to be herself for a time of repose and privacy. Then along comes PC Dad to see if all is well so he got a warning for his trouble too! My wife has just returned from 7 weeks with her first and brand new grand daughter. So she could be suffering withdrawl symptoms and poor Crystal is a substitute offering for obtuse renderings of slob-a-lob etc etc!

Ah, well, glad to learn all is now well.


Psychology refers to "slob-a-lob" as "motherese" which refers to the high pitched baby talk that women use with infants and animals. This type of discourse has been shown to improve the cognition and languages skills of infants. Therefore, it is glaringly apparent to me that your wife is merely preparing your dog for university!


You must thank her now with fine wine and chocolate

[docmartin]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

Ah, well, glad to learn all is now well.


Psychology refers to "slob-a-lob" as "motherese" which refers to the high pitched baby talk that women use with infants and animals. This type of discourse has been shown to improve the cognition and languages skills of infants. Therefore, it is glaringly apparent to me that your wife is merely preparing your dog for university!


You must thank her now with fine wine and chocolate

Great stuff! I'm old enough to remember the 'Flowerpot Men', which seemed relevant too?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozp8uwUWtBY

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by docmartin

Great stuff! I'm old enough to remember the 'Flowerpot Men', which seemed relevant too?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozp8uwUWtBY

As I am not English, I was not aware of the Flowerpot Men but I think it is absolutely the greatest thing I have ever seen from that time period! I have sent it to my mother and father-in-law and will see if they reply via email re: their memories of this program! Very cute! Thanks for sharing!


As for hubby and I, we will watch this on Saturday night with Teddy. Subsequently, I will provide you with an update re: his verbosity and suggest you do the same with Crystal and wife so we can compare notes re: language advancement. (Teddy could also do with some singing lessons).


How exciting!

[margaritaville]

So glad your sweet girl is back to herself. Is it possible there could have been a little mouse run under there? Here when it gets cold, people get little ones trying to get warm or looking for food.
A couple of days ago my husband dropped a baby carrot and it rolled under the refrigerator. Even though Sissy got a new one, she almost went crazy knowing there was a carrot under there. She was down on her side, pawing, whining and sniffing, trying to get that carrot that she felt was her do.
Just to keep the peace here husband and I moved the refrigerator to get it before it shriveled. Sissy had to be put out of the kitchen so she didn't get run over by the big bad carrot stealer.
Once we threw that one away and gave her a new one (so she actually got 2)' she was fine. Occasionally, she still sniffs there as she goes by. Funny little creatures are they not?

[docmartin]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

As I am not English, I was not aware of the Flowerpot Men but I think it is absolutely the greatest thing I have ever seen from that time period! I have sent it to my mother and father-in-law and will see if they reply via email re: their memories of this program! Very cute! Thanks for sharing!


As for hubby and I, we will watch this on Saturday night with Teddy. Subsequently, I will provide you with an update re: his verbosity and suggest you do the same with Crystal and wife so we can compare notes re: language advancement. (Teddy could also do with some singing lessons).


How exciting!

It's still wonderful isn't it. The same team did another favorite here called 'Andy Pandy'. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore did a brilliant black parody of this too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLLI7V-xcQA

As a child I loved them and many others including 'Muffin the Mule' presented by the great Sir John Mill's sister 'Annette'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spQY2FbCUtM

Crystal is a great fan of Muffin and gets very excited when we all sing the aquarium song accompanied by Dad on the piano! Somtimes its hard to determine whose more nuts than who, in this home of ours! I attach a picture of her mothers latest 'haute couture' production, which she won't be wearing with her dad - that's for sure. Crystal's expression says it all!

[matese]

Crystal looks adorable.

[docmartin]

Originally Posted by matese

Crystal looks adorable.

Thank you,

(Says her Mom), apparently her fan club (several elderly ladies) passed similar comments on her walk along the 'Parade' today!

[docmartin]

Originally Posted by margaritaville

So glad your sweet girl is back to herself. Is it possible there could have been a little mouse run under there? Here when it gets cold, people get little ones trying to get warm or looking for food.
A couple of days ago my husband dropped a baby carrot and it rolled under the refrigerator. Even though Sissy got a new one, she almost went crazy knowing there was a carrot under there. She was down on her side, pawing, whining and sniffing, trying to get that carrot that she felt was her do.
Just to keep the peace here husband and I moved the refrigerator to get it before it shriveled. Sissy had to be put out of the kitchen so she didn't get run over by the big bad carrot stealer.
Once we threw that one away and gave her a new one (so she actually got 2)' she was fine. Occasionally, she still sniffs there as she goes by. Funny little creatures are they not?

Hello I don't think we have any mice, but they say your never further than ten feet from one? Crystal may be haunted by the ghost of a dead parsnip that she' convinced still haunts 'Fridge Corner' along with a few biccy treats that have been shoved under there for a rainy day! We have a dead veg burial day every few months and let her inspect everything that isn't there after!