Childhood (Doghood) Boogie Man???? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

TOY · 09-09-2009, 04:25 AM

We are having an unusual problem (unusual in the sense that I've never read about it here) with Taffy at night ... generally while we are watching tv. It bothers both my husband and me because we cannot stand to see her "scared"...or at least it appears to us that she is scared.

At first I thought she might be reacting to the surround sound of the tv because the realistic sound even catches me off guard at times but she's generally looking away from the tv more at the windows at the back of the house or into the eating area. (The house plan is all open except for the bedrooms so all of these areas I'm mentioning are within our eyesight.)

She will do this low growl and stance as if she is warning us of something but we cannot seem to discover what it is that she is protecting us from! (She never does get into a full bark just the growl and her "at attention" stance.) We've turned every light imaginable on trying to dispel any shadows that might appear scary to her but to no avail. We've walked over to where she faces when growling both alone and with her in our arms to no avail.

It is freaking us out because it's happening too frequently. Granted she is extremely smart and no matter how engrossed in a tv program we might be, when she starts her routine, she has our complete and full attention. Is it possible she's this good an actress? (Were we in the country house we once had, it might be a mouse but we don't have any tiny critters here...literally none.)

Also, this is a new house (built 2002) and we are the first owners so don't anyone start throwing out ghost stories or you'll have me spooked, too!

We are completely at a loss of figuring this out but we don't like the thought of her being scared in her own home. We keep asking her what it is, encouraging her to show us, telling her there's nothing there, etc. and comforting her but it's still happening. (By the way, my theory of the surround sound is moot since we watch different shows on different nights but she does seem to respond to "doom and gloom pre-warning" music in movies of intrigue...even in broad daylight.)

Does anyone have any experience with this or any clues? (She really is smart and we really do give her our full attention when this happens but if this is just a play for our attention, we need to get her to Hollywood because she's a better actress than most!)

It upsets us to see her the least bit scared because at all other times she is such a confident, happy-go-lucky, party hardy type gal...except for this time period at night. (Also, in case this is a factor...this is not a behavior to postpone her bedtime.)

Any advice or suggestions to vaporizing her boogie man wil be appreciated!

rbelland · 09-09-2009, 04:36 AM

Well I am not for sure but she is trying to tell you something. My daughter recently started playing the violin. Harley was growling at it for days until it he got used to it being there. Have you bought something new that is near the area she is growling at?

TOY · 09-09-2009, 04:49 AM

LOL...just the opposite but maybe that's what's rocked her world.

I've cleaned out a lot of stacked boxes (pure collected clutter) that had been waiting for attention for quite awhile. Perhaps it's just the openness of that area now that's causing her some anxiety.

Hmmmm...if that's the case, that's a good reason to quit the cleaning...LOL

I hadn't thought of that but it could be because I have changed that part of her environment. Strangely enough though, while I had those boxes there, I had that area fenced off. Now she's free to roam in that area and seems to enjoy going over there during the daytime.

I have quite a few boxes stacked throughout the house from things I bought from Mother's after she died. I wonder if this is going to cause her stress as I unpack and remove boxes. Here I thought I was finally moving on with my life by beginning to sort through things but perhaps it is stressing Taffy.

rbelland · 09-09-2009, 04:50 AM

I guess I should clarify.............The violin sits on the floor by the kitchen table when she is not playing. Harley would look at it and back up like he was not for sure what it was!!

rbelland · 09-09-2009, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOY

LOL...just the opposite but maybe that's what's rocked her world.

I've cleaned out a lot of stacked boxes (pure collected clutter) that had been waiting for attention for quite awhile. Perhaps it's just the openness of that area now that's causing her some anxiety.

Hmmmm...if that's the case, that's a good reason to quit the cleaning...LOL

I hadn't thought of that but it could be because I have changed that part of her environment. Strangely enough though, while I had those boxes there, I had that area fenced off. Now she's free to roam in that area and seems to enjoy going over there during the daytime.

I have quite a few boxes stacked throughout the house from things I bought from Mother's after she died. I wonder if this is going to cause her stress as I unpack and remove boxes. Here I thought I was finally moving on with my life by beginning to sort through things but perhaps it is stressing Taffy.

I think eventually Taffy will get used to the area!! I guess you better get busy and get it all cleaned up!!!!! LOL!!!!

