Can dogs be claustrophobic?

**Orchid** · 08-16-2007, 08:42 AM

Maybe that's a dumb question...but I really don't know the answer!

My sister's little dog Buster has now become my little dog Buster.

Buster is a one year old unaltered (that