Crying Doodle for Attention

[Timothy J. Couto]

I have a 25 month old doodle, about a month ago, she started this crying bit, walking around, a cry, takes her ball sits in the kitchen, cries, she looks right at me, I know its an attention thing.  Anyone else dealing (dealt) with this, what did you do?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Your Doodle is better behaved than mine.  Murphy takes the tennis ball (or any toy) and shoves it in my lap....then he stares at me and barks.  He knows that I will ignore him until he's sitting quietly, but he tries the "intimidation tactic" anyway.  I totally agree that it's about attention.  I do think it's important that playing is on your terms and something to be earned, so I always make sure my Doods to do "something" first (usually a sit/stay). 

[Michael Gurley]

Sunny also takes a toy and shoves it in my lap, then rests her head on the toy and wiggles it until I do something. My parents just throw the toy for her, but I make her sit for it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It may not be an attention thing. Does she ever take the ball onto a bed or other piece of furniture and cry? Is she spayed?

[Timothy J. Couto]

Yes, she was spayed at like 6 months.   Yes, she sits by all (like 6) of her balls when she does the majority of her crying.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Some female dogs exhibit symptoms of false pregnancy, and it looks very much like what you're describing. I had a spayed female do this many years ago, and I cannot for the life of me remember what caused it, or what was done for it, but i did consult the vet. With her, it was a rubber squeaky toy that she was carrying around and "nesting" with in various places, crying the whole time. Came out of nowhere.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

My girl does this, but to me, she does not look like she is trying to get attention.   She carries around a stuffed brown toy and cries, whines, paces, and many times I find it buried under my pillow or she buries it in the couch.  I do NOT let Spud have this one toy. 

She started doing this a few months ago.   At first she seemed so desperate.  Now I just go along with whatever she thinks or feels she needs to do to " Hide The Baby" as I call it. 

Like Karen, it reminds me of nesting or she is trying to act like she is a mother.  I have another friend who agrees with my theory. 

I would be interested to know what the vet told you Karen, if you remember let me know when you post it here.  Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I will never remember; the dog in question went to the Bridge over 20 years ago, and even the vet she saw at the time has passed on. I just remember that he said it sounded like false pregnancy. It may have had something to do with hormones.

Your description is exactly what she was doing.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Starlit was spayed in June.  This started after that.  I may be thinking wrong, but my thoughts were:  Human children act out playing house, mothering, doll babies, superman, etc.

 

So Spud acts like Superman or John Travolta and Starlit plays house with her baby. 

 

At first I was so alarmed but now, I help her with her "baby" as I call it.  She calms down in just a few minutes. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I only mention spayed because it is less common in dogs who have been spayed. It's not a typical behavior and there's no need to "watch out" for it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sorry that you were offended at my attempt to share information and reasure you. I won't make that mistake again.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Timothy, is your girl vocal in other situations?  My girl, sings in the morning, sings when she is excited, i.e. we are pulling into the park to play...etc.   I call it singing because it is really not barking sound.  Does this make sense.  My girl does not bark much but  is vocal when excited.

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Jasmine does this every day after she eats in the morning only. She picks up a stuffed dog and walks atround the house crying, after a minute or two she stops. Can't figure it out.

She was spayed at 6 months.