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Lv 7
? asked in PetsDogs · 5 months ago

What could be the issue with my dachshund?

We have had Archie for about 5 years now, but about a month ago, we had to put his brother to sleep and since then, he has been very strange towards me.

I have never hit or shouted at him. I give him lots of hugs and he has always loved me to stroke his neck area, but of late, he growls at me. I smile and speak low, but he looks at me with sad eyes, as though he wants my affection, but somehow is frightened of me and it is very perplexing.

He does spend the entire day with my husband at work, but I am the one who feeds him.

Just a short while ago, amazingly, he seemed to want to sit on my lap, but despite me motioning to him and offering my lap and making it easy for him to get on, he reacted as though I wouldn't let him on. I mean: his body and face was right low to the ground and his eyes looked so sad, yet, I was smiling and being friendly.

I tried to pet him, but he growled at me, so naturally, I stopped.

I sense that soon, if I am not careful, he is going to attack me.

My husband has not been kind to him in the past and yet, he always sits on his lap. What I mean by not kind, is raising his voice and has slapped him a couple of times. But, Archie prefers his dad over me. For me, I rather he liked both, not one or the other.

It is upsetting.

Update:

Thank you for answering very respectfully, Maxi

Thanks to you, I think I know why now.  I suspect somehow I remind him of a negative experience. He and his brother mostly went to work with hubby ( who is regretful for the couple of times he shouted), but on this one occasion, my husband decided to only take Bunkle, so that he could spend a bit of time alone with him, before Bunkle went to doggy land and so, Archie stayed back with me. Dad came back alone.

Update 2:

Wanted to add, but used up my space.

Where he usually ate with his brother, he won't eat there anymore, so just by moving his bowl a few meters away, he eats as normal, so that, to me, is conclusive that he has reacted badly with his brother's death and yet, Bunkle, was mostly sleeping; rarely playing and they seemed to just tolerate each other, but, it is obvious that Archie has reacted badly and associates me wwith that negative experience.

Update 3:

Archie's back is fine, because we are very careful with that, knowing how easily his body could be hurt and just want to reiterate, that my husband shouted many year's ago and certainly has not repeated it, because he came to realise it was not right, but hey, Archie does not hold that against him, since he loves being with him.

The vet. Bunkle was completely blind and had artharitis in his back legs. Archie was at home with me.

Update 4:

I think that the seat I use, is a bit higher than my husband's seat and Archie actually jumps on his lap.

However, I could tell that he wanted to be on my lap, but was hesitant due to the height of the chair.

I was patting my leg, to show that he could come up on my lap, but my husband suggested that, he could see that it is a negative ie you can't get on, so I have stopped that.

Update 5:

Another about my husband shouting. It was me who said that he was wrong and so he has stopped that and for many years, so no issue there.

4 Answers

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  • Maxi
    Lv 7
    5 months ago
    Favorite Answer

    Sounds like you have a dog with an anxious temperament, that likely got any  confidence from the other dog, now it is gone he has lost who to lean in, your husbands attitude towards him sucks, however the dog knows what to expect and because of fear of what could/will happen he behaves...with you he sees as a weak person and in a dogs eyes weak can't lead or protect,,, so he has no confidence in you........ one of the best ways is to ignore him, so petting, talkng, touching no putting yourself out to 'make it easy' for him.... just feed, walk, open the door for him to toilet outside, this should encourage him to build his confidence ( as you are putting no pressure on him to perform) and he he more likely to want to be around you....... dogs live in packs they NEED to know where they fit in the pack and at this time he thinks/knows he is above you, you need to step up as a secure leader  as his behaviour is the thinking of a dangerous dog as anxious dogs are far more dangerous than outwardly aggressive dogs

  • Simeon Davis
    4 months ago

    Hi... i cant find your fb account

  • ?
    Lv 7
    5 months ago

    I want to say I think Maxi is correct. The only other possibility -that crossed my mind is that being a Dachshund, he may have a herniated disc or discs - they can come on at any time and are very common in the breed.  If this is so, he cannot comfortably jump up or climb up and may NOT want to be "picked up".  Pain or FEAR of pain, can also cause a dog to become very aggressive.

    Now, if he is still actively sitting on hubby's lap, while shunning yours, it is unlikely to be that, unless HOW he gets there is different - than how he would get into your lap.

  • Anonymous
    5 months ago

    When you took him to the Vet to make sure there is nothing physical going on, what did the Vet say?

    Your husband has not been "kind" to him in the past, and you did nothing to stop the abuse?  Gee, I wonder what the problem could be.

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