Does anyone else's Sheltie do any of this?

[adellelauren]

I love Mia to death. But my goodness does she have a few things that drive me insane. She gets along with our 1 year old cat but can't stand our 11 and 6 year old cat. One second she seems ok and the next it's crazy time. She will run around just crying and barking and no matter what I do I can't get her to calm down. Once in a while she will growl and bum rush them. I don't know if this is because they want nothing to do with her and it frustrates her or what? I mean my 11 year old can be laying on the recliner and Mia will be perfectly fine but if she goes to walk by or get onto the ledge or something Mia acts out. It gives me mixed thoughts. All in all she is great with people of all ages and everything and does great out in public when meeting new dogs and so forth. But her Running around the house crying and barking like a mad woman I do not get.

 

[Calliesmom]

no cats here so sorry but no help

 

[Shelby's mom]

Shelby runs around crying and barking for no reason and we don't have cats. Sometimes I think she just hears something that we can't.

How old is Mia? Shelby's crying was non stop when she was a pup. It is much better now. She still does it when she wants something. I noticed that if I would ignor her the crying would stop. DH just couldn't ignor it so she would definitely do it more around him. I really think it was an attention thing. The barking I think is reactive.

Sorry not much help.

 

[adellelauren]

She is now 7 and half months.

 

[Meldor]

I've been meaning to look into solutions for the same problem, except that Kyara is doing it towards our parrot. We take him out of his cage and put him on a tall bird park but kyara will spin and spin around it. Lately it as been getting worse. If the bird does a different soubd or dares to fly around she rushes to the park or cage, runs like crazy and does hyeena-sounding yelps and cries.

I believe she is getting a sort of intense instinct herding pulse. Mia's trying to herd the cats out of behaviors she consider not normal or proper.

I'll look into more information and let you know what I find and what works. We've mostly just been sending Kyara in her crate and have her lie down before taking the bird in and out of the cage then wait five minutes and let her out. Whenever she seems to start building up towards an obsessive behavior we call her to her bed and have her do a down stay and treat her for remaining calm. Also, the more we let her start obsessing on it, walking faster and faster, the more it is difficult to snap her out of it. We have started to distract her at the first sign of it.

 

[adellelauren]

I've been meaning to look into solutions for the same problem, except that Kyara is doing it towards our parrot. We take him out of his cage and put him on a tall bird park but kyara will spin and spin around it. Lately it as been getting worse. If the bird does a different soubd or dares to fly around she rushes to the park or cage, runs like crazy and does hyeena-sounding yelps and cries.

I believe she is getting a sort of intense instinct herding pulse. Mia's trying to herd the cats out of behaviors she consider not normal or proper.

I'll look into more information and let you know what I find and what works. We've mostly just been sending Kyara in her crate and have her lie down before taking the bird in and out of the cage then wait five minutes and let her out. Whenever she seems to start building up towards an obsessive behavior we call her to her bed and have her do a down stay and treat her for remaining calm. Also, the more we let her start obsessing on it, walking faster and faster, the more it is difficult to snap her out of it. We have started to distract her at the first sign of it.

Awesome. Pleae keep me updated. This is the only thing we have been having issues with. I wil put her in her kennel also but she will whine in there. I don't give into though. Once she has settled down she can come out.

 

[BarbV]

Is this new behaviour or was she always like this with the cats?

The reason I ask is that I'm half way through the book "Canine Epidemic" on hypothyrodism. Shelties are in the top 25 dog at risk, and one of the early symptoms is abherrent behaviour - i.e. either super aggressive or brain farts (that's what I call Bacca's behaviour).

If this is new, then it may be worthwhile to get a complete Thyroid 5 bloodwork on her.

If not new, then you are back to training 101.

 

[adellelauren]

Is this new behaviour or was she always like this with the cats?

The reason I ask is that I'm half way through the book "Canine Epidemic" on hypothyrodism. Shelties are in the top 25 dog at risk, and one of the early symptoms is abherrent behaviour - i.e. either super aggressive or brain farts (that's what I call Bacca's behaviour).

If this is new, then it may be worthwhile to get a complete Thyroid 5 bloodwork on her.

If not new, then you are back to training 101.

When she was younger she could care less about the cats and played with our youngest. Honestly it started when she tried to play to rough with our oldest and she got smacked. She flew into my lap 100 mph. She actually has gotten better. I notice that When Britney is on the ledge, under the bed, or in a corner is when she acts like this. It's almost like she doesn't like where she is at because if Britney is laying on the recliner or bed or anything furniture wise Mia is fine.

 

[Toffee's Mom]

Try bringing out the treats, everytime the dreaded cat moves you throw a treat, I have some in my pockets lots of the time, or I mark it with a YES and then go to fridge get a piece of cheese.
This way the dog will associate all good things come from that cat's movement...

I have also done this successfully with a lot of dogs that trigger Toffee's reactivity. I don't correct just get a treat into him as soon as the other dog/cat moves. Takes a tad of patience and timing... I don't correct the dog because the last thing I want is him associating ANYTHING unpleasant with that cat or dog. I am currently working on this with our new addition the cat now known as Big Whiskey whom I just rescued from the SPCA... wish us luck

Here is Toffee with a former enemy today at a disc dog trial, just a few months ago he would have tried to snap and snarl and lunge at this happy go lucky drivey Duck Toller:

 

[Sandi'sMom]

I love Mia to death. But my goodness does she have a few things that drive me insane. She gets along with our 1 year old cat but can't stand our 11 and 6 year old cat. One second she seems ok and the next it's crazy time. She will run around just crying and barking and no matter what I do I can't get her to calm down. Once in a while she will growl and bum rush them. I don't know if this is because they want nothing to do with her and it frustrates her or what? I mean my 11 year old can be laying on the recliner and Mia will be perfectly fine but if she goes to walk by or get onto the ledge or something Mia acts out. It gives me mixed thoughts. All in all she is great with people of all ages and everything and does great out in public when meeting new dogs and so forth. But her Running around the house crying and barking like a mad woman I do not get.

No cats here either. Sorry... Why don't you talk to her veterinarian doc? S/he would give a valuable advise.