The Case of the Crazy Corgi
Marion Pellicano Ambrose
If you’ve ever had a Corgi, you know that they have teeny, tiny legs and a BIG, BIG heart! Our Dudley is no exception. He’s fiercely loyal and adores my husband and me. He loves to play fetch with his squeaky raccoon and adores having his belly rubbed. Sounds like a pretty normal, happy go lucky, little pup, wouldn’t you say?
Dudley always got along with our other dogs, and even our cat, Piper (RIP). He and our Sheltie, Gracie would run around the yard, snuggle and even eat from the same bowl, at the same time! Life was beautiful. One of Dudley’s favorite occurrences was when Grandma came to visit. He’d follow her around, lay on her feet and eat up all the granmotherly love she showered on him. Then, out of the blue it happened. Dudley turned into the crazy Corgi!
It started with him growling and snapping at the other dogs, even Gracie. Then it progressed to him actually attacking our little Chippy (who looks just like ToTo in the Wizard of Oz, only smaller). One attack was so brutal that I was bitten and bleeding by the time I got her poor little neck free of his jaws. These attacks got worse and worse and extended to all 3 dogs. It was insane. We had to keep Dudley separate from the others and for a while, that was enough.
A while later, Dudley began to growl and bare his teeth at company. He had always been so friendly and sweet, we didn’t know what to make of it. The vet prescribed doggie valium and we hoped life would go back to normal (or as normal as it gets at our house!). No such luck. Dudley started going for anyone who came in the house. One fateful day the situation peaked, Grandma reached down to scratch his belly and he bit her, drawing blood. His best buddy and biggest fan was now afraid of him.
Lately, Dudley has taken to rolling and scratching. He makes the weirdest moans and snorts as he rolls. He’s had his bath, his Frontline, his heartworm pills and all his shots, but still does what my daughter calls “The Truffle Shuffle”. He’s so chubby that he can’t reach his own back or side so he dances around in circles, trying to scratch. He jumps up to sleep on the fireplace, which he never did before. He doesn’t want to go out in the back yard to chase squirrels anymore, but begs to walk to the mailbox with me every day. It’s like he’s possessed! (Maybe I should be writing this for Paranormal Pub!)
We’ve taken him to the vet, put him on a strict diet and sedatives, given him baths in flea shampoo, special oatmeal soaks, changed his pillows and toys and still, he’s the neurotic, growling, biting, truffle shuffling little Corgi! Thank God he’s still loving and gentle with me and my husband, but I fear that our days are numbered.
So what do we do? Any doggie psychiatrists or dog whisperers out there? (We wrote to Caesar, TV dog whisperer, but so far, no answer,) We’re open to any suggestions or recommendations. Dudley has always been such a fun loving, happy little guy. I hate to see him so nervous and uncomfortable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Sounds like he's surrounded by females! That would be enough for any male to go insane!
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like He's surrounded by love! He just may be the nervous type. Maybe instead of sedatives he needs anti anxiety meds! (And I know who you are Anonymous!)
ReplyDeleteHas Dudley been tested for low thyroid? It can make dogs gain a lot of weight.
ReplyDeleteIf he is uncomfortable, he could be snappy-he seems to be seeking out the cool stone of the fireplace.
With the horses, we always rule out physical problems and then go to behavior correction.
It sounds like you need a way to firmly correct aggression and dominance. Dudley can't bite people or other dogs. I'm not sure how you address it in dogs. With horses, if they start nipping, it's the only time you go full out smacking them, so they know it's the last thing they will ever choose to do with people.
But dogs are different- it would create fear and not respect.
Is there anything on the internet? What about Caesar's books?
I love Corgis!!!! Dudley is such a cute name! I agreewith Nina, it sounds like a physical problem.Maybe allerges? That can make him grouchy and snippy. (By the way, lol Anonymous!)
ReplyDeleteThere is a very rare conditions in cats called Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome, which is a result from nerve damage usually associated with spinal injury. I don't know if there is a similar conditions for dogs, however the behavior is frighteningly similar. My Chiquitita was diagnosed with this after suffering brain damage due to a parasite in her brain. For many cats it is misdiagnosed as being "fear aggressive". It might be worth asking your vet. For my sweet Chiqui the "episodes" always ended in seizures (very extreme case due to the brain damage), however a drug for anti-seizure and nerve pain has given my the sweetest, most playful 15 year old cat you ever want to meet, when just 2 months she gave me that look that all pet owners dread, the "I'm ready now" look... good luck, we are "purring" for Dudley!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'll check these things out with our vet!
ReplyDeleteI did some checking and there does not seem to be an doggie equivalent to FHS, however if you can have a veterinary ophthalmologist take a look at his eyes I recommend doing so, that is what saved my Chiquitita's life.
ReplyDeletelol, he is such a crazy corgi. Him and dad go well together =P
ReplyDelete