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Gracie is such a drama queen!

3K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  muffin 
#1 ·
I'm not sure if this is common in toy breeds, but Gracie does this thing where whenever she is frightened or receives an unexpected bump she starts yelping like she's in pain, and totally plays it up, too! For example, we were practicing "sit" and she likes to take a few steps backwards before she sits, so she bumped her rear into the tv stand. I think it spooked her and she yelped all the way into her crate and buried her head into her blanket. Another time, she was in her play pen and got excited to see me and was jumping up, she jumped into the wall of her pen and did the same thing. Also when she just gets scared she does it. She started squatting to take a poo on the carpet when I was laying on my back playing with my daughter, so I got up in a scramble to try to grab her before it was too late. She totally freaked. When we're on walks and making turns, sometimes I bump into her (we're still learning to walk together lol) and almost trip. I am pretty positive I didn't step on her foot or anything, but she lets out this horrible yelp, and it's quite embarrassing, actually.

I really have no idea how to go about working on this. I have never raised a hand at her, and would never dream of doing so. She just seems to play up the drama. I did accidentally step on her foot like, the first day we brought her home (I am sooo not used to such a tiny dog!) and I guess I babied her a lot, and sometimes I still do whenever she yelps like that. I don't want her to stay scared, so I give her extra attention and "Aww it's okay"s. Do you think she's doing this to get attention? She does seem honestly frightened, but the yelping is just so... out of place. Has anyone had any experience with this? I'm just not sure what to do, and how to fix this! I try to move slowly around her and get her used to these things, but there's only so much I can do. It's to the point that if I close my textbook too loudly she yelps! It absolutely breaks my heart to see her so timid, I don't know what I'm doing wrong!!
 
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#2 ·
Sometimes puppies accidentally learn something we didn't want them to. It sounds like she might have learned that if she screams, mommy will hold her close and shmooz her. I know it sucks when you think something has happened to her, especially if you step on a foot and she screams. But that is different from getting spooked and screaming all the way to her crate. If I were you (and everyone is different) I would NOT comfort her if she scares herself and runs off screaming. She needs to learn that only serious things warrant screaming. I know it will be hard, but just stay calm when she screams and don't pick her up or baby her in any way. She needs to learn to watch you when she gets scared, and if you are staying calm, she will calm back down. If my puppy gets scared, he looks at me to see how I am reacting. I anticipate this, so I project confidence and calmness, and he stands firm as a result.
Also, at this point, confidence boosters may be necessary. start out by playing and laughing and praising and then "accidentally" make a loud noise, but keep playing and laughing. If she screams or gets scared, just speak calmly to her, but remain upbeat. If she calms down quickly, praise her and keep the games going. Perhaps taking her a few new places while keeping her on a leash beside you (like a park bench) would be good so she can feel confident about unfamiliar/scary things. Lots of treats and patience!
 
#3 ·
We have had to train Ruff to stay calm in quakes. We heard or read somewhere that they take their cue from you. If you fuss them then it WAS something to be scared off after all!

We just ignored him after quakes as far as possible (not always possible in the big ones, and anyway we are all under the table together then!). He jumps up and barks, usually about 10 seconds before the quake arrives, and then looks at us. We try not to look at him and just carry on with what we are doing as soon as it is over.

Like 4paws, I suspect she has learnt good things come when you make a fuss and scream and hide. Obviously you need to check if she is hurt, but if you know she isn't, I would quietly leave the room everytime she makes a 'silly fuss', or just ignore her. Don't even look at her, even a glance!

Of course she gets lots and lots of fuss and attention when she is behaving well, thus reinforcing great behaviour ;)
 
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#4 ·
Thanks guys! I have started ignoring her silly yelps and I think it is helping. She just seems to be in some sort of a "skittish" faze. I'm not really sure what has brought this on. She also likes to dart away whenever I try to grab her, so now when we're practicing "come" she has to let me grab her collar or put my hand under her belly before she gets her treat. She's doing great, but I think it's worse when I am standing. I think maybe I did hurt her once? Or maybe my husband stepped on her foot and forgot to mention it to me? She used to be all up under my feet! Now I feel like she makes sure to stay out from under foot. She doesn't appear to be in any pain, and she's fine when I'm brushing her or giving a bath. I really don't know why she's acting like this :( She has a vet appointment tomorrow so I'll ask her to give Gracie an extra good look over, just in case! She's such a sweet girl, I hope we can work through this quickly so she can start enjoying life a little more!! Thanks again for your answers! I think I just assume she's so fragile, I don't give her enough credit LOL!

Katie, you are so brave to be able to stay calm during an earthquake! If I ever felt one, I would be the first one burying my head in her crate haha!! I'm a scaredy cat myself, so I guess Gracie is just taking after her momma! :)
 
#5 ·
My mother always used to say it was hard to tell how much of the drama was pain, and how much poodle! They certainly quickly learn to play to the gallery - and to ham it up, if it leads to more attention. Think big dog - how would you react if she were a rottweiler and you accidentally trod on her paw, or something gave her a slight surprise, and she yelped? Probably a quick check that she wasn't really hurt, and then a matter of fact suggestion she stop being such a wuss - now try the same approach with Gracie! I have two toy dogs: they both quickly learned to stay away from feet, and they certainly are much better and much happier for not being babied.
 
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