weird habits of my cyprus terrier,anyone know why?

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
22/09/2011 20:54

Hi,I have a year old cyprus terrier,she doesnt eat dog food,just whatever we eat,but she tends to bury her meat in the garden then dig it up a few days later and eats it,i would have thought the meat had gone off,she also buries socks and small items of clothes,even in indoor plant pots,i find biscuits/toast /bones in corners or on the stairs,behind cushions,last night i found toast in my bed!,i use to have a papillion,she didnt do any of this and i was wondering if anyone elses dog behaves like this,is it the breed that makes them do this,or maybe its just mine that has weird habits ?

MsGarnet


Joined: 04/01/2009
Posts: 989

Message Posted:
22/09/2011 21:54

Have you just got her? In which case, maybe it is because she fears running out of food, perhaps she had a time when food was scarce, so hides it away now, for later - as she feels insecure about if/when she will eat next - even if food is in constant supply, she lives in fear of the day it won't be...



Could the objects be a similar thing? Perhaps I am anthropomorphising somewhat, but if she came from a large litter, or was abruptly taken away from her familiar 'security' blanket or toys, she is starting another 'toy' collection, a form of security, hiding things that are now 'her's' that she fears you may take from her?

Not saying you would, but she can't tell you how she feels, or why she feels what she feels...



What do I know...just my thoughts...

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
22/09/2011 21:56

Vonnie, she sounds a hoot. My friend had a dog who ate shoes and underwear! Nothing was safe.

Just enjoy her for what she is, she is still very young.

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
22/09/2011 21:59

No,ive had her since she was 2 months old,shes always done this and i thought it was because she was a puppy but shes now a year old and nothing has changed,she has plenty food,she does eat ok but always has to hide some of it,i thought by now she would have stopped doing this.

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
22/09/2011 22:01

oh i am lucky there,whistler,she hasnt chewed up anything yet,but if theres any paper around,she'll eat it

BizziLizzi


Joined: 02/08/2011
Posts: 855

Message Posted:
22/09/2011 23:27

Lots of dogs bury bones - their way of saving them for later and they dont mind if the meat is off even prefer it- my Cyprus terrier is l5 years old and she still buries chew bones occasionally, though she eats the food in her dish right away and fast enough! Sounds as if your dog hasnt learnt discrimination yet.



But dont talk to me about puppies chewing - my new puppy has accounted so far for two pairs of expensive and irresplaceable sandals (she disdians the cheap plastic ones) , a chair arm , a cushion,a blood pressure meter, several pairs of knickers and watch . She has trashed all her and the other dogs toys and added an interesting fringe effect to a curtain , Fortunately she only chews not swallows, as some items (including a ball specifically sold for dogs) were made of foam which can kill dogs if eaten - do be careful about what dog toys contain! I thought she could not reach because she is tiny, but dacshunds may be small on four legs but are quite tall on two!

timefore


Joined: 01/08/2008
Posts: 495

Message Posted:
23/09/2011 00:04

have 2 yorkies here in cyprus and owned them in the uk - never heard of the traits your dog displays - they are high spirited as a breed so just enjoy her for what/how she is

Panchocat


Joined: 29/11/2009
Posts: 1333

Message Posted:
23/09/2011 10:39

At a year old she is still a puppy, Vonny.

I think it is a trait of young Cypriot dogs, we have two Cyp dogs and we have had them since they were seven months and 3 months respectively.

The two year old is still acting like a puppy and doing what yours is doing but the four year old has calmed down completely.

Our English dog just looks down disdainfully at the antics going on around him

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
23/09/2011 10:55

First, stop feeding her with your food. She needs the correct balance of vitamins and protein. Continually eating "human" food and nothing else will tend to make her "hyper" She will eat dog food I assure you, NO DOG WILL EVER DELIBERATELY GO HUNGRY. Children do this as you know, its just the same with them. As to the burying, well as said above, she could be going back to when she might have been starving. It's a bit like a squirrel hoardiong nuts for the future. By hiding goodies, it means she has something for the future to look forward to.



On top of that dogs are destructive when they are bored, bored, bored. Just like children they need to know where their boundaries of behaviour are. You set them and stick to them. Exercise will cure some of this, a trot round the block is enough for some dogs, but the main word is "terrier" . They will go on a 5 mile hike and barely stop to draw breath!!



Be FIRM, its not too late.

milliesmum49


Joined: 22/10/2010
Posts: 36

Message Posted:
23/09/2011 10:57

Oh don't worry Vonny you are not on your own. Our Cyprus Terrier who is 1 year old acts in just the same way, he loves gardening, hiding socks and we never know from night to night what we will find in our bed, chicken, toys, bits of dog biscuit, sticks and plants!!



Oh well, looks like we only have another 3 years to go before thy grow up......thanks Panochat

Babrew


Joined: 15/09/2010
Posts: 486

Message Posted:
23/09/2011 11:14

can I ask something too. There is a puppy up the road (well 2 actually) and whenever I go and say hello to them the GIRL keeps shagging the boy dog and my legs, arms. Why would a girl dog do that!

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
23/09/2011 12:11

Thank you for all your answers,Tango1,she is very hyper,we do leave out dried dog food (love dog) for her to nibble whenever she wants,but in the evening she has what we eat,or we buy a roast chicken and she'll have that.it sounds like other cyprus terriers are doing the same and maybe it is because shes still a puppy but its good to know that as she gets older it will hopefully stop.

keithr


Joined: 20/08/2008
Posts: 720

Message Posted:
23/09/2011 17:37

iWhen I was in digs at Uni many many years ago in Oldbury,we adopted a ginger tomcat,he was forever eating our tea when we put the plates down on the floor,so,we devised a cunning plan. We all bought home Vindaloo curries from the local take away,put them on the floor and Bingo,he scoffed half a plate,then looked at us in sheer terror... He never went hear our food again .. lol

Babrew


Joined: 15/09/2010
Posts: 486

Message Posted:
24/09/2011 15:20

Message 11................ ?

DieHard


Joined: 14/12/2010
Posts: 51

Message Posted:
24/09/2011 15:36

We have a Cyprus poodle, ex street dog, he is 6 years old and still burys food when he is full. Loves to take our socks and shoes outside and pull hankies and nightwear from under the pillows. He often has a mad 1/4 hour, when he chases backward and forwards, as if playing tag, nutty as his human family.