Dachsie depression??

[twix0699]

Is it possible for dogs to get depressed? I think Twix is. She has been really weird lately. When I first brought Reeses home (about 2 months ago) the two of them played constantly. For about the past 2 to 3 weeks Twix will only lay around. She will not play and just lays on the couch with her head out flat looking around. She doesn't get up in the mornings til I make her. I just had her at the vet last week and they said she is perfectly healthy. Although I hadn't told them about her acting this way. I didn't realize it was going to last long, I guess. I will even get her and hold her and she will only let me hold her for a few minutes and then goes and lays at the end of the couch by herself. I am wondering if having a new dog could cause her to be depressed. I don't even know if dogs have depression. Am I losing my mind and trying to give my dog human attributes? Has anyone else had this happen? Everything else seems normal as far as appetite, etc. If it is a jealousy thing will I get my fun loving and playful Twix back eventually? Any help or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Watching this is breaking my heart http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/blue02.gif

Thanks for all the help you guys give

Teresa

[Mandy]

You aren't losing your mind! The fact is that for every disease that humans get, dog's can usually get the same disease or the doggy equivalent of the disease. And dogs can definitely have psychological problems.

However, it sounds to me that she is having more of a jealousy issue.

Henry was almost two when we brought Jake home. Henry even picked Jake out. We drove home and the two played all day long. Henry thought it was great - until it was time to go to bed. Then he was ready for his new little friend to go home for the night. Jake, of course, wasn't going anywhere, and that's when Henry started pouting.

He pouted and moped around for at least a week. He didn't want to play with us or with Jake. He would snuggle for a little while with us and then jump up. as if he had remembered that he was upset with us.

Then one day I walked into the living room and caught the two snuggling together. Henry immediately jumped up and away and was upset that I had caught him with his little brother. Eventually he would let me see more and more, but it took him longer to let Bart see him snuggling with Jake. I even had to take pictures to prove it.

But eventually he accepted Jake. He was always very good with Jake. Jake used to bite Henry's cheeks and hold on for rides. We would cringe, but Henry always took it in stride.

The true test was when Jake was playing with a neighbor puppy who was a month younger, but being a lab, Logger was much bigger. Henry thought Logger was being too rough and stepped in between to tell Logger to back off.

Give it some time. Give her the opportunity for one on one time. I think one on one time is important. We call it Mommy-(dog's name) time at our house. So everyday, I have Mommy-Henry time and Mommy-Jakey time. I do this with the fosters too.

Eventually she will come around. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif Sibling rivalry can be tough at first, though.

Jake had a problem the first time we had a foster dog, but then he realized that foster dogs were personal playmates for him. Honestly, Henry and Jake have helped all of our fosters out in ways that Bart and I never could, not being dachshunds.

It's hard sharing your mother when you never had to before, but before long, the two will be getting into double dachshund mischief. And believe me, they will! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif As ornery as you know one to be, it's three times worse with two...because now they can work together. There was a door that Henry couldn't open by himself, but if Henry and Jake work together, they can manage it. henry jumps up on his hind legs and pushes while Jake runs and holds the door open...and they can get into TONS of mischief together.

And we wonder how we ever lived without two booger monsters in our lives http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[twix0699]

Well, things aren't much better. Twix is so jealous of Reeses. Any time Twix is on the couch with me and Reeses jumps up, we have a small war. I try to let them fight it out on their own but I really feel that I have had Reeses since October and this problem should be getting better. Twix has definately estabilished herself as Alpha over Reeses so I don't know what the problem is. I have been spending more one on one time with Twix but that doesn't seem to change anything either. She simply will not play with me or Reeses. When I first got Reeses, they played constantly for about the first month and then things started to change. Why would she have been okay for such a long time and then started having problems with Reeses? I wonder if the bond between Twix and I is stronger than I thought. She was only 5 weeks old when I got her. Could that be part of the problem? Will scolding her make things better or worse? The only time I really say anything now is if she hurts Reeses (which seems to be more often). I know there are lots of you out there with more than one dog...Is this normal and am I being concerned about nothing? I knew it would be hard for a while but I thought after 3 months it would be better if not over.

Thanks for the help!
Teresa

[dutchman]

Have you checked with trainers or your vet to see if there is a dog behaviorist in your area? I don't really feel qualified to make a guess as to what is going on but will pose a question and comment.

Question how have you determined which dog is the alpha? What behavior did you observe to come to this judgement? Is it possible you are incorrect on your assumptions? Perhaps Twix is not the alpha and is cowering some out of fear of the retaliation that often comes from the alpha dog when it's position in the pack is not being recognized by the human members of the pack.

A good trainer or behaviorist that could observe the dogs an you together might be able to come up with some quick solutions. The dog behaviorist in our area is very expensive but offers one low cost visit with a referral from a local vet.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys

[twix0699]

I know Twix is alpha because she always eats first, she reprimands Reeses, Reeses willingly gives up any toy or bone she is playing with, and any time they fight Twix starts it and Reeses goes into a totally submissive position or cowers and tries to hide. I have thought about calling a trainer but I don't like the one my vet recommends and don't know where else to get referrals for a good one. Any suggestions?

[dutchman]

It sounds like you are correct on which dog is alpha. I only ask because I've seen too many people overlook many alpha signs in their hope that the dog they have had the longest will become the alpha.

As far as trying to locate a trainer here are a few ideas. Find out if there is a local kennel club that puts on shows. People involved in such clubs generally know what resources are available in your area. Some other possible sources of information might include a local government if their rec department offers dog classes. The local humane society may have a list of trainers in your area. The local 4-H generally offers basic dog obedience classes for kids and I'm sure they would be happy to put you in touch with their trainers who many be able to either help directly or know of more local resources. You might want to take a look at Dr. Clark's web site http://www.k9shrink.com/ perhaps she would know through some associations she belongs to of more resources in your area. If you contact her you can tell her that Tom and Tanner (the B&T dapple lh dachshund) suggested you contact her. I'm not sure if she will remember me she was selling off the general training part of her business to her associates about the time I was taking classes. I did have her for about the first half of the class and her associate for the rest of the class.

Your problems sound like the kind that someone needs to be able to observe first hand to help out. We all tend to look at situations and overlook some items that may be the keys to resolving a problem. Sometimes we don't like what we hear from an outside reference like a trainer but we have to find the guts to at least give the advice we seek a chance to work. I know I felt a little nervous trying a few of the things I was told to do with my shy aggressive boy Tanner but I have done my best to follow the advice of the trainers I worked with (co-trainers not multiple different trainers) and he has made a great deal of progress. Can I trust him 100%? No but bye the time I had him for a month I thought I could only trust him around strangers perhaps 10%. Now I feel he is about 70-80% trustworthy. I still warn people he is shy and try to keep a close eye on him to avoid potential trouble. Since Tanner was between 15 months and two years old when I got him and he had been a night deposit at a Denver area shelter before going into rescue and being considered a hard to place dog because of his shyness I'll never know if he was just naturally shy, never socialized, or abused. From what I have observed with Tanner and how he can warm up to most individuals given enough time I suspect he was just never socialized. One other thing I strongly suspect is that he had a kitty who was his best friend in his first home. He is still working on trying to convince me we need to add a kitty to our home to make it complete.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)