L.H. asks from New Alexandria, PA on June 04, 2009
Dog Acting Strangely
We have a four year old Bichon Frise. She is not fixed. She has never had any puppies. The past day she has been acting weird. She has been picking up my kid's stuffed animals in her mouth and carrying them to her kennel. It's actually a cat carrier that she has appropriated. She puts them in the back of the carrier and sits in front of them. She doesn't chew on them. If we take them away she walks around whining and looking for them. I don't want her playing with the kids toys. She has her own toys and stuffed animal. She sits with it, but wants more to put in her kennel.
She is not in heat, and hasn't been around any male dogs, as far as I know. Though we were gone for four days and had neighbors that came in and fed and walked her while we were gone. I suppose it's possible there were male dogs around, something happened and our neighbors just didn't tell us. She couldn't get pregnant if she hasn't been in heat could she?
I really don't want to take her to the vet if it isn't serious. Is there a pet hot line or internet site I could consult? Has anyone else had this experience?
Added note: Our dog isn't spayed yet because we plan on breeding her. Just hasn't been the right time for us yet.
So What Happened?™
I've done a little more research on this on the internet, and it seems she is having a false pregnancy or it could be nesting. I am going to talk to the vet about it at her next appointment. The information I've seen online indicates it can happen whether the dog is spayed or not. I would like
to get her fixed, but my husband doesn't. So we will have to discuss it some more. Thanks for your responses.
More Answers
J.S. answers from Allentown on June 05, 2009
Could be what I believe they call a false pregnancy. They carry stuffed animals around with them and treat them likes puppies. I can't understand why your dog is not fixed? With all we know today, we don't need any more dogs. There are plenty of unwanted dogs out there. Please spay your dog. There are plenty of low cost spay/neuter places out there.
1 mom found this helpful
P.R. answers from Reading on June 05, 2009
My brother's husky was the same way. She would take stuffed animals from a bed and take it to where she slept. After awhile she did the same with various other objects and even food. None of the items were chewed on or harmed in any way, even the food. We thought it was the maternal instinct of the dog, since she had only one litter late in her life and those puppies were given away. She did this before and after she had the pups. I'm going with she's hinting that she wants pups.
D.P. answers from Pittsburgh on June 04, 2009
I had a spayed Husky who used to take odd objects from around the house (a dish towel, a slipper, etc.) and put them under a bed in a pile. The vet said she was "nesting". Just a maternal instinct not stopped by the spay. The toys are probably just her imaginary babies!
D.W. answers from Philadelphia on June 05, 2009
If you are that worried take her to the vet to make sure she is not pregnant. She could be jealous and want attention that is why she is taking the toys or may be her maternal instinct has kicked in. May be it is time to breed her. good luck
H.P. answers from Pittsburgh on June 05, 2009
Do you know when the last time she was in heat? Maybe she is going to go into heat soon, (but I imagine that since shes 4 that you know what she is like around that time). Really the only way to know if she is pregnant is to take her to the vet, and the symptoms of pregnancy are pretty much the same as for us! Tired, growing belly, etc. They don't stay pregnant for long, so if you don't take her to the vet you'll find out soon enough! But given what you've said Id say that the chances are pretty slim. My dog did things like that when she was nesting, but that was towards the end of pregnancy so I think you would know if she was pregnant by now. Good luck!
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