I am sorry to hear about your mother, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

jeanm1963 · 09-09-2009, 05:00 AM

LOL, I dont mean to laugh but Laci does this sometimes too, my daughters are convinced we have a ghost because honestly I swear she see's something that we dont... I do the same thing, turn on lights, walk around, open the doors to see if maybe something is outside that only she can hear, its never anything.. One night her head and eyes appeared to be following an object, well and invisible one anyways

,... I have a huge TV , I wonder sometimes if it is the reflection in the windows, I pull the curtains and she still does that growl and gets in this crazy stance, sometimes she will even up and jump on my lap and get in that stance and do a very low pitched growl and a few little muffled barks... so if you figure it out , let me know.. otherwise , I guess I have a ghost

TOY · 09-09-2009, 05:11 AM

Thank you for your thoughts. Actually Mother died a couple of years ago but I am just now starting to emerge from the depression her death caused. She would be so irritated at my lack of action but I'm the only member of my family left and it just knocked my socks off.

I do better understand now that grief is a process. I just didn't make it through the stages as quickly this time probably because I had just retired and had nothing to "return" to. (We never had children so no grandchildren, etc. and I was one of those whose job was my life. I don't regret retiring because I was able to be Mother's caregiver.)

However, getting Taffy has made all the difference! I would never have imagined that having a pet could make this much difference. She made me get out of bed and live again. When I say she brought laughter back into our home, I am not exaggerating at all.

That's why I hate to see her upset over anything...well, almost anything... I cannot help that she prefers paper fast food napkins to her toys. I have to upset her by taking those away...LOL...otherwise I might lose what little sanity I have left. I still am amazed at the number of miniscule pieces she can shred them into.

TOY · 09-09-2009, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

LOL, I dont mean to laugh but Laci does this sometimes too, my daughters are convinced we have a ghost because honestly I swear she see's something that we dont... I do the same thing, turn on lights, walk around, open the doors to see if maybe something is outside that only she can hear, its never anything.. One night her head and eyes appeared to be following an object, well and invisible one anyways

,... I have a huge TV , I wonder sometimes if it is the reflection in the windows, I pull the curtains and she still does that growl and gets in this crazy stance, sometimes she will even up and jump on my lap and get in that stance and do a very low pitched growl and a few little muffled barks... so if you figure it out , let me know.. otherwise , I guess I have a ghost

Oh my gosh, you described it perfectly! Taffy jumps in my lap or straddles my legs with that stance and growl. (It freezes me in position because I don't want a sudden movement to make her think she should "attack"...LOL... I laugh but it is kind of scary because she is so intent and focused on whatever it is.)

Well, at least I think I can dispel the thought that she's doing this for attention since yours does it, too. I had entertained that thought that she was doing it for attention but it seemed too realistic for that to be the case.

We have plantation shutters on all our windows but my husband has commented that he thinks she sees a reflection of light in the glass. I need to try closing them...don't think I've tried that yet.

I just don't want her to be scared in her own home. She does seem to forget it eventually though and return to her play. However, she does run to me when this happens. I'm just not smart enough to understand if she's protecting me or if I'm protecting her!

rbelland · 09-09-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOY

Thank you for your thoughts. Actually Mother died a couple of years ago but I am just now starting to emerge from the depression her death caused. She would be so irritated at my lack of action but I'm the only member of my family left and it just knocked my socks off.

I do better understand now that grief is a process. I just didn't make it through the stages as quickly this time probably because I had just retired and had nothing to "return" to. (We never had children so no grandchildren, etc. and I was one of those whose job was my life. I don't regret retiring because I was able to be Mother's caregiver.)

However, getting Taffy has made all the difference! I would never have imagined that having a pet could make this much difference. She made me get out of bed and live again. When I say she brought laughter back into our home, I am not exaggerating at all.

That's why I hate to see her upset over anything...well, almost anything... I cannot help that she prefers paper fast food napkins to her toys. I have to upset her by taking those away...LOL...otherwise I might lose what little sanity I have left. I still am amazed at the number of miniscule pieces she can shred them into.

I am currently taking care of my father in law full time and I would not have it any other way!

It is amazing what these little furrkids can do to make your day! I have 3 ad each one of them has the most wonderfull personality and makes me sooo happy!! So I can understand how Taffy could make a difference in your life

!

I hope you and Taffy together can figure out who her boogie man is!!!

jeanm1963 · 09-09-2009, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOY

Oh my gosh, you described it perfectly! Taffy jumps in my lap or straddles my legs with that stance and growl. (It freezes me in position because I don't want a sudden movement to make her think she should "attack"...LOL... I laugh but it is kind of scary because she is so intent and focused on whatever it is.)

Well, at least I think I can dispel the thought that she's doing this for attention since yours does it, too. I had entertained that thought that she was doing it for attention but it seemed too realistic for that to be the case.

