New anxiety at daycare

[Lia & Pippa]

Hello all!

I have a concern/question to get some feedback on. Pippa has been going to a lovely daycare intermittently since she was about 5 months old (she is now 10.5 months). We leave her there for the day every few weeks when I need to be home sleeping all day (I work nights) and my husband is out of town. She has always loved going to daycare. She plays with the other dogs, plays in the water (they have a pool and sprinklers!), and just goes non stop. Sometimes I'll watch her on the web cam and she looks like she is having a blast.

So I took her to daycare this morning for the first time in a few weeks. Normally she jumps out of the car and bolts for the door but this morning
I had to coax her out. So I tugged her along until we got inside to lobby area. Normally she runs and greets the attendants but today she started trying to jump on me and whined. I gave the attendant her leash, said bye and headed for the door and pippa desperately tried to follow and get out the door. I thought about just taking her home but figured I shouldn't coddle her and she'd be fine once with the other dogs.

I watched her for a bit on the webcam when I got home and they had just brought the water out and she was playing some but most of the time she was out of view. I went to sleep and woke up at 11 am to the daycare calling me. They said she wasn't acting herself, was hardly playing (had only played in the water a bit early on), and seemed really anxious especially when they moved them from room to room. The manager said she really didn't seem to want to be there today. I went to pick her up and brought her home to sleep in her crate for the rest of the day.

She is eating and drinking normally, acting normally at home, following commands and even had a a playdate with her best friend tonight. I'm so baffled by her behavior today. Nothing bad has happened to her there, all of the attendants are wonderful towards her and it is a pleasant, clean environment with seemingly socialized, friendly dogs (they are all temperament tested).

Has anyone else's doodle randomly started having anxiety about something strange? Any thoughts on this? Pippa is a pretty easy going dog and I don't know what to think. Daycare is important for us to be able to use and I want her to keep loving it!

Unrelated...here is a recent picture of her sporting a winter hat!

[Julie Kelly]

Hi. I have been going through the same with Paddy and it started at around 9 months. He loves to socialize , IF I am with him. I would say he has extreme separation anxiety and was planning to call the vet this week. Paddy has been going regularly to daycare, but really doesn't want to go anymore and jumps on me as if to say "please don't leave me" and cries. He is absolutely fine if we have his friends over or I am with him at the dog park. I took him to work the other day and left him with a co-worker while I ran to the restroom. I was only gone 5 or so minutes and I returned to find out that Paddy freaked out and was crying. I've been reading up on "separation anxiety" and learning that it has nothing to do with being spoiled. Paddy is an incredibly smart and well behaved dog. I will let you know what our vet and local dog trainer suggests.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This happened to Fudge, too. She liked daycare initially and then at some point, would shake when I dropped her off and try and go home with me. I would watch her on the monitor and she would just sit in the middle of the room and not interact with the other dogs. I always felt like something happened there, although they said nothing ever did. I eventually just stopped taking her there.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

She's absolutely adorable in that hat!  Both of my Doods love Daycare and always have.  They go one full day and one half day every week.  I wonder if she's going through a fear phase right now.  I also wonder if because she only goes every few weeks may be the problem.....it's not really a part of her "routine".  I would definitely try again and try not to show any emotion as you leave her.  Good luck.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

I have read that puppies go through a second fear imprint period within that time period. Some of the things I have read fit what is happening with Pippa and Paddy. I would be interested to hear what a vet says about how to avoid it or help the pups through it. The first fear period is easy, introduce them to things before they have fear. What do you do when all of a sudden there is fear over known things? Things I have read talk about what to do when the dog shows fear, not how to avoid it. Keep posting anything you find out. Good luck.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Hi Lia ~ Our breeder gave me a 5 page document titled: "International Doodle Owners Group Doodle Development Periods.  This is a five page document that documents the different stages your puppy goes through as he grows and develops.  It is really quite informative.  I will scan it and if anyone would like a copy I can email it to you.

 

It sounds like Pippa is in the Second Fear Imprint Period (6-14 months) see below:

"Yikes! What's up with that?"

You have a puppy that is full of beans, he runs around like a clown in search of his next show.  But then, BAM, he refuses to walk down some stairs, he is shaking in the car, or he jumps at the sound of the neighbor's music.  Surprise!  This is normal, but you must help your dog figure out how to deal with his fears or concerns.  The skills of learning how to "shake it off and keep going" will be valuable to him for the rest of his life.  It will also reduce the chances that the things he fears will not be permanently imprinted for life.

What is happening:

-The puppy that was so confident will suddenly become reluctant to new things.

-This period can be subtle.

-This period can come and go several times over this entire period.

-It may appear to be unprovovked or unrelated to any specific occurrence.

-Puppy can become frustrating to owners.

What you can do:

Avoid extremes in your response (no anger or forcing or over comforting) be calm and assertive.

-Be patient and understanding.

-Well aware of surrounding and potential triggers.

-Work on desensitizing him with gradual introductions with rewards.

-Avoid reassurance and coddling (which is a reward for this behavior)

-Don't over react or correct the fearfulness-just make light of it and encourage him to deal with his fear (work through the fear).

-Praise with grand rewards for his attempts.

-Your dog will take his clues from you, if you act frightened or concerned he will too.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Riley had one day which was similar to what you describe.  The staff are wonderful and said they were just about to call me when he settled down and was fine for the rest of the day.  I think something happened the time before though nobody could put their finger on it.  I was really worried and took him back a few days later and he bounded in as normal.  

[Lia & Pippa]

Thank you all for your ideas/feedback. Pippa has not acted strange again since Monday at daycare. I'd like her to go a few days this next week so I think this afternoon I'm gonna take her by and see how she acts in the lobby/parking lot. It definitely could be a new fear stage. My husband thinks that she just didn't feel good that day (she had had some diarrhea on Sunday). I'll keep you all updated. Thanks!