My dog's personality is changing and I'm afraid it's because I'm changing.

[Mike 03]

Over the past two months I've become very tense, upset, angry, anxious. I can't sleep, I'm short with people, I have a short fuse.

It seems like my dog can tell, because suddenly out of nowhere he has begun to do some new behaviors, like nervously smack his mouth and jaws, shake his head and bark. He never used to bark. Suddenly he is barking when neighborhood dogs bark and even, last week, he barked at our UPS man. He never barked at a mail carrier before in his life.

I'm worried that my negative mood/irritability is rubbing off on him. I feel awful, because he is the most affectionate, amazing, sweet dog in the world.

[Droopy]

1. Make sure he knows you still love him.

[Bertha Venation]

2. What Droopy said, also

spend time with him doing things he likes. Sounds goofy, but really.

:hug: I'm sorry, Mike.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Awww Mike, I'm sorry.

We had the toughest time with Jessie, right after everything happened. She was a mess and basically had to be retrained. I hope things smooth out for your little guy and you.

[suninvited]

4. well, stop it, then.

duh. Can't you see you are irritating the dog?

[MadMaddie]

5. Your dog is feeding off of you and he is telling you something

Even though it will be tough, even in these tough times you need to take care of yourself and find a way to relieve your stress. If you don't take care of yourself you won't be able to take care of your dog.

Maybe you and your dog go for a walk for 30 minutes to 60 min. You both will relieve some stress and it may help you sleep a little better.



:pals:

[applegrove]

6. Makes sense to me. My brother has a dog. His roomate is really easygoing and lets the

dog sleep on his bed. So the dog doesn't listen to the roommate when it comes time to listen. He only listens to my brother because my brother is the alpha male. Seems dogs are really affected by their rank or sense thereof in the pack. Your dog may be feeling the need to make his space in the pack now that you are much more aggressive.

[applegrove]

7. Makes sense to me. My brother has a dog. His roomate is really easygoing and lets the

dog sleep on his bed. So the dog doesn't listen to the roommate when it comes time to listen. He only listens to my brother because my brother is the alpha male. Seems dogs are really affected by their rank or sense thereof in the pack. Your dog may be feeling the need to make his space in the pack now that you are much more aggressive.

[kaiden]

8. Let your dog know what's going on with your dad and how it

affects you. He'll calm down.

When my mother was dying of cancer, my dad was very mean to everybody. He kept yelling at and kicking their dog, Tuffy, because Tuffy was always underfoot. My husband took Tuffy out back and sat on the patio with him for a very long time and told him what was going on. Tuffy stayed out of the way after that.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. Pop some tranks, sleep for 24 hours, then square yourself away

Your fur friends are incredibly sensitive to the moods of those around them, and they'll react accordingly. He's following your lead, and since even you know your lead is heading into a dark space it's up to you to steer a new course.

Get out of the house. Take puppy for long, long walkies. Toss a Frisbee. Play fetch with him. Sit and pet him. Talk to him. Let him know he's still important to you and he'll respond in kind.

If you can't or won't fix it then let him go to someone who can give him the love he needs.

Harsh? Perhaps. Reality? Definitely. He has emotions and feelings just like you do. :shrug:

[crimsonblue]

10. maybe you should stop beating him.

but seriously, have a drink or two and calm down. high intensity is bad for your heart.