Is it normal

[BayleighL]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

Is it normal for my dog to be calm, uninterested in playing, and what it just wants to do is sleep or cuddle? I mean it's not a pug, or a bull dog... So I find it a bit weird is all...

We went to the vet yesterday and they said she's fine-- just an upset stomach from the kibble and the stress.


The only way I can say she's acting is like a senior dog... The doc. said her tarter shows she's about 2-3 but no more than 5.

Just kind of unusual to see a dog that sedentary. She has small bursts of play, but then goes back to relaxing and sleeping.

Our 2 year old naps quite often as we work in our home office. But when 5 o'clock comes around, she is up and ready to play. She seems to have adopted our workday schedule and after work expects our full undivided attention until bedtime. On weekends, it's game on! She knows it's her time. We have found that if the quality of her night time sleep has been poor, she wants to sleep in or nap more even on weekends. When we first got her it took a little adjusting to find a bed and crate set up that she'd nestle right down into and found out she sleeps better in pjs. So, you might look at how your schedule and her quality of night time sleep might be affecting her.

[matese]

A female puppy comes into her first heat usually 6 to 8 months old, as an adult a female comes into heat every 6 months. A female can become pregnant at any age, 6 months until the end of her life. A puppy should be spayed before her first heat usually 6 months old to prevent mammary tumors and Pyometra which can cause death, I lost 2 girls to Pyometra 6 months apart. It is important to get this girl spayed if she is not. The longer she goes without being spayed the greater the risk for mammary tumors and Pyometra.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by matese

A female puppy comes into her first heat usually 6 to 8 months old, as an adult a female comes into heat every 6 months. A female can become pregnant at any age, 6 months until the end of her life. A puppy should be spayed before her first heat usually 6 months old to prevent mammary tumors and Pyometra which can cause death, I lost 2 girls to Pyometra 6 months apart. It is important to get this girl spayed if she is not. The longer she goes without being spayed the greater the risk for mammary tumors and Pyometra.

Sometimes smaller dogs will not go into heat until a year old.

[Maximo]

I agree with Ann (Wylie's Mom), who knows a lot about shelter dogs. She volunteers in a shelter that sends pups home with the volunteers for 'vacations.'

The photos and videos I have seen of dogs in shelters show that many of them shut down emotionally. It's a tough environment for many.

Give her time to acclimate. She probably is so relieved to have a home and family. She might be a little fearful how long it will last too. Might take her some time to understand that she is really home for good.

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Do you have plenty of chew toys for her to chew on?

I gave her a rubber ball, a frisbee that she apparently likes to chew on sometimes, and that's been it for now. Need to get her some kong toys...

Also, don't know what kind of chewy things she would like but that are safe.

I mean you can leave a kong toy with a dog... if my other dog which is twice her size could chew at it and never break it.. pretty sure a smaller dog is less likely to be able to break one.

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Sometimes smaller dogs will not go into heat until a year old.

So this mean she's definitely over a year(sort of figured by the tartar build up that he pointed out).

The thing that sucks about not knowing their ages is if you/re feeding the wrong food. A young adult dog eats differently than a senior dog...

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I agree with Ann (Wylie's Mom), who knows a lot about shelter dogs. She volunteers in a shelter that sends pups home with the volunteers for 'vacations.'

The photos and videos I have seen of dogs in shelters show that many of them shut down emotionally. It's a tough environment for many.

Give her time to acclimate. She probably is so relieved to have a home and family. She might be a little fearful how long it will last too. Might take her some time to understand that she is really home for good.

Maybe, however I didn't know dogs were that complex thinkers. (Not insulting dogs)

She does seem a bit relieved. She likes to spend time sleeping by me and I found some methods of play with her... I think she likes tug of war, I think she likes chasing, chewing definitely hits the mark for her.

She can be a picky eater, but if you leave it long enough and walk away she'll still eat it (or some of it) if she's really hungry. Tough love I guess.

Still going to change her food to science diet later on. She seems to be keen on wet food, but I'd rather feed her dry food. As wet food causes tartar to increase.

I am still thinking of a dog bed for her. She likes to be comfy, but her chewing- not sure if she'd rip up a bed if she got bored. Sasha wouldn't, but she's definitely not sasha.

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by matese

A female puppy comes into her first heat usually 6 to 8 months old, as an adult a female comes into heat every 6 months. A female can become pregnant at any age, 6 months until the end of her life. A puppy should be spayed before her first heat usually 6 months old to prevent mammary tumors and Pyometra which can cause death, I lost 2 girls to Pyometra 6 months apart. It is important to get this girl spayed if she is not. The longer she goes without being spayed the greater the risk for mammary tumors and Pyometra.

She was already spayed when we got her. They spayed her at the other shelter.

Not sure about what you said though, remember people on here making comments about waiting for atleast 1-2 heat cycles before spaying as it causes something with the vulvula or something... But-- it's already done and it's definitely way after her first cycle.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

I gave her a rubber ball, a frisbee that she apparently likes to chew on sometimes, and that's been it for now. Need to get her some kong toys...

Also, don't know what kind of chewy things she would like but that are safe.

I mean you can leave a kong toy with a dog... if my other dog which is twice her size could chew at it and never break it.. pretty sure a smaller dog is less likely to be able to break one.

Nylabones are good. Mine love them.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

She was already spayed when we got her. They spayed her at the other shelter.

Not sure about what you said though, remember people on here making comments about waiting for atleast 1-2 heat cycles before spaying as it causes something with the vulvula or something... But-- it's already done and it's definitely way after her first cycle.

No people shouldn't wait. Spaying before the first heat is much much better.

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Nylabones are good. Mine love them.

Nylabones? And they're safe to leave with a dog? Also about greenies- do they really clean their teeth? How many bones would it take to get her teeth all cleaned up and tartar free? We have this edible doggy toothpaste (somewhere) which I am not sure if it expired but it should work as well?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

Nylabones? And they're safe to leave with a dog? Also about greenies- do they really clean their teeth? How many bones would it take to get her teeth all cleaned up and tartar free? We have this edible doggy toothpaste (somewhere) which I am not sure if it expired but it should work as well?

Nylabones are pretty safe unless it's to small. After 48 hours tarter hardens and the only way to really get it off is a dental done by the vet.

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

No people shouldn't wait. Spaying before the first heat is much much better.

Well I mean its already done and sort of late.

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Nylabones are pretty safe unless it's to small. After 48 hours tarter hardens and the only way to really get it off is a dental done by the vet.

Oh ok, I'll have that done in the next visit (2 weeks from now). Just for the heads up, how much can a dental cost? Also what are the toothpaste for then? Does she need her dental done while sedated/sleeping or what?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

Well I mean its already done and sort of late.

It was not necessarily about her just the comment about waiting until after 1 or 2 heats.