Any Ideas?

[jessykai]

Kaiser is a 4 year old GSD he has pretty much always been a well rounded balanced dog with plenty of confidence. He travels with us every where, is used to staying at different locations and settles straight away.

We moved house 4 weeks ago, all was fine up to 1 week ago. Kai has suddenly become very nervy and subdued, not yesterday he didn't even get excited when my mum cam home after two days away, not like him at all! He's taken to hiding behind furniture and 'cowering'.

He is eating, drinking, toileting etc fine and doesn't seem to be anything wrong there. I took him to the vets where they couldn't find anything wrong but have taken blood from him and I should get the results tomorrow.

The vet tried to fob me off with the fact that they are a nervy scaredy breed anyway, which even if that were true, it is not true of my dog! I know my dog and I know that there is something wrong but I do not what

Does anyone have any ideas of what it could be? today we post delivered and as soon as it was pushed through the letter box and hit the floor he ran away and hid. At first we thought he might just be unsettled, but I don't think it's that, he's used to moving around etc and this doesn't just seem to be unsettledness.

 

[MurphysMinder]

You havent had a visitor/deliveryman who has taken a kick at him or anything, which might have unnerved him. Has he been noisy when you have left him, possibly a neighbour with some sort of high pitched bark stop thing? The only other thought is that you may have a piece of electrical equipment which has become live, years ago one of my mums dogs suddenly refused to go into the kitchen, we couldn't find anything wrong but after a few days mum got a shock off the cooker. We wondered if perhaps the dog had a mild shock a few days earlier which had made her wary of going in there.
Sorry nothing really positive to offer, hopefully others might have some ideas.

 

[jessykai]

You havent had a visitor/deliveryman who has taken a kick at him or anything, which might have unnerved him. Has he been noisy when you have left him, possibly a neighbour with some sort of high pitched bark stop thing? The only other thought is that you may have a piece of electrical equipment which has become live, years ago one of my mums dogs suddenly refused to go into the kitchen, we couldn't find anything wrong but after a few days mum got a shock off the cooker. We wondered if perhaps the dog had a mild shock a few days earlier which had made her wary of going in there.
Sorry nothing really positive to offer, hopefully others might have some ideas.

He doesn't go out the front when we're not there so no delivery men or post people could have got him, and we'd have seen it happen, he only goes in the garden when we're at home and hes not left out for long by himself as he'd rather be in the house with us. He doesn't bark when left so I dont think that could be anything but worth thinking about.

The electrical stuff sounds plausible but he's not scared of any room or any thing in particular

 

[meesha]

its not "bangy" doors is it !! if we leave a door ajar or even closed and the windows are open and it bangs scrumpy is besides himself with fear - he cant understand why the door is moving when no-one is there!

other reasons could be weird smells, mice or rats making noises (poss in attic !) or you have just purchased a haunted house !

 

[jessykai]

its not "bangy" doors is it !! if we leave a door ajar or even closed and the windows are open and it bangs scrumpy is besides himself with fear - he cant understand why the door is moving when no-one is there!

other reasons could be weird smells, mice or rats making noises (poss in attic !) or you have just purchased a haunted house !

Please don't be either of those! My bed room is in the attic and I don't want ghostys either

He is jumpy at doors and bangs as well now, but he never was before

 

[jessykai]

That's him today, he just took himself of in the garden and looks so subdued

 

[JACQSZOO]

I know you said he travels well and is usually happy to stay anywhere. But this is different. It would also explain why for the first 3 weeks he was fine - he is used to going away for a few days but then has always gone home. Suddenly he hasn't gone home. He may just be unsettled. Just a thought.

 

[Littlelegs]

Anything like a new window cleaner or similar? Or anything he could be associating with a previous bad experience?
My current dog was a rescue pup whose initial start in life wasn't with the nicest home. When I moved when he was about 18 months old, to all outward appearances he was a confident settled dog but he was very clingy & unsettled the first few weeks. Even now at 9 he needs a minutes positive encouragement to get in a strange car, & on first occasions is hesitant about going in new houses. Bit of time & he's always fine.

 

[Bluepegasus2802]

I know you said he travels well and is usually happy to stay anywhere. But this is different. It would also explain why for the first 3 weeks he was fine - he is used to going away for a few days but then has always gone home. Suddenly he hasn't gone home. He may just be unsettled. Just a thought.

I was going to say the same, perhaps he's waiting to go "home".

 

[jessykai]

I know you said he travels well and is usually happy to stay anywhere. But this is different. It would also explain why for the first 3 weeks he was fine - he is used to going away for a few days but then has always gone home. Suddenly he hasn't gone home. He may just be unsettled. Just a thought.

We did think this as well, but it just seems worse than being unsettled, he genuinely appear scared and frightened at times. Hopefully though that is the case and he will settle soon enough

 

[meesha]

you say the bangy doors scare him - this is what puts our dog on edge - he is then on edge everywhere in the house until i sort the doors out - sometimes we dont even realise there is a door lightlly tapping until he comes shivering to us and trys to sit on our laps - once sorted he is back to normal.

Might also be worth seeing if there is a dog calming scent you can use in the house - i know there is a plug in thing for cats - there may be the same for dogs !

Also - can you make him a "safe" place - maybe use his cage if he has one - leaving it accessible so he can get in there if worried !