# My weiner dog had turned crazy **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440 "2013-01-08T02:13:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![abigailaura94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@abigailaura94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abigailaura94)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/1 "2013-01-08T02:13:12Z")
Im at a loss as to what to so with my dog now. Hes a 2 year old daschund and he flip flops between people he likes. His favorites are me and my older sister. Hes a very aggressive dog. Hell bare his teeth and attack my brother if he so much as hears his footsteps. And lately, hes been berserk. I dont know what caused him to do this but recently, hell fall asleep for an hour or two with one of us then he does these crazy things. He starts to growl, not his regular one, but an even deadlier growl and he freaks the hell out. Then he starts to shuffle and hide and bark and shuffle and hide. Its so frightening! He just yesterday attacked his favorite, my sister and left a huge gash in her torso. Hes had absolutely no history with abuse, in fact hes spoiled rotten. Hes had a few seizures. Someone please please help. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/2 "2013-01-08T02:25:06Z")
I think maybe your dog is a zombie. Seriously, that dog needs to be taken to the vet right the eff now. Either it’s sick, in pain and acting out, or you need that dog to be taken away from your family for neglecting to train it properly, and it needs to be caged in a safe place until it can be properly socialized. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/3 "2013-01-08T02:32:48Z")
abigailaura94: Your dog may have some neurological problem that is causing his aggression. You need professional help, starting either with a vet, or an experienced problem-dog trainer. Now would be a good time to start, before he does serious damage and has to be euthanized. others: your dogs are most likely just spoiled, and guess whose fault that is. You need to learn how to train your dogs. Take them to obedience classes. Yes, mini doxies are not famous for compliance, but just because they are small doesn’t mean they can’t learn how to behave. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/4 "2013-01-08T02:42:08Z")
Owned a standard-sized hotdog as a kid. The thing’s better off living in a farm than a suburb house. It likes to paw and dig its way around things. While an affectionate dog, it becomes snappy with things like food, or when it’s under some discomfort. Fence off a portion of your yard and let it wreak havoc there. Walk it on a leash regularly to discipline it. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/5 "2013-01-08T02:52:51Z")
> [@Dachshund Expert Needed!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dachshund-expert-needed/156595/7): > > Well, they’re about 10 years older now. So I guess maybe what we really need to be asking is: can you teach an old dachshund new tricks? Any dog of any age can learn new things and new behaviors. Except dead dogs, which some of these might be. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/6 "2013-01-08T03:03:58Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Any dog of any age can learn new things and new behaviors. > > Except dead dogs, which some of these might be. I bet dead dogs are GREAT at playing dead. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/7 "2013-01-08T03:15:32Z")
**Moderator Note** I split these posts off from a zombie thread from 2003, since the original problem was probably resolved a decade ago. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![abigailaura94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@abigailaura94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abigailaura94)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/8 "2013-01-08T03:34:34Z")
Well i can assure you we didnt neglect to train him properly, and i find it a little insulting that you would insinuate something like that…but okay. Thank you others for your input. It really sucks. He was so nice and now he just turned into such a jerk. We’ll be taking him to the vet asap. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![abigailaura94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@abigailaura94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abigailaura94)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/9 "2013-01-08T03:37:58Z")
And he was very well socialized, thank you very much. Hes fantastic with all dogs and cats he has encountered and that we live with. He had some weird hatred towards men previously. And thats it. We got him right when he was able to leave his mother and i doubt the breeder abused him. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/10 "2013-01-08T03:51:30Z")
OK, so sick or in pain, which were the first suggestions made. I have no idea why you let a previously well trained dog who attacked someone and drew blood go more than 24 hours without getting him checked out anyhow. Behavior that bizarre could be rabies. Is he drinking water? ---
