Question:
Here's the funny thing: If we are out late and come home at 1-2 AM,
he's sitting on the couch, pleased as punch and calm. However, when
we go to bed, he starts getting agitated and busts into my room.
Then, around sixish, I let him out and he goes downstairs and is fine
for the rest of the day.
Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? Is there any clues on what is
wrong with him?
Answer:
Angus is male about six-seven years old. He is a husky, akita,
shepard mix (aka stray).
Generally he is the friendliest, happiest, perky dog you would ever
want to meet.
Over the past few years, he became afraid of thunder and lightning.
This is perfectly understandable. He get's agitated, pants alot and
seeks comfort from one of the family members (usually me).
In the past week, however, he started getting what I can only describe
as panic attacks (like during a thunderstorm) soon after everyone in
the house has gone to bed.
We don't allow our dogs on the second floor of the house, and have a
small gate on the stairs to stop them. Usually, I don't even have to
put it up anymore, because they know. Now, Angus will bust through
the gate, or any other obstacle, to get upstairs.
A few nights ago, I took his leash and secured it to a pipe in the
living room, so he could sleep on the couch. No dice. He knocked
over every piece of furniture he could and eventually pushed the couch
away from the wall, into the center of the room.
When I finally came down and let him go, he ran to the front of the
house, and peed on the floor. I gave up and let him sleep with me.
After about an hour or so, he stopped panting and went to sleep.
Here's the funny thing: If we are out late and come home at 1-2 AM,
he's sitting on the couch, pleased as punch and calm. However, when
we go to bed, he starts getting agitated and busts into my room.
Then, around sixish, I let him out and he goes downstairs and is fine
for the rest of the day.
It's natural for dogs to want to sleep with the rest of their pack.
Unfortunetly he's training you to let him up eveytime you give in. Probably
too late now.
How come your dogs aren't allowed upstairs? If it's for allergy reasons I'd
suggest you get a small room air filter for your bedroom. Works great for me.
Could it be that something is going on in the neighborhood. Something that
is causing a noise that only your dog can hear? A noise he associates with
"bad things coming"?
MY dog has very sensitive hearing, She has trouble dealing with buses, ice
cream trucks , garbage day is pretty much a write off. I can't bring her to
my husbands work as in the back of the building there is machinery that
bothers her. She doesn't even like to walk at night, she gets nervous (I
think she hears too much then) Yet, I can vacuum up to her feet and it
doesn't bother her. Just not the same pitch.
Now to everyone that will say I need to work on her to get her over her
fears. Don't bother. I've gone that route. She is now 7 She is a
sheltie/whippet. Just plain a sensitive dog. I've also talked to the vet
about this issue.