We have plantation shutters on all our windows but my husband has commented that he thinks she sees a reflection of light in the glass. I need to try closing them...don't think I've tried that yet.

I just don't want her to be scared in her own home. She does seem to forget it eventually though and return to her play. However, she does run to me when this happens. I'm just not smart enough to understand if she's protecting me or if I'm protecting her!

Well I dont want you to laugh but Laci did this one night at about 2 in the morning, I fell asleep on the couch, I did have the TV on, I was so scared I used my cellphone to call my daughter (21) she was upstairs in her bedroom...I made her come downstairs , honestly when she does this It FREAKS me out... it actually freaks us all out, my daughters are 25,21 and 13 we usually are like you watching TV and she is all snuggled up , then all of a sudden , her head perks up, she gets in that stance and does that growling thing.. and your right she does seem scared!!
On another note, I am very sorry at the loss of your mom , I am very happy That Taffy has brought joy and laughter back to your life...

sugarmamma · 09-09-2009, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

Well I dont want you to laugh but Laci did this one night at about 2 in the morning, I fell asleep on the couch, I did have the TV on, I was so scared I used my cellphone to call my daughter (21) she was upstairs in her bedroom...I made her come downstairs , honestly when she does this It FREAKS me out... it actually freaks us all out, my daughters are 25,21 and 13 we usually are like you watching TV and she is all snuggled up , then all of a sudden , her head perks up, she gets in that stance and does that growling thing.. and your right she does seem scared!!
On another note, I am very sorry at the loss of your mom , I am very happy That Taffy has brought joy and laughter back to your life...

You said your HOUSE is new/first owner.....but is your LAND ???

rilysmom · 09-09-2009, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOY

That's why I hate to see her upset over anything...well, almost anything... I cannot help that she prefers paper fast food napkins to her toys. I have to upset her by taking those away...LOL...otherwise I might lose what little sanity I have left. I still am amazed at the number of miniscule pieces she can shred them into.

Oh TOY, I so enjoy your threads!!! Rily does these things too. He will bark and growl at absolutely NOTHING!!!

And paper...well, let's just say "I feel your pain."

Have fun on your trip!

tortoisekeeper · 09-09-2009, 06:19 AM

Just a thought but could it be a cars headlight that passes the window and is gone before you can see it?

rilysmom · 09-09-2009, 06:24 AM

Plus, they can hear so much more (better) than we can.

Weneebug · 09-09-2009, 06:27 AM

Harley has started doing this as well recently. He starts barking and I can't get him to calm down. I thought maybe he was seeing shadows in the windows or seeing his reflection. I don't know but it spooks me out. The other day he was on my bed and something spooked him...he took off running and would not get back up on the bed. We've only been in our house a year now and it was brand new when we bought it so I don't think we should have any ghosts. It's spooky when they act like that though.

09-09-2009, 04:25 AM	#1
TOY Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,094 Blog Entries: 4	Childhood (Doghood) Boogie Man???? We are having an unusual problem (unusual in the sense that I've never read about it here) with Taffy at night ... generally while we are watching tv. It bothers both my husband and me because we cannot stand to see her "scared"...or at least it appears to us that she is scared. At first I thought she might be reacting to the surround sound of the tv because the realistic sound even catches me off guard at times but she's generally looking away from the tv more at the windows at the back of the house or into the eating area. (The house plan is all open except for the bedrooms so all of these areas I'm mentioning are within our eyesight.) She will do this low growl and stance as if she is warning us of something but we cannot seem to discover what it is that she is protecting us from! (She never does get into a full bark just the growl and her "at attention" stance.) We've turned every light imaginable on trying to dispel any shadows that might appear scary to her but to no avail. We've walked over to where she faces when growling both alone and with her in our arms to no avail. It is freaking us out because it's happening too frequently. Granted she is extremely smart and no matter how engrossed in a tv program we might be, when she starts her routine, she has our complete and full attention. Is it possible she's this good an actress? (Were we in the country house we once had, it might be a mouse but we don't have any tiny critters here...literally none.) Also, this is a new house (built 2002) and we are the first owners so don't anyone start throwing out ghost stories or you'll have me spooked, too! We are completely at a loss of figuring this out but we don't like the thought of her being scared in her own home. We keep asking her what it is, encouraging her to show us, telling her there's nothing there, etc. and comforting her but it's still happening. (By the way, my theory of the surround sound is moot since we watch different shows on different nights but she does seem to respond to "doom and gloom pre-warning" music in movies of intrigue...even in broad daylight.) Does anyone have any experience with this or any clues? (She really is smart and we really do give her our full attention when this happens but if this is just a play for our attention, we need to get her to Hollywood because she's a better actress than most!) It upsets us to see her the least bit scared because at all other times she is such a confident, happy-go-lucky, party hardy type gal...except for this time period at night. (Also, in case this is a factor...this is not a behavior to postpone her bedtime.) Any advice or suggestions to vaporizing her boogie man wil be appreciated!