**Author:** ![abigailaura94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@abigailaura94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abigailaura94)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/11 "2013-01-08T04:01:58Z")
Im 18. I thought maybe it was just an outburst. our other dogs never behaved as so, but we heard daschunds were very emotional so it was an assumption, I dont know how to go about taking a dog to the vet. And i didnt think it was sick or in pain until i talked to my older sister on the phone. It is blatantly obvious he isnt sick or in pain anyhow as he goes through his normal routines as usual. Weve narrowed it down to something neurological. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/12 "2013-01-08T04:03:38Z")
My friend had something very similar happen, except his dog was a beagle and it was about 3 years old. He had been a friendly dog but then started having symptoms very similar to those of your dog. My friend took him to the vet and found out he had a brain tumor and had to be put down. Hopefully yours isn’t the same thing, but you need to get your dog to the vet ASAP. It could be a lot of things other than a brain tumor and many of them are treatable. If you let it go too long though it may end up no longer being a treatable condition. Good luck and I hope your dog has a good outcome from all of this. ---
**Author:** ![abigailaura94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@abigailaura94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abigailaura94)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/13 "2013-01-08T04:05:21Z")
Yes he is drinking water. He doesnt have rabies ---
**Author:** ![abigailaura94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@abigailaura94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abigailaura94)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/14 "2013-01-08T04:07:02Z")
@engineer comp geek, thank you very much for your polite input. I really hope he doesnt. Have a nice night! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/15 "2013-01-08T05:18:53Z")
I think your dog needs to go to the vet asap as well - I think there is something seriously wrong with your dog. I have a cat, and if she started acting like that all of a sudden, she’d be at the vet within the hour, because what you’re describing is extremely unacceptable behaviour for a family pet - I’m afraid the brain tumour idea would explain it. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/16 "2013-01-08T05:48:00Z")
You have a dangerous dog on your hands and you’re taking offense at any suggestions that an animal’s behavior just might be associated with its upbringing. Get over yourself, “thank you very much” ? That dog is probably going to be needing either a needle (dead) or a few thousand dollars (brain tumor). And yes, family pets have been known to attack and kill family members. And why would a dog which bares its teeth at a family member be considered “normal”? Well trained? Hardly. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/17 "2013-01-08T06:08:10Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > I split these posts off from a zombie thread from 2003, since the original problem was probably resolved a decade ago. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Thanks for the explanation. I thought I was losing what marbles I have left, seeing posts quoted that I didn’t see in the original in the thread on my screen. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/18 "2013-01-08T08:09:28Z")
There’s an important point here, that just about everybody is noticing but nobody has explicitly mentioned yet: You’ve seen a _sudden change_ in you dog’s behavior, and not for the better. There’s your red alert right there. Time for the vet! ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/19 "2013-01-08T08:37:17Z")
> [@abigailaura94](#): > > Im 18. I thought maybe it was just an outburst. our other dogs never behaved as so, but we heard daschunds were very emotional so it was an assumption, \*\*I dont know how to go about taking a dog to the vet. \*\*And i didnt think it was sick or in pain until i talked to my older sister on the phone. It is blatantly obvious he isnt sick or in pain anyhow as he goes through his normal routines as usual. **Weve narrowed it down to something neurological**. (Bolding is mine) I’m glad you and your family of doctors have figured out what’s wrong, since you can’t figure out how to take a trip to the nearest vet’s office. Here you say he’s going though normal routines, yet in the OP you describe abnormal growling, shuffling, hiding and barking. Which is it? Slipped discs and nerve damage are extremely common in dachshunds. The pain from these can be intermittent if the disc isn’t completely slipped or compressed. If the behavior is new (and based on the OP, it’s not entirely, only “new” in the degree), then it’s something likely physical that’s wrong and he needs to see a vet asap. ---
**Author:** ![StrangeBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@StrangeBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangeBird)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440/20 "2013-01-08T11:37:31Z")
> [@abigailaura94](#): > > I dont know how to go about taking a dog to the vet. Learning how to do this is part of having a pet. Fortunately, it’s not too complicated - start by calling a local vet surgery and explaining that you need an appointment ASAP. There will be a cost associated with seeing the vet, but again, that’s part of having a pet. The sooner you do this the sooner you can find out what’s causing this behaviour. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-weiner-dog-had-turned-crazy/646440.md?page=2)