Strange behavior. Its making me sad!!

[Jadenlea]

Well this actually isnt a grooming question but I thought Id pick some brains. The last two nights my little girl jack russel has been acting so strange. She wont even come in my bedroom (where I spend all my time.. computer and tv are in here) She just sits in a corner trembling. She is obviously very worried about something.. she is usually very obedient and right on with commands but when I call her or try to tell her to do something she is so distracted by worry she cant follow the directions. right now she is in the lonely kitchen sitting in a corner all slunk over shaking.

The Heat came on last night and the radiators were making strange noises for about 15 mins at the beginning of the night and I was hoping that was it but there has been nothing like that tonight.

I am trying not to give her affection in this state or comfort her because I dont want to reinforce that insecure behavior but its breaking my heart. I did get out the good cookies and do some clicker training work (Im working on shaping her, teaching left from right) to get her mind off it earlier and she was able to snap herself out of it and be attentive to that but as soon as I stopped she started cowering again.

Both days she was fine all day long.. acting completely normal and playing games.. chasing the cat. lol She is eating and pottying fine. but then it got dark and she started to cower.

Any thoughts??????? she is with me all the time. comes to work with me and nothing has happened to traumatize her either day. I am at a loss

Jade
PS. if we have an earthquake or something in the northeast in the next day or two, then Im calling it now. My dog predicted it!!

[pamperedpups]

Hm. One of our dogs was doing something similar a couple days ago. I was sitting at the computer when I noticed him sitting next to me, slouched over and shaking nervously. I checked him over and decided he just needed some love... I was right. If it turns out that your dog is not predicting an earthquake or experiencing some sort of physical ailment (Have you checked her gums, eyes, abdomen, etc?), I suspect she may just be feeling a bit left out. I think many of us are spending too much time on here due to slow schedules and the wintery weather and it's taking away from the time between you and your dog as well as your dog's time outside. Maybe tomorrow you two should go for a nice, long walk together and play a game or two inside.

[diamienono]

No change in food or anything? That is strange. Me, I am a panicer. I would be thinking gas leak, carbon monoxide. Since you are not really home during the day, maybe that is why she is fine. Is she fixed? Maybe going into heat? I have no clue

[gally22]

There was a condition mentioned to a post i had about my westie customer. Only it was called White Dog Shake Syndrome (okay, that name is way wrong). But dollars to donuts - Helly will know it. The dog would just shake for 20 minutes or so at random times, and be normal all else. I will be watching for other answers, but it sounds like it. It flares up for a while, like weeks at a time, and then disappears, only to come back without warning.

[Helly]

I'd get her to the vet for a check-up. She may be cooking up a UTI, or she may have some sort of injury. Back injuries will often cause behavior like you described, and so will bladder infections or stones.

[Helly]

Here's another thought that just popped into my head, seeing as this is happening at night. Any chance you could have had a bat in your house? Bats aren't active during the day (unless you disturb them), but they are at night, and while we can't hear them, your dog probably can.

[toomuchfunbnme]

Poor Baby!

I would definately have her checked by a veterinarian to eliminate the possibility of any possible illness or injury causing her behavior. I think it's better to be safe than sorry if the symptoms seem that unusual. I have even rushed one of my babies to the vet on Easter morning for what turned out to be a tummy ache! I hope that your baby is better soon!

[Bearmtn]

I was wondering if maybe you should have her eyes checked out. Reminds me of one of my Aussies that I had that I bought as a pup and by the time he was 2 years old, he had cateracts developing, and they developed so fast that he had a hard time adjusting and would act scared at times.

[pugnacious]

Just throwing out an idea here. How old is she? Our pug acts that way just before she comes into heat. She gets real sad, moppy and insecure a few day before she starts her heat cycle.

[Pixie]

I don't have any suggestions but just wanted you to know that I hope she becomes herself again. It's really hard to tell what is wrong with these little guys since they can't talk to us. Hope you find out what is bothering her.

[sheilabgroomer]

There was a condition mentioned to a post i had about my westie customer. Only it was called White Dog Shake Syndrome (okay, that name is way wrong). But dollars to donuts - Helly will know it. The dog would just shake for 20 minutes or so at random times, and be normal all else. I will be watching for other answers, but it sounds like it. It flares up for a while, like weeks at a time, and then disappears, only to come back without warning.

I know what you are talking about, but I can't remember the name either (I'm working on my first cup of coffee). My Ckr has done this for years. No othe symptoms and of course at the vets he shivers and shakes anyway so they can't observe it. It is doing it more often as he gets older, but other than the shivering spells he is fine.
I agree w/getting your baby to the vet and checked out to see if there is anything cooking in her little body.

[Jadenlea]

Hey Guys,

Ill have one of the vets look at her today...Im not thinking she is sick because she is fine all day and afternoon. And even once I get into bed at night she then comes to bed and stop shaking. Its so strange.

It occured to me after I posted its almost like she acts when she does something naughty but magnified. Like I always know if she had an accident in the back room because she will come slinking in looking guilty and refuse to look at me. (Bet she got punished bad for that before I owned her) But I checked all over the house and I cant find any naughtyness

Helly... the bat thing seems right on track for me.. Not a bat cuz there are no bats here at this time of year but Ive been wondering if she is hearing something in the walls that I cant hear (mice?) because she is a CHICKEN when it comes to sounds she cant identify. But I dont know.... I cant hear anything! And if that were it... how could I snap her out of it??? Its horrible to watch.

Anyway Im off to work. thanks for the thoughts and Ill have her looked at.

[blue]

After having ruled out medical issues, I would also be thinking sound or perhaps smell. Any new electronic devices in your home that beep? Smoke detector somewhere chirping where you can't hear it? New answering machine? New neighbors?

Two of our dogs (one is a JRT) are quite sensitive to new sounds.

Were you just putting on the heat at night? Maybe it'll take her some time to get used to it again.

[Briarpatch]

I had a Dandie Dinmont who was a very out-going type and loved everything and everyone...except the street sweeper that came by my shop every week. She'd start shaking voilently and run to her bed. She'd start about 1/2 an hour or so before I'd even see the sweeper and keep shaking long after. It was that really low vibration that made her crazy. I'm betting that it's something that you can't hear.

[plushpuppy]

I'd get her to the vet for a check-up. She may be cooking up a UTI, or she may have some sort of injury. Back injuries will often cause behavior like you described, and so will bladder infections or stones.

also I was told that dogs shake when they are in pain. Poor baby I hope you get her into the vet asap