09-09-2009, 04:36 AM	#2
rbelland Luving my babies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Over the rainbow Posts: 3,291	Well I am not for sure but she is trying to tell you something. My daughter recently started playing the violin. Harley was growling at it for days until it he got used to it being there. Have you bought something new that is near the area she is growling at? __________________ Renee, Tayah, Dash, Bella & Paige

09-09-2009, 04:50 AM	#4
rbelland Luving my babies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Over the rainbow Posts: 3,291	I guess I should clarify.............The violin sits on the floor by the kitchen table when she is not playing. Harley would look at it and back up like he was not for sure what it was!! __________________ Renee, Tayah, Dash, Bella & Paige

09-09-2009, 05:00 AM	#6
jeanm1963 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Weymouth, Ma Posts: 2,584	LOL, I dont mean to laugh but Laci does this sometimes too, my daughters are convinced we have a ghost because honestly I swear she see's something that we dont... I do the same thing, turn on lights, walk around, open the doors to see if maybe something is outside that only she can hear, its never anything.. One night her head and eyes appeared to be following an object, well and invisible one anyways,... I have a huge TV , I wonder sometimes if it is the reflection in the windows, I pull the curtains and she still does that growl and gets in this crazy stance, sometimes she will even up and jump on my lap and get in that stance and do a very low pitched growl and a few little muffled barks... so if you figure it out , let me know.. otherwise , I guess I have a ghost __________________ I Support http://www.yorkiesinc.com/

09-09-2009, 06:19 AM	#13
tortoisekeeper Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Metairie Louisisna Posts: 1,088	Just a thought but could it be a cars headlight that passes the window and is gone before you can see it? __________________ Betty and the 4 Brats! Wanna Yorkie Cave? Click Here!

09-09-2009, 04:49 AM	#3
TOY Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,094 Blog Entries: 4	LOL...just the opposite but maybe that's what's rocked her world. I've cleaned out a lot of stacked boxes (pure collected clutter) that had been waiting for attention for quite awhile. Perhaps it's just the openness of that area now that's causing her some anxiety. Hmmmm...if that's the case, that's a good reason to quit the cleaning...LOL I hadn't thought of that but it could be because I have changed that part of her environment. Strangely enough though, while I had those boxes there, I had that area fenced off. Now she's free to roam in that area and seems to enjoy going over there during the daytime. I have quite a few boxes stacked throughout the house from things I bought from Mother's after she died. I wonder if this is going to cause her stress as I unpack and remove boxes. Here I thought I was finally moving on with my life by beginning to sort through things but perhaps it is stressing Taffy.

09-09-2009, 05:11 AM	#7
TOY Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,094 Blog Entries: 4	Thank you for your thoughts. Actually Mother died a couple of years ago but I am just now starting to emerge from the depression her death caused. She would be so irritated at my lack of action but I'm the only member of my family left and it just knocked my socks off. I do better understand now that grief is a process. I just didn't make it through the stages as quickly this time probably because I had just retired and had nothing to "return" to. (We never had children so no grandchildren, etc. and I was one of those whose job was my life. I don't regret retiring because I was able to be Mother's caregiver.) However, getting Taffy has made all the difference! I would never have imagined that having a pet could make this much difference. She made me get out of bed and live again. When I say she brought laughter back into our home, I am not exaggerating at all. That's why I hate to see her upset over anything...well, almost anything... I cannot help that she prefers paper fast food napkins to her toys. I have to upset her by taking those away...LOL...otherwise I might lose what little sanity I have left. I still am amazed at the number of miniscule pieces she can shred them into.

09-09-2009, 06:24 AM	#14
rilysmom Just me and Rily McGee Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine Posts: 3,625	Plus, they can hear so much more (better) than we can. __________________ My belongs to RILYSAYDEE and MINNIE MIA

09-09-2009, 06:27 AM	#15
Weneebug YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Forsyth, GA Posts: 296 Blog Entries: 1	Harley has started doing this as well recently. He starts barking and I can't get him to calm down. I thought maybe he was seeing shadows in the windows or seeing his reflection. I don't know but it spooks me out. The other day he was on my bed and something spooked him...he took off running and would not get back up on the bed. We've only been in our house a year now and it was brand new when we bought it so I don't think we should have any ghosts. It's spooky when they act like that though.