As we are all getting adjusted to Buttercup not being here, has been hard on us all. We thought Punkie Pie would have the most difficult time as she is "special" aka "developmentally disabled"...anyway, she seemed to be doing ok, a little more clingy than usual, but this morning when I was walking down the hall to the workout room she looked at me and peed right in the hall. This is something she has NEVER done (she has probably peed, but not looked at us and then done it). She got scolded, etc. I went out with my girlfriends and when i got home two of the dogbeds were in the courtyard, hosed off...I panicked a little thinking something horrible had happened, but apparently Punkie peed on them right in front of Michael.

Any hints, advice? She is obviously acting out (I hope that's all). I'm worried it's something more, but Michael says it's acting out. besides giving her extra attention, any ideas? we will take her to the boat tomorrow solo so she can have some special time...

thanks for any advice...BECKY???? TRIBS???

OH, and as I am typing, our "puppies" are tearing up the red plastic in their pen...lol...

Please re-explain Punkie Pie relation to Butter Cup - I forget. Mom - daughter - sister. It would explain a lot in this situation. (Not that I'm an expert, but it puts the relationship in perspective!)

First thing is to have a physical.

If it's not something physical she could be reacting from your energy (according to Cesar Milan). Cesar Millan ~ Grieving

Definitely get her in for a check up.

Hugs from here, too!!

Tara may be on to something..she may have a UTI. Give her some extra hugs. This is so hard..sniff

Cynde - I agree with Ann and Tara, first thing to do is get her checked (bloodwork and urine check) for any health problem... the only way they have to let us know when something is wrong is sometimes to DO something wrong.

If all her tests come back normal, she may be dealing with grief and you may want to ask about an anti-anxiety drug for short term use... just to help her adjust. I'm not one to over-use medication, but in some cases it's quite helpful.

Also, making sure you spend some time with her - even just 15 minutes twice a day with just you and Punka - can be a big help. It reassures them that they still matter. Kind of like when you get a new puppy, but in reverse

Sorry I'm so slow getting to this thread. Of course the Vet chimes in first so I am useless as her advice is the bomb. Let us know what happens with her exam. Good thoughts for the little one.

I agree with Tara. I do know that Caymus can pick up on Louise's feelings BIG time.

Cynde,
BIG hugs for you all. This adjustment time is so hard on everyone; I have been there. The check up is paramount to ensure her health is OK. Then you can work forward from there.
The spending extra time is HUGE as they need reassurance that you still love them and that everything is OK in the pack.

When Kibbles passed I still had Bits and Bon Bini. They had each other and us but I know they felt a loss. We tried like h*ll to ensure that our routines never changed and we kept things as much the same as we could. There were lots of tears and my girls were SO in tune with that. Bon Bini licked many a tear from my face during those months after; they really are WAY smarter than we often give them credit for.

Prayers & hugs from here. Keep us posted.

Tink, our furkids have emotions too. I imagine Punkie realized the change was permanent and the pain is surfacing in this new behavior. Glad that you folks are giving her some extra special time. I am not a dog whisperer or anything but, when we have lost furkids, I have seen the others, both feline and canine react. Hugs Sis.

Folks, believe what Jerry said, Caymus does pick up on how his Momma feels. Heck, I saw Jerry act up, saw Louise grab a skillet, being a married man a.k.a. "prisoner" myself I expected that. What I was surprised to see Caymus herd Jerry towards Louise so she could hit him with the skillet. Then, when Louise gave Caymus a treat for his help I figured it out - CAYMUS IS A TRAITOR.

Cynde, Big Hugs to you and also to Punkie too. Poor little thing. She is feeling your pain too no doubt. I agree with everyone about having her checked by the vet to be sure all else is working o.k.

When our kitty died, our JR really missed her and didn't eat, moped, and just laid around for weeks. We gave her lots of extra attention and she sprung back, but it did take a long time. I was this close to getting a new kitty for her, but she was too old for a new kitty, so we just rode it out, did take her for a check up just to be sure all was o.k though. Normally, our JR jumps three feet high in the air and acts like Tigger. No bouncies for almost a month.

Thanks everyone. Gail, Punkie is Buttercups daughter. With buttercup going so fast, I am sooo paranoid about any "urine/bowel" behavior...so my first thought was to take her to the vet. I may have to hit Michael over the head with a skillet to comply though

When Michael has been going in the garage to work, there is a little hole in the wall for a vent, he said last week she started to sit by that and just WHINE until he came in. I told him he needed to make a spot for her in the garage and gate it or something so she can be in there with him. I have been holding her a lot more, she is a VERY nervous and insecure dog to begin with. She is a MESS on days the house cleaning lady and gardners come...But it seems to be getting much worse. Becky, I thought about the meds as well. I think I'd like to see what the vet thinks.

I have tears as I'm typing this. I thought about it last night, and the only thing I did differently, is I finally washed the bed buttercup layed on most of the time...and that's the one she peed on last night. I had a hard time pushing the "start" button on the washer, knowing that was probably the last scent of Buttercup in the house...

I'm so sorry Cynde.

Does she like going to Tuffy or a long walk/sit on the beach? Maybe spending some time in Happy Places (for you and Michael too) will help. It's a good excuse for you all to just hang out in a positive place.

Please hit Michael with the pan and call the vet tomorrow. No sense in not checking to be sure it's not something physical. I don't think the tests are expensive and the peace of mind will be Priceless.

tink
even though we have no fur kids i am still sad for ur loss. hope all are feeling happier soon.
es

Cynde, don't worry about washing the bed. Dogs sense of smell is MUCH better than ours, and Buttercup's scent will linger for a very long time! Not to us, but to our furkids it will. Any of the toys she played with, any of the chairs and furniture she sat on will have her scent for a while.

Don't beat yourself up! It's too bad Punkie couldn't have gone with you to see Buttercup for the last time, that seems to help sometimes.

Big hugs coming at you from the midwest... (maybe Punkie needs a puppy) oops, did I say that out loud???

Becky, thanks We took all three of them to the boat, took them for a dinghy ride around the harbor, and she was VERY happy (as were the rest). She is still VERY clingy, so much more than usual. Michael has agreed to take her to the vet tomorrow just to get the urine/blood test to be sure. Anytime we leave the room, she whines until we come back...it is heartbreaking.

It's hard to explain, but punkie is developmentally (both physically and mentally) so we are trying to help this transition as best we can for her.

I'm glad you dinghied
and the vet tomorrow


Hugs PunkaPie

You are a good Mom Cynde.

I'm hoping that Punkie Pie had a good night and is better this morning. She is a very sensitive puppy and I am not surprised by her reaction. It's hard to know how much of it comes from her own feelings vs. a reaction to your feelings.

Thanks gang. I'll let you know how it goes at the vet. Hoping it's just emotion, and maybe some puppy meds might help. She was exhausted and slept through the whole night, not something she's done in awhile. Me thinks more dinghy rides were in her future...lol...

Glad to hear you had a good day and the pups got some good Mommy Daddy time on the seas.

Prayers that she will continue, with each day, to make improvements. Also glad to hear Michael's taking her to the vet; that will at least give you some peace of mind with regards to her physical condition being OK!

Hugs to you all.....

Glad to hear she had a good day yesterday. Let us know what the vet says!

Glad you're all trying to heal.

You and Michael rowing a boatload of doggies around the marina....what a picture....

CB, rowing? uh uh...we got a new dignhy motor a couple months ago, so we were styling...lol...I was squished as they all wanted to be up front sniffing.

Any word on our little PunkaPie?
Give her a scratch for me!

Well, she has not peed in front of us since Saturday...I'm battling ole WHN to take her and at least get a urine culture. He said he would take the girls for a walk this afternoon...we are thinking change in routine and environment might help us ALL...lol...