# My dog stares at the wall (slightly long) UPDATE **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 31, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757 "2006-07-31T19:13:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/21 "2006-08-01T22:08:43Z")
[QUOTE=malita] Did your dog’s anxiety and mood issues come on suddenly, or did you just realize one day that your dog had been acting strangely for a while? [/quote] She’d been having issues for a while, but they got worse rather quickly. Hers manifested itself first as storm anxiety. Whenever there was a thunderstorm, she’d cry and shake and try to climb on top of us, which is not fun when the dog weighs over sixty pounds. Then it started happening whenever the wind was blowing. In short time, she was having spells almost every day. (If you moved too suddenly, she’d start barking.) > [@](#): > > For us, it was like one day Cortney was fine, the next day she was trying to climb the walls. Makes me think it is more of an environmental thing, rather than a chemical imbalance, and I just am out of ideas of what to do to change the environment till we can make a vet appointment. My only idea is to keep her busy-- distract her from her anxiety. Freeze her favorite bone after you’ve stuffed it with peanut butter-- it’ll take longer for her to eat. (And give one to her sister, too, to keep her from stealing it.) Does she like ice cubes? I freeze chunks of chicken in watered-down broth for my dogs to chew on hot days. (Warning: only give this to the dog in a place where the floor can be easily cleaned, like linoleum.) Does she like to shred plush toys? It’s one of my dogs’ greatest joys: they love to eviscerate a stuffed animal. Yeah, it makes a mess, but they have so much fun doing it, I don’t really mid picking up the stuffing. (Plus, if you’re handy with a needle, you can sometimes repair them enough to give them the joy of destroying it once again.) You can get 'em cheap at dollar stores\*, and if you don’t mind washing them or aren’t squicked by the idea, yard sales. You can also buy cheap t-shirts or socks and tie knots in them. (Don’t, of course, give them any of your old things.) Your dog’s anxiety may be temporary–just as you said, brought on by the move. In this case, your vet may prescribe a short-term anti-anxiety medication for your dog. Bean, my eldest dog, has a prescription for Valuim for days when she’s freaking out. It’s pretty cheap. I get about a dozen tablets for seven dollars. My vet said to try a half a tablet, and move up to a full one if it dodn’t work, so it may end up being even cheaper for you. Your vet may be more understanding about your money issues than you think. Tell them you’re having temporary financial shortages and chances are they’ll set you up on a payment plan, or if you’re a good customer, even defer payment until your situation eases a bit. \*Toys for infants are best because they don’t have chokable button eyes and the like, but you can always cut off dangerous parts from other toys. ---
**Author:** ![malita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@malita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malita)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/22 "2006-08-02T13:20:59Z")
[QUOTE=Lissa] My only idea is to keep her busy-- distract her from her anxiety. Freeze her favorite bone after you’ve stuffed it with peanut butter-- it’ll take longer for her to eat. (And give one to her sister, too, to keep her from stealing it.) Does she like ice cubes? I freeze chunks of chicken in watered-down broth for my dogs to chew on hot days. (Warning: only give this to the dog in a place where the floor can be easily cleaned, like linoleum.) [/QUOTE] both great ideas. Never thought about freezing the bones, but I’ll do that as soon as I get home tonight. Both dogs like ice cubes, and will love chicken-flavored yummy cubes. Awesome idea! [QUOTE=Lissa] Does she like to shred plush toys? It’s one of my dogs’ greatest joys: they love to eviscerate a stuffed animal. Yeah, it makes a mess, but they have so much fun doing it, I don’t really mid picking up the stuffing. [/QUOTE] Oh my gawd, yes! The dogs both love to shred toys. The squeaker must DIE! Don’t give them any because of the “indoor snowstorm” that is created, but when I’m this desperate I’ll try anything. Stopping at the dollar store or Goodwill on the way home… Thank you again for all the great ideas. Anything to keep her mind off her crazies is worth a try. And I’m trying to work something out with the vet! Again, thanks so much. S ---
**Author:** ![wintonevans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@wintonevans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintonevans)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/23 "2012-02-06T09:20:52Z")
Please, malita. It is now five years on from when you first asked for help with your dog starring at the wall. I am suffering the same propblem. What was the outcome, and do you have any advice. wintonevans ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/24 "2012-02-06T10:04:35Z")
Something did come out from that wall, right? ---
**Author:** ![malita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@malita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malita)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/25 "2012-02-06T17:11:38Z")
Wow, it’s been a long time…! The situation with Cortney cleared itself up after a while. After this post, I took Cortney to the vet and they agreed her behavior was a result of change-induced stress (or something like that), coupled with her high-energy personality that went wacky being cooped up in an apartment with all sorts of new noises. She gave us some anti-anxiety meds (generic Valium, I believe), which we used temporarily. Also, shortly after the last post, we moved into a house with a big ol’ backyard, full of chipmunks, turkeys, squirrels, etc. so she spent the day running around protecting her new queen-dom. All of this combined into my girl still being very high-energy, but not having her manic attacks or staring at the walls. (sorry, no monsters popped out of the wall. I know, I was a little dissapointed too) Also, a few years after moving into the house with the fun backyard, I moved BACK into the apartment complex. Knowing that Cortney’s crazies could act up again, I spent quite a bit of time exercising her at the park and giving her long-lasting treats while I was away. This definitely helped her mania not return in a similar environment as before. I think the moral of the story is that a tired, happy dog (with no physical issues or chemical imbalance) is usually not a manic dog. Hope this helps! I know the feeling of not knowing what is wrong with your fur-baby, and not knowing the best thing to do for them. I hope your dog’s issues get worked out! ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/26 "2012-02-07T09:48:49Z")
Have you listened very carefully? Dogs have great hearing and smell sense. Maybe you have mice in your walls ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/27 "2012-02-07T14:14:21Z")
We had a dog that would sit and bark at the closet when it was closed. Sorta unsettling. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/28 "2012-02-07T15:39:49Z")
Since this is an old thread, I added “update” to the title. Don’t want no zombie dogs. 😃 — Ellen ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/29 "2012-02-07T17:29:35Z")
I just want to say how happy it makes me to see someone who’s been through multiple stressful moves, even with dog behavior problems, and who never used that as a reason to abandon your pet. I know sometimes these things truly can’t be helped, but I’ve known (and known of) so many people who take the first tiny speedbump and say, “Well, I have to give Rover to a shelter!” and that makes me so angry. Kudos to you. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/30 "2012-02-07T19:40:59Z")
Your house is haunted. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/31 "2012-02-07T19:57:38Z")
Since this thread was bumped with someone seeking advice, I’d recommend what was originally recommended: get the dog to a vet, ASAP. “Stargazing” can be harmless, can be the dog trying to pinpoint something it’s hearing, or it could be a symptom of something such as listeriosis (but if it was this, the dog would probably stagger or act ‘drunk’). Anyway, since it involves a critter that can’t just tell you why it’s doing what it’s doing, your best bet is to get it to a vet who can help make sure it’s not something more than just a dog being a dog. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757/32 "2012-02-07T20:24:03Z")
Since you’ve already received the best advice I could possibly give - Trip to the vet, and if no findings more exercise - I though I’d offer instead some comic relief/company in misery: > **[Dog](http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/07/dog.html)** > > A lingering fear of mine was confirmed last night:  My dog might be slightly retarded. I've wondered about her intelligence ever since I a... > **[Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving](http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html)** > > Packing all of your belongings into a U-Haul and then transporting them across several states is nearly as stressful and futile as ... Hope that helps! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-stares-at-the-wall-slightly-long-update/366757.md?page=1)