any thoughts on this behavior?

Kenshi

Tomoe usually loves bully sticks, and rawhide pieces. Up until a week ago, you could give her one in the evening and she would very enthusiastically take it, go either to her mat near the door or her pillow and just attack it with gusto and much relish.

So as of this weekend, what happens is this: I pull out one of these treats, she immediately perks up and takes it. Then she starts whining and pacing around. She will sit down on her mat or pillow but rather than chewing the treat, she will whimper a bit, then get up and pace around, and eventually leave it and do something else.

One other thing she will do is, she will take the treat to her pillow, start whining, and then she will begin rubbing the top of her nose along the pillow. I threw out the first treats she did this with and this is with two distinctly different brands and types of treat so I don't think there is something noxious on the treat that is irritating her.

Now aside from the fact that she looks really cute with a bully stick hanging out of the side of her mouth like a cigar, I am concerned about what's going on. She is healthy, and I opened her mouth and gently pressed on all of her teeth and checked her out to make sure she doesn't have some kind of pain when chewing, she seems okay.

Any ideas?

Calia

Tetsu does this all the time when we give him treats bigger than the size of a Quarter. He paces and whines, and I have no idea why he does it. But what I found helps is to either break the treat into smaller pieces or hold the treat for him and kind of play tug with it.

StaticNfuzz

Some dogs will pace and whine if they have a desire to hide a treat, but if she normally chews and has stopped doing so I would look at dental.

I would have her teeth checked to be sure. Hairline fractures can not often be easily seen with the naked eye. Even if you push on the teeth you can not apply the specific tweak or pressure point that is causing the issue down in the nerve. This requires a special dental tool while the gum in numb. It is very common for the third molar at the top or bottom to get some damage if you have a big chewer even in a very healthy pet. The enamel in dogs is the same as or less than a human even though the have more jaw pressure pound for pound. If there is a problem at this early stage you most likely would be able to save the tooth. If you are not local I would contact the dental center and I am sure they can put you in touch with a facility near you.

http://www.animaldentalcenter.com/
http://www.avds-online.org/resources.html#archives


Snf

WrylyBrindle

I was going to say pain in her mouth, b/c she wants the treat but when it comes to actually doing the chewing she is frustrated. Not teething any molars?
I often hold treats for my dogs to chew- greenies and long-term things like that. They like the together-thing sometimes, but they don't get upset about it.
?? hmm. poor Tomoe.

xremii

Jada was notorious for doing this. She would take the treat, walk around and whine her butt off looking for a place to hide. Then if she did find one, she would use her nose to "push the dirt" and hide it.

tjbart17

You actually have some great advice above. How old is Kenshi now? Koda did this when he started getting his back molars, or I should say while they were still coming in.

Maymay does it when I close her crate accidentally and she can't go hide her treat where she wants.

shishiinu

Both Riki and Taro as a puppy would immediately take a treat and eat it. About the time they reached 8 months or so, they would take it drop it, pick it up and leave it. They seriously now will not take a treat unless the other dogs are eating one also.

Really funny but for some reason all my Kishu except Yuki did this. Yuki is still a little oinker and eat whatever is handed to her.