Keeping the psycho in check

[brandon]

Ok, I am one day into Bava's recovery at home, 1 day!  I stayed home from work to be with him, and he has been a super good dog all day... Until tonight.  He's acting pissy toward the cats for some reason.  I take him outside on leash to piddle, he does his business, meanders and then lays down.  We've been through this many times before, usually if I can manage to get my hands under him and get him on his feet I can lead him back in.  That is unless he pulls a crazy-legs move on me.  He rolls on his back kicks his feet, and mouths, I usually take a paw to the face but I can usually man-handle him enough to get him back up and going.

Here's the problem, He's hurt, I can't do that, I can't let him jump around, etc. And usually me getting him up when he is crazy like this he takes as an invitation to be crazy and have the zoomies.   I'm trying to be really really careful of that leg he just had surgery on, on Monday.  So I sit down in front of him and turn my back to wait him out.  I find a stick and act like I am playing with it.  15-20 minutes later he gets up and bounces... Arrrrgh, no. I grab him by his collar, but his disposition seems "stiff" like he could unwind like a spring at any minute and start running circles around me w/ the zoomies, etc... And kinda agressive , it's like he has chosen this time of all times to test boundaries. 
I lead him back into his crate and he looks kinda pissed, which is really odd, I don't recall him ever acting pissed.  I give him a bully stick which he refuses, thats VERY odd.  He has never not wanted a bully stick. 

I don't know if this is because he is feeling better, or if it is because he doesn't feel good, or if it is some side effect of some of the medicine he's on.  One thing I do know is I can not man-handle my hurt little man right now to get him to do what is good for him. 

Any ideas? This is weird. I think this could be a very long 3-4 weeks.

[chaos270]

Do regular treats work on him?  They may help you get him up, or if you lay flat out on the ground ten ft away and don't move...Kali gets concerned and comes to see if you're ok (but we mainly use that method when she forgets her name).  What about a Kong stuffed with goodies in his crate to help with the boredom?

[brandon]

He got lots of new toys and a new kind of bone looking kong today stuffed with goodies, he worked on that thing for a long time. We spent way too much on bava toys this weekend
I unfortunately did not have any treats on me when this happened earlier, it was me and him outside.  I was stuck!   I know bad parent for not always having a pocket full of kibble, but I just figured it would be our usualy quick pee and poop in the bushes and back in.

[DixieSugarBear]

Oh, this is going to be a long three weeks for you.  I am sure he will be back to "Your Bava" in no time.  Let me know if you need some of that Solid Gold Pet Calm . 

Lisa

[greek4]

Maybe he thinks he is being punished.

[Mom2Sadie]

Ok, I am one day into Bava's recovery at home, 1 day!�  I stayed home from work to be with him, and he has been a super good dog all day... Until tonight.�  He's acting pissy toward the cats for some reason.�  I take him outside on leash to piddle, he does his business, meanders and then lays down.�  We've been through this many times before, usually if I can manage to get my hands under him and get him on his feet I can lead him back in.�  That is unless he pulls a crazy-legs move on me.�  He rolls on his back kicks his feet, and mouths, I usually take a paw to the face but I can usually man-handle him enough to get him back up and going.

Here's the problem, He's hurt, I can't do that, I can't let him jump around, etc. And usually me getting him up when he is crazy like this he takes as an invitation to be crazy and have the zoomies.�  � I'm trying to be really really careful of that leg he just had surgery on, on Monday.�  So I sit down in front of him and turn my back to wait him out.�  I find a stick and act like I am playing with it.�  15-20 minutes later he gets up and bounces... Arrrrgh, no. I grab him by his collar, but his disposition seems "stiff" like he could unwind like a spring at any minute and start running circles around me w/ the zoomies, etc... And kinda agressive , it's like he has chosen this time of all times to test boundaries.� 
I lead him back into his crate and he looks kinda pissed, which is really odd, I don't recall him ever acting pissed.�  I give him a bully stick which he refuses, thats VERY odd.�  He has never not wanted a bully stick.� 

I don't know if this is because he is feeling better, or if it is because he doesn't feel good, or if it is some side effect of some of the medicine he's on.�  One thing I do know is I can not man-handle my hurt little man right now to get him to do what is good for him.� 

Any ideas? This is weird. I think this could be a very long 3-4 weeks.

Awwww poor you! I know how stressful it is trying to keep them quiet when they DON'T want to. My Golden had TPLO surgery and he did the same thing. He was totally out of it the first day he was home and we were like, this is easy! Till the next day when he felt better. What worked really well for us was using treats to get him to heel when we took him out to potty. Helped us to get him to move slowly. It's probably just that his leg has been sore for awhile and all of a sudden it probably feels a million times better. Treats will probably help alot.

Don't worry too much about him acting pissy. He's probably just all out of whack from the week he's had. He'll be back to himself in no time.

[brandon]

I got to thinking about this more last night, and I am pretty sure that it is a case of him being a teenager who is pouting or mad because he is not getting his way, so he was miffed.
"I want to play!! Why can't I play?? You never let me play! I hate you.." etc , just like a human kid.  Maybe I am reading too much into it, but thats what it seemed like looking back.

Well at least he is in good spirits

[newflvr]

Have you tried using a towel as under his belly to control him when you take him out?  When Otis had his hip replacement surgery, I had to do that for a month before he was allowed full weight on his rear end.  Most vets have towels with handles sewn on both ends so it makes a sling.  If he lies down with the the sling, at least you have a way to attempt to get him back on his feet...

I totally understand trying to manage this....it is SOOO hard.  A big HUGE marrow bone could keep him occupied for a long time!

[newflvr]

I think it's great that he's feeling SOO good!  Even though it's a pain in the patooties to control him, this is the happy kind of p.i.t.p!!!

[newflvr]

Nope....but it sounds good!!

[Mom2Sadie]

Anyone ever hear of this???

Yes, but only the kitty version. I've used it MANY times. Whenever anyone has had surgery (which has been a lot around here lately) and when I introduced Maggie to Gus and Sadie to both kitties. I don't know why it works, but it really did for us. They handled everything like superstars. Nobody ever hissed at a newcomer and everyone was really calm and relaxed. The only time I found it didn't work was this last time Gus had surgery. Maggie was so beside herself that I could have dunked her in the stuff and it wouldn't have made a difference. Don't know how the doggie one works, but the kitty stuff has been a blessing for me and my kids.

[DixieSugarBear]

That looks great, I may have to try one out. 

Lisa

[brandon]

Do they have a human version I could strategically place around the office?

[jabear]

Poor Bava. If it makes you feel any better, when Bear wants to be a brat he does the fake "I have to drink water" act and then proceeds to lay down outside as quickly as he can. Once down if you try to move him he rolls on his side and acts dead. Moving his 155 lb. body is not an option so I tell him he's a bad boy and in a few minutes he is inside. I should mention though, that once he enters the inside he throws his body to the ground refuses to look at anyone. Attitude- yes! Drama king- yes! Funny- yes!  Good luck with Bava. I hope things work out with him once he realizes that you are just trying to keep him safe.

[Fumble]

when fumble used to do that i would let go of his leash and walk back in the house and say "bye, maybe i'll see ya later" or something that effect (i did it so much that i had to change it up) and then he would come after, for fear of being outside alone.  now he got used to that and then would look at me like "i know what you're doing" so i eventually had to peek out the window so he couldn't see me and shut the door! 
good luck though! and i hope that bava feels better! fumble sends a slurp!