Post by elmuervo on Oct 2, 2008 12:32:26 GMT -5
Barney was really off-colour all day Tuesday and was asking to be let out all day long, but when he went outside all he was doing was eating grass by the tonne. He wasn't physically sick at all, but as soon as the lights went out at bedtime we heard him vomiting in the corner of the bedroom. 
Poor lad.
I immediately got up to comfort him and to clean up, but he wouldn't move away from his huuuge pile of sick. He put his head down towards it, and when I tried to move him out of the way he growled at me to warn me off!
And more than once, I might add!
We had a bit of a stand-off for a while whilst I spoke to him gently ("Come and lie down, lad" etc.) to soothe him, but he wasn't for budging and continued to guard his pile of sick while I stressed more and more about the fate of my beige carpet which lay underneath!
In the end Steve took Barney's collar and led him forcibly to the other side of the room and sat with him while I cleaned-up.
Has anybody ever come across this type of behaviour before? We've never known him be bothered about ownership of anything at all. Food and toys he'll give up with no quibble at all, so why defend a pile of sick as though his life depended on it?
I'm sure this must have a basis in some primeval need to to hide illness / weakness and appear strong and well to the rest of the pack. Steve thinks that Barney just really enjoyed his tea and wanted to eat it all over again.
Funny boy (both of them)! ;D ;D ;D
Jo
x
Poor lad.I immediately got up to comfort him and to clean up, but he wouldn't move away from his huuuge pile of sick. He put his head down towards it, and when I tried to move him out of the way he growled at me to warn me off!
And more than once, I might add!We had a bit of a stand-off for a while whilst I spoke to him gently ("Come and lie down, lad" etc.) to soothe him, but he wasn't for budging and continued to guard his pile of sick while I stressed more and more about the fate of my beige carpet which lay underneath!
In the end Steve took Barney's collar and led him forcibly to the other side of the room and sat with him while I cleaned-up.Has anybody ever come across this type of behaviour before? We've never known him be bothered about ownership of anything at all. Food and toys he'll give up with no quibble at all, so why defend a pile of sick as though his life depended on it?
I'm sure this must have a basis in some primeval need to to hide illness / weakness and appear strong and well to the rest of the pack. Steve thinks that Barney just really enjoyed his tea and wanted to eat it all over again.
Funny boy (both of them)! ;D ;D ;D
Jo
x
but can be made to leave it no problem. It is strange behaviour to guard it like that be interested to know if someone has any theories why. Hope the carpet survived, that grassy sick is so hard to get out. I love our vax for times like that. Hope he's feeling better now,