Why does my dog do this?

[momof3disneyholics]

My Pug is driving me crazy. I really do think he has issues and I don't know how to help him. He is 8 months old first of all. We have had him since he was 8 weeks old.
He is VERY attached to me. He has to be where I am at all times. He has to be in the same room or he will literally stand outside the room and cry if I don't let him in. If I get up to go into another room he will run between my legs and almost trip me everytime. My Dh is home with him most of the day so he rarely has any time without a human in the house.
He also has nervous ticks. He chews himself. He chews sores into his skin all the time. He doesn't have fleas. (got rid of them thanks to the help of the DIS ) so that isn't why he's doing it. I bought some moisturizing dog shampoo thinking maybe he has dry skin, but so far that hasn't helped. He seems to do the chewing when I'm not at home. I leave plenty of things for him to chew around the house so he won't chew himself.
Last night, while we were out, he jumped onto a recliner and it looked like he scratched it until the stuffing came out. I wasn't too mad since it was an old recliner we were going to be throwing out anyway, but still he shouldn't have done that. I kept thinking what if he had done that to a good piece of furniture?
We have a poodle also that is about the same age as him and she is just fine. She doesn't do any of these things and just acts like a normal dog.
So, does anyone have any idea how to help my neurotic dog?

 

[hiwaygal]

It sounds to me like your pooch has some separation anxiety issues. You can check out this article: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/o...g_behavior_tip_sheets/separation_anxiety.html

You can probably find others as well.

For the scratching/itching/biting, you might want to make sure he has no skin allergies (talk to your vet) but it's probably a nervous habit/separation anxiety thing as well.

Do you crate train your dogs? It might especially be a good idea with this dog since most dogs learn to feel safe and comfortable in their space. It also keeps them (and your furniture) safe.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I've thought about crating. I've just been scared that he would howl and cry when I'm not home if I did that.

 

[Mellie2162]

My dog used to have what the vet would call hot spots. She would chew on certain spots until it was raw. Apparently she just got these hot spots from time to time, and I have no clue why. We would have to put one of those awful collars around her neck and then treat with a cream he gave us to calm the hot down. The older she got the less she chewed.

 

[hiwaygal]

I've thought about crating. I've just been scared that he would howl and cry when I'm not home if I did that.

He might, especially at first...

You could start by just leaving the crate in the room and maybe feeding him in there. Let him get used to the space.

Then, put him in there and close the door while you are there and he can see you.

After he seems to get used to that, leave him in there and leave the room and see how he does.

You keep doing that and making "baby steps" for him to get used to the crate. It could take several weeks but in the long run, it might be a great option for you!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I have a pug that acts the same way. He follows me everywhere (he even sits outside the shower until I get out). He doesn't do anything to the furniture, but destroys his toys. He also doesn't have fleas or skin problems, but will go crazy until DH scratches his back (near his tail). He can't go to sleep unless DH does this.

He has a bunch of other weird habits too. One is that he HAS to smell eyes. He does it to everyone that comes in the house. If you are wearing glasses, then either you need to remove them or he'll do it for you. (Luckily, everyone loves him and they find him funny).

He's six and always done these things. Nothing makes him stop. So, we just accept him the way he is.

Good luck!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

He might, especially at first...

You could start by just leaving the crate in the room and maybe feeding him in there. Let him get used to the space.

Then, put him in there and close the door while you are there and he can see you.

After he seems to get used to that, leave him in there and leave the room and see how he does.

You keep doing that and making "baby steps" for him to get used to the crate. It could take several weeks but in the long run, it might be a great option for you!

I like this advice. Thank you.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

He has a bunch of other weird habits too. One is that he HAS to smell eyes. He does it to everyone that comes in the house. If you are wearing glasses, then either you need to remove them or he'll do it for you. (Luckily, everyone loves him and they find him funny).



Good luck!

I am so glad he doesn't do this. That is a weird habit!

 

[solferino]

Our pug is very similar when it comes to following me around. He doesn't need to be attatched to me per se, but does need to be in the same room. Right now I'm on the couch and he's on the dogbed at the other side of the room. At night he sleeps on the dogbed in our bedroom. Pugs are notoriously needy, people dogs. My sister has three and they're all wanting to be with their humans.



And for a laugh, because these are so true- http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/080224.html

http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/070601.html

http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/070522.html

http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/060109.html

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Our pug is very similar when it comes to following me around. He doesn't need to be attatched to me per se, but does need to be in the same room. Right now I'm on the couch and he's on the dogbed at the other side of the room. At night he sleeps on the dogbed in our bedroom. Pugs are notoriously needy, people dogs. My sister has three and they're all wanting to be with their humans.



And for a laugh, because these are so true- http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/080224.html

http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/070601.html

http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/070522.html

http://www.sheldoncomics.com/archive/060109.html

Those are great!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I've thought about crating. I've just been scared that he would howl and cry when I'm not home if I did that.

You need to crate the dog for starters. He has torn up a couch which means he is not safe to leave out of a crate.

Secondly start using some discipline on the neurotic behaviors. When he follows you be firm and tell him to go lay down, sit, stay....do some training.

Do not allow the neurotic behaviors.

As far as the chewing, that is tough. We have a chewer on the paws.

Exercise helps. Keeping them tired helps with the pent up energy & boredom.

Do you have a treadmill or can you walk the dog daily until he drops?

 

[solferino]

Do both you and your DH work during the day? I ask because when we got our guy through the rescue they wanted to know how many hours a day the dog would be without people around... I said it earlier= pugs love their humans, and if you're gone a lot they're going to get stressed.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

No, DH is home with him all day and then the whole family is home together in the evening. There is always someone around.

 

[solferino]

No, DH is home with him all day and then the whole family is home together in the evening. There is always someone around.

He loves you best then. It's my only explanation, besides he's a pug. God's little weirdos.

 

[Dr Pepsi]

1. Check with your vet about the skin thing. He may have allergies (I had a beagle with allergies who would literally eat holes in his hide).

2. Get a book on crate training. Having a crate will actually help with the separation anxiety.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

He loves you best then. It's my only explanation, besides he's a pug. God's little weirdos.

This is so true. Pugs aren't like any dog I ever had before.

 

[solferino]

This is so true. Pugs aren't like any dog I ever had before.

I wish they did a t-shirt though.