Abby is driving us nuts with her crying - help!!?

Abby is once again experiencing that mothering instinct with several of her toys. She is mothering three rubber squeaky toys which she keeps with her where ever she goes. She carries them upstairs, under the table, behind chairs, in the basement behind the washing machine, and finally into her crate at night.


Mind you, it takes her three trips each time, so I guess she she is going to lose a pound or two in this process if that's a plus.





But her crying and fretting over these toys is driving us nuts. I checked on the internet and it says it usually lasts about two weeks. It's been one week and I'm not sure if we can last another one. I tried taking the toys away and all she did was run from spot to spot looking for them and crying. I felt sorry for her because I think she thought she lost them, so I gave them back.





Does anybody else's dogs do this? Or am I the only "lucky" one?


Any suggestions on getting her to stop quicker?

Abby is driving us nuts with her crying - help!!?
I presume she is having a false pregnancy which is why the internet says it will last 2 weeks. There are a couple of drugs that you can use to decrease the hormone levels and so the physical and behavioural signs but they are not very easy to get hold of, expensive and have side effects so you are best doing nothing and waiting unless she has a lot of milk, she can take medication to reduce this- to stop her getting an infection in her mammary glands.


Once a dog has had a false pregnancy once they are more likely to have one every time they come into season so that is twice a year for 2 weeks.... unless you get her spayed. The best time to get her spayed would be 3 months after the end of her false pregnancy.





Edit: the timing fits with a false pregnancy and the fact she had it with her last season as well. Wait for 3 months and spay her to prevent it happening again.
Reply:my guess is that's she's lonley dont take them away right away wean them away like they do with puppies, or if you can get another dog or cat to keep her company





as far as you being "lucky" goes i'm going to have to say yes
Reply:Try an orphaned kitty %26amp; see if she'll enjoy mothering it; she needs something to Mother.
Reply:whats wrong with her doing this? maybe shes lonely.
Reply:I'm not clear here...is she in heat? If so, that is the reason...she's nesting. Getting her fixed will solve the problem.
Reply:First off you must check your personal state. Try to maintain a sense of calmness. Your dog will be able to sense that and it will help soothe her. Also do not take the toys away, that will only make her more upset. What I mean by that is you can take the toys away, but try to "replace" them with something else, something that is distracting. Like a child who is playing with something they should not be. You do not take whatever it may be a way and say "NO" you just simply replace it. You know your Abby well enough to know what you can replace the toys with. Use your best judgment. Hope that helps.


Bunny
Reply:Hi! :)


This happens to a lot of female dogs. Its hard to explaign but basically they think the toys are puppies. If you do not plan on breeding her I would get her spayed. It is probaly a "fake pregnancy" and she is taking care of her "puppies" now. How old is she? Has she just had puppies or had any recently taken away? When was her last heat? If this continues she may have anxiety issues and I would talk to your vet. One of my females does the same thing. She will get really big and even get milk. She doesn't mother toys but she really believes she is going to have puppies. Best of luck....
Reply:I guess I missed your first question


Had she been in heat?


Did she go through a false pregnancy?


Is that why you said mothering instinct?


My also went through a false pregnancy but she was 1.5 yrs old and was over it in 2 weeks...


But my gal never went through the searching of pups,just her teat glads filled in,and no crying


Maybe call your Vet and have her spayed if your not planning on breeding her so she won't have to go through this again


I know its heart breaking and sure may at times get on your nerves,but remember she is the one who is actually going through this even though your doing your best


it may last another week,or she just really likes her toys


did you get a new dog recently?





if this is a false pregnancy and its this bad,her next heat will also bring in the same reactions problem if not worse





Good Luck...