Strange behavior by 4.5 month old puppy last night

**YoungRemy** · 06-29-2011, 10:39 AM

Last night when it was time for bed, my 4.5 month lab started acting a bit strange. Every night around 9:30-10PM he starts getting tired and usually dozes off while watching TV with us. When we head to bed, we set him up in his area for the night. His area is a nice sized enclosed hallway that has both his dog bed in one corner and his crate in another. Every night he settles on his bed and goes to sleep, from there he can see into my bedroom and vice-versa. Well last night, he would go on his bed, or lay down on it, instead he chose to sit in his crate, refusing to lay down in there either, despite my urging. I'm sure he didn't "go potty" on his bed as he hasn't had an accident since the 9-10 week mark, so i don't think that's the reason why he was avoiding the bed.

He paced in the hallway back and forth a few times, still refusing to lay down at this point I decided to let him out to see if he needed to go. That seemed to resolve the issue and he did go, the stools appeared normal, and his stomach didn't feel bloated either. Upon bringing him back in, more of the same, avoiding the dog bed and sitting up in his cage. I started googling (bad idea, I know) and became extremely nervous at this point. This may be "bad practice," but at this point, I needed to know for peace of mind that him refusing to lay down wasn't a sign of him being in pain, so I let him out into the living room to see if he would lay down on his favorite spot, the couch. He jumped up with no issue and laid down almost immediately. No wimpering, crying or anything when he laid down and looked very comfortable doing so. Test #2 was laying down on MY bed, which he also passed with flying colors. At this point I was convinced that he was just messing with me (despite NEVER acting like this before), so I put him back into his hallway and despite still staying away from the bed, he did go into the crate and laid down eventually.

I checked on him a few times throughout the night and this morning and everything seemed normal. And after my shower this morning, I even did catch him laying (although only half of his body) on the bed. This was my first, "scare" assisted by Google, but I'm not sure if I still have something to worry about at this point. I was going to call the vet this morning if he refused to lay down all night, but he did seem to get over that once I let him out of his area and after he realized he was going to be stuck there for the night. Additionally, I've never, EVER, taken him out of the crate when he was whining when he first came home (and he got past this crying stage after the first few nights), so I don't know where he would have got that idea to act strange by sitting up and refusing to lay down. Would love to hear all of your thoughts on whether I should be concerned or if I'm just being a little paranoid.

**BigBrownDog** · 06-29-2011, 10:52 AM

Which finger of his are you wrapped around?

Seriously - it sounds to me like he just had to poop. Mine always get a last bathroom break before they are done for the day. Beyond that - it just seems to me that you are a little hypervigilant and let your imagination run away. A dog with bloat is clearly in distress - it is quite hard to miss. A dog with an orthopedic problem will not go from dozing on the couch to refusing to lie down in a crate/bed. Don't worry so much!

**YoungRemy** · 06-29-2011, 10:58 AM

Thanks... I wouldn't say I'm wrapped around his finger or a pushover as I've never given into his prior crying attempts. And as far as pooping, the strange behavior continued for a while even after he came back in the house. Honestly, I think it's just a result of watching my last dog (12 yr old) start to go about this time last year. The new pup was showing what appeared to be a sign of confusion and I don't know, I just panicked. Your post makes me feel better though, thank you.

**rpost7786** · 06-29-2011, 11:30 AM

I agree with Sharon, you're worring too much. Sounds like he just had to go to the bathroom... and looking for some attention.

**Beerfish** · 06-29-2011, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by BigBrownDog

Which finger of his are you wrapped around?

Seriously - it sounds to me like he just had to poop. Mine always get a last bathroom break before they are done for the day. Beyond that - it just seems to me that you are a little hypervigilant and let your imagination run away. A dog with bloat is clearly in distress - it is quite hard to miss. A dog with an orthopedic problem will not go from dozing on the couch to refusing to lie down in a crate/bed. Don't worry so much!

That is a bizarre thing to say when the person expressly said that this was a 1st from an otherwise consistent behavior of their dog. This was not a person caving into an 8 week old puppy on night one. I'd say it's 100% normal pet owner behavior to observe a totally 100% new thing that the dog is doing and not try and find out why it is occurring.

**BigBrownDog** · 06-29-2011, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Beerfish

That is a bizarre thing to say when the person expressly said that this was a 1st from an otherwise consistent behavior of their dog. This was not a person caving into an 8 week old puppy on night one. I'd say it's 100% normal pet owner behavior to observe a totally 100% new thing that the dog is doing and not try and find out why it is occurring.

Whatever. It was intended to be humorous. Not a personal attack. I guess if I don't include the smiley face I lose some folks who are not around here much.

**YoungRemy** · 06-29-2011, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by Beerfish

That is a bizarre thing to say when the person expressly said that this was a 1st from an otherwise consistent behavior of their dog. This was not a person caving into an 8 week old puppy on night one. I'd say it's 100% normal pet owner behavior to observe a totally 100% new thing that the dog is doing and not try and find out why it is occurring.

It definitely was a new behavior and he looked confused just sitting there, almost like he was sleeping sitting up. Frankly, I was scared. I will monitor him tonight and will not be letting him out to get on the couch/bed if he pulls it again now that I know he's not in pain. : )

**Spike's Mom** · 07-01-2011, 06:42 AM

Realistically how often do you watch him all night? May be that he sits alot. He might be just moving into a different phase of sleeping and you moved him when he was more "out of it" and he just was out of kilter. Can you wash his bed? Might want to do that today

**zoesmom** · 07-01-2011, 07:30 PM

What's in his crate? Just the plastic liner?
I'm wondering if he feels cooler in the crate, on the plastic, rather than on his bed.

Zoe will has 2 beds in our bedroom, and sometimes I find her on the cooler one (the one closer to the air con vent). Sometimes she is on the floor where the air flows.

When she was a pup, she would act distressed in her crate. We put ceramic tiles in her crate which is much cooler, and it helped; HOWEVER, it is not good for joints, so we installed air con splits in the house....for.her.

Hope your pup is doing better.

**YoungRemy** · 07-06-2011, 09:23 AM

Only thing in the crate is the plastic liner and a piece of a blanket that he hasn't pushed underneath the divider. You could be right about the heat idea, he seems to be back to normal, he's starting the night off laying in his crate (out of my view) and by morning time he's on his bed looking at me patiently waiting for me to get up. It's definitely the best thing to wake up to. : )