Psycho-Babble Social Thread 628538

Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!

Posted by Outsider on April 3, 2006, at 23:04:08

I love my dog. He is an eight year old Tibetan Spaniel. My problem is that I am an introvert and I like to stay home alot but my dog wants my CONSTANT attention. He makes me feel bad by acting depressed all of the time when I am trying to just live in my own house.
He even demands my attention by growling at me when I am watching TV or on the computer, he brings me his toys and stuff like that. I am already depressed and at the end off my rope and although this dillema may seem trivial, it is about to send me over the edge.
Am I being a bad dog owner? Am I making my dog miserable, are you supposed to play with them a certain amount of times each day? I love him but my plate is full and I need to be able to just be depressed and sort things out in my head without a dog constantly looming over me.
Any suggestions or helpfull experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Outsider

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!

Posted by Racer on April 4, 2006, at 0:08:33

In reply to My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Outsider on April 3, 2006, at 23:04:08

The only thing I can suggest is to make sure he has acceptable ways to entertain himself on his own. I have no idea what those might be.

One idea is those toys that allow you to put a doggie cookie inside and the dog can play with it while trying to get at the treat. Another idea, that's harder, is crate training. I know, a lot of people think it's "cruel" to crate train a dog, but I've only ever seen good results from it. The dogs will go into their crates to express displeasure with their owners, for instance, or climb in when they're anxious to calm themselves down. The crate is the dog's private place, where they can get away from everyone else.

And frankly, although the more attention the better for most animals, including humans, I'd say that two good play sessions per day is perfectly acceptable. Even one if need be. As long as there's a bit of interaction in between.

And the growling is just NOT OK. That's something crate training might help with, but training about it is definitely in order. Maybe get yourself a little water pistol, and a quick squirt in the kisser when that growl starts.

(Oh, and the crate training? I did have my cats semi-crate trained, although it's different with cats, and my big cat used to get locked into the bathroom as a "time out." The time outs really worked, too. He'd go in for attacking me, and come out purring and ready for a lap-sitting-fest.)

Hope that helps...

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!

Posted by special_k on April 4, 2006, at 0:29:41

In reply to Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Racer on April 4, 2006, at 0:08:33

throwing balls can be good.
'cause there isn't so much effort in that
tires 'em out
and they can be nice to cuddle when you are feelin depressed.

if its cause of attention...
then i'm not sure that punishment will help things really...

but maybe its that dog needs more exercise.
balls can help
chasing the ball (even across the lounge)
or walks.
no thats the last thing ya feel like when depressed...
but good for you
and dog too.

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!! » Outsider

Posted by zazenduck on April 4, 2006, at 8:37:40

In reply to My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Outsider on April 3, 2006, at 23:04:08

> I love my dog. He is an eight year old Tibetan Spaniel. My problem is that I am an introvert and I like to stay home alot but my dog wants my CONSTANT attention. He makes me feel bad by acting depressed all of the time when I am trying to just live in my own house.


++Remember that he's not trying to make you feel bad he's a dog and dog are pack animals he needs you to be ok for him to feel ok. Try to remember what you did with him the first 8 years to make him happy. Do you walk him every day? Try taking him on a different route to give him new experiences and fight boredom. Try setting a timer even for 10 minutes and have a play session with him. He's a little dog. 10 minutes of ball chasing and playing can use up a lot of energy.


> He even demands my attention by growling at me when I am watching TV or on the computer, he brings me his toys and stuff like that. I am already depressed and at the end off my rope and although this dillema may seem trivial, it is about to send me over the edge.

+++I can understand being depressed enough that this could be the last straw! Throw his toys for him a few times and then shut him in the bathroom or somewhere if you need to be alone for awhile. You might try getting him some new chewy sticks for times like that...they will keep him busy for awhile.My dog growls when he wants to play. Its a dog thing..if he's wagging his tail and has his rear end up in the air he's just trying to start a game. Don't take it personally. If he's trying to threaten you it's more of a snarl and his teeth would be showing and usually he would be trying to protect something...not get your attention. My dog will chase bubbles when I blow them with a little kids bubble wand. I think I'd just remove him from the area if you just can't play with him. But the best thing is to try and give him some short sessions of really intensive attention.

> Am I being a bad dog owner? Am I making my dog miserable, are you supposed to play with them a certain amount of times each day? I love him but my plate is full and I need to be able to just be depressed and sort things out in my head without a dog constantly looming over me.

+++No your not a bad dog owner just a depressed one :) He loves you and he's not trying to make you feel guilty or bad! I get the massive guilts about neglecting my dog when I feel bad. As a last resort could you find a dog loving kid or dogwalker or someone who could come over and take him out and tire him out playing everyday?


 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!! » Outsider

Posted by Phillipa on April 4, 2006, at 11:37:19

In reply to My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Outsider on April 3, 2006, at 23:04:08

that's the way I feel about my toy poddle he looks so sad with his head on his toys but I have so much going on negative in my life right now I don't want to play am I bad too. I know he knows I don't feel well and this makes me feel guilty too. Love Phillipa

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!

Posted by Outsider on April 4, 2006, at 13:58:35

In reply to Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!! » Outsider, posted by Phillipa on April 4, 2006, at 11:37:19

Thanks to all for your excellent advice. I had not thought of the cookie toys, I will have to see if they have ones for small dogs. It is nice to cuddle with him when I feel down, but hewants to all the time. He doesn't want me to do anything else but pay attention to him. Could it be possible that he knows I feel bad when he looks depressed and he is using it to manipulate me? I do throw balls for him at play time but he refuses to chase the balls unless I am not doing anything else but paying 100% attention to him at the same time. When I give him bones or other dog chew things he drops them at my feet and wants me to hold it for him while he chews it, he won't hold it himself. Phillipa obviously has the same feelings and situation, are we being overly sensitive?

Outsider

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!! » Outsider

Posted by special_k on April 5, 2006, at 0:16:53

In reply to Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Outsider on April 4, 2006, at 13:58:35

i think zazenduck did really well with his/her interpretation.

dogs *are* pack animals and sounds to me (now that zazenduck mentioned it) that your dog is *worried* about you and is *trying* to cheer you up.

really.

i do that a bit. go all silly tryin to cheer people up and drive them nutso oops.

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!

Posted by Outsider on April 5, 2006, at 0:35:17

In reply to Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!! » Outsider, posted by special_k on April 5, 2006, at 0:16:53

I have found a show called "The Dog Whisperer" on the discovery channel. I set up my cable box to start recording the series. Looks like it may offer good advice from a dog expert. In the mean time, I picked up 2 dog bones at the store today to try. I am thinking about the pack mentallity thing too, trying to figure out what's going on in that little puppy head!

Outsider

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!! » Outsider

Posted by Declan on April 5, 2006, at 4:32:48

In reply to My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Outsider on April 3, 2006, at 23:04:08

I'm currently looking after our 18 month old male beagle. This dog is hugely innappropriate here, and I have no idea what to do. Because he keeps jumping the fence and there are calves and sheep around he needs to be tied up a lot. But he's a nice creature and sleeps in the chair next to my bed. But yeah, sometimes he drives me crazy too. Our daughter saw one of those sniffer dogs in their cute coats at the airport, and after a few years campaign we gave in. But seriously there have been times when I have felt that this was the very last straw. Do you like cuddling up with your dog? Will he leave you alone if you do that?
Declan

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!! » Outsider

Posted by Kath on April 5, 2006, at 9:56:45

In reply to My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Outsider on April 3, 2006, at 23:04:08

Hi - I have some suggestions. I jokingly call myself "witchy" because I'm interested in visualizing, energy work, using the pendulum to choose Bach Remedys, 'muscle testing' to check which foods/supplements etc strengthen or weaken my body (or my friends' etc).

I'm going to NOT censor my suggestions!

- either out loud, or in your mind, talk to your dog. Probably in your mind is better. Listen to your intuition, but maybe things like: I love you soooo much sweetie. I'm not feeling too great these days, but I need you to know that I love you & I am OK. I need a lot of quiet times these days. I will be playing with you (then state a time, like when you get up, or when you feed the doggie, etc). I hope you're not too sad that I am not playing with you as much as you'd like. ETC. It's really important to follow your intuition & feelings if you do this. If a thought comes into your head, follow it. For example, if you're talking to him & the thought 'what if you die' comes in, reassure him about that. If the thought 'you don't like me any more' comes in, talk about that, etc.

- sounds to me like your dog could benefit from a Bach Flower Remedy. There's probably information on the internet about them. They work on the emotions.

- if you're interested, I have all the Bach Flower Remedies. Here's some witchy stuff....if you want, I can check what doggie needs using a pendulum. I'd like to know his name & what he looks like if you want me to do this. I could either send it to you (no charge & no strings attached) OR I can take it FOR your doggie. I have done this various times in the past & it seems to work!

- I don't know your financial situation, but if you can afford it, your dog might benefit from Raiki treatment.

Good luck, :-) Kath

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!

Posted by Kath on April 5, 2006, at 10:00:20

In reply to Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!! » Outsider, posted by Declan on April 5, 2006, at 4:32:48

Another though. This one might not be great; I'm not that familiar with dogs.

I'm wondering if you have any friends; relatives, etc who might have 'playtime' with your dog.

Kath

 

Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!

Posted by Outsider on April 5, 2006, at 22:09:12

In reply to Re: My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Kath on April 5, 2006, at 10:00:20

I do cuddle with my dog, and we both like it, but it doesn't help. He is insatiable. He likes any thing I do, but he wants it all of the time.

I watched another episode of "the Dog Whisperer" and I am learning more about how dogs think. I am thinking about buying his DVD "People Training for Dogs."

Tonight I gave him a fresh bone and he kept looking at me like "okay, when are you going to hold it for me so I can start chewing on it?" I am trying to be strong and I am hoping that if the bone sits there long enough he will catch on and start chewing his bone by himself. If he can do that, it would be something that he could keep himself occupied with.

I hope no one takes this wrong, I truly love my dog and care about his happiness and feelings, but I really dislike having a dog. However I would never give him away, I just couldn't do that to him.

Outsider


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