A while back, Sadie started actin weird. I assumed she was stressed from the change in her schedule, with my return to work. She’s my dog. She might be The Mister’s good puppy, but she’s my dog.
First, it was reported that she lay by the door all day, not in joy of bird and squirrel watching, but in that pathetic way dogs do when their mamas aren’t home. Lots of pitiful whining and sighing.
Then there was an increase in paw-tending. This dog is a chewer. Now, I know, you think all dogs chew on stuff, but Dog People understand. This dog is a nervous chewer. When we rescued her, she had chewed bare many spots on herself. Other dogs might enjoy a squeak toy or a rawhide, but Sadie can kill a giant-size Nylabone in under an hour. (Which is very bad for any dog and why we only did that once.) Sadie gets marrow bones, antlers, hooves — all raw, per the vet. I bought some new hooves and threw in some pig’s ears.
Still, more chewing and licking herself. I’d see her licking that left paw and I’d call her up on the sofa for a love fest.
She did not want to play ball or toys or rope. She didn’t want to chase the kitten.
Then her potty habits changed.
As Dog People know, this is a red flag. She made in the house twice that week. In the middle of the floor, unabashedly, like, “HELLO HUMAN, I HAVE POOPED HERE FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE. DO YOU SENSE MY DISTRESS?”
She did this right after she’d been taken outside.
She stopped running her perimeter and went right to the edge of the patio to pee and then immediately waited at the gate.
That is not good.
We’ve had this dog five years. She is a perimeter pooper, an excellent guard dog, protective of her land and her people, as all good bitches should be.
I took her out for a walk. I walked her all over our neighborhood. She remained leery of grass. Sadie, the scent tracker, leery of grass.
I walked her through the fallow field. She was skittish. She’d turn back to me as if I was torturing her.
We walked home.
We walked all over her yard.
We walked through her back yard.
She finally made, and I praised her like it was week one all over again.
She looked up at me and I swear she was grateful.
Although our dogs do not speak to us in our own language, she told me what happened.
Have you figured it out, Dog People?
Do you know what happened to her that she didn’t want to be in the grass?
I think Sadie stepped on a bee in the grass, got stung, and she carefully, silently tended that wound in her foot.
I kid you not, immediately after that walk, she returned to her former self. Much chasing kitten and playing toys going potty at the perimeter. I think she needed to know the grass wouldn’t bite her.
Have your pets ever told you such a sad story?
joeyfullystated 
Oooo I like doggy happy endings. ❤ I always listen to mine, he tells everything too.
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🙂
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Such a smart doggie. Sadie communicates better, with more clarity, than most politicians! Glad she’s back to her good old self.
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Whew, I thought there might not be a happy ending.
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I’m sorry about the bee but so glad all is well now.
My dog communicates with me more than most of my human acquaintances. I totally relate to this post.
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I think she was worrying her paw because of the change in schedule, and I think she developed a fear of the neighborhood and the outer edges of the yard because she knew that you started going out the door and DIDN’T COME BACK for a long time, so WHAT THE HECK IS OUT THERE? By taking her for that walk, you showed her that you had tamed the monsters and it’s now safe.
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That’s an interesting theory 🙂
Makes me wonder what the cats think…
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I suspect cats think, “Oh, goody, mom’s gone and I’m in charge – but of course, I’m ALWAYS in charge!”
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Dixie grieved when my mocha died. She didn’t eat for 3 days and whined at his blanketed body as we walked him out to bury him. She moped, and looked for him all the time. It was weeks before she was normal again. 😦
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That is a very sad story. 😦 Dixie is such a good girl.
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I’m so glad to hear that she’s back to her regular old good girl self. Maddie tries to tell us stuff all the time. Sometimes we understand. Sometimes, we’re pretty slow on the uptake.
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I think you’re right! (Although “abducted by aliens” is always fun.) Dogs are great communicators, but people don’t always listen. Yay for those who listen!
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Like the aliens sent a puppy changeling lol — oooh!
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But you are one smart doggy mama to figure that out.
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I love happy endings. Those damn bees. They rank right up there with yellow jackets.
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Sounds like you’re a real dog whisperer! Having sat on a bee hidden cleverly in the grass, I’ve learned to avoid it as well. I just realized when my cat comes up to me and meows, he doesn’t want petting – he wants me to get out of my chair and let him have it.
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I’m so glad Sadie is better. I was worried this was going to be a sad sad tale.
Good job, Doggy Mama, for figuring things out. 🙂
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When the routines change, there’s always trouble in paradise. It’s pretty easy to tell with my Jack Russell…if she’s not barking her ass off at other dogs on the street, somethin’ ain’t right. Glad to hear Sadie is back to normal.
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Lovely that, despite all the other things you have to do, you were able to get to the bottom of what was bothering her. No wonder she loves her family so much.
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🙂
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Awww, poor Sadie, to be so stressed out about grass when it was the bumble bee that caused her pain. I’m glad she got over it and is her usual doggie self again. Give her a belly rub for me, if she likes that sort of thing.
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She does, and I will 🙂
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I had to read this line twice “She finally made, and I praised her like it was week one all over again.” I get it now! I don’t have a dog so It took me a second lol. 😉
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I understand. I often feel like that on photography blogs. All those terms.
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Sadie’s gorgeous! Very happy to read life is easier for her and you.
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Oh, that face! I don’t know why but as soon as I saw those eyes “bee sting” jumped into my head. I guess that means I’m official Dog People now. 🙂 So glad Sadie’s back to her joyful self!
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You have the gift, Laura 🙂
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Sadie may be a good communicator, but you are a really good listener! I love happy endings 🙂
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🙂
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I am really pleased that you managed to work out what was wrong with Sadie, and that she is now back to her old self. You are both obviously speaking the same language 🙂
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Our pets don’t like a change in routine. Glad you found out the cause of her reluctance of going on the grass. Poor puppy getting stung. Hope she’s all better now. 🙂
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I’m glad she’s back to her old self!
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This was the sweetest mama/owner story ever! You are why she really wants to wait by the door; you “get” her dog-speak! ❤ Thanks for sharing the mystery and so glad you don't have to worry anymore! 🙂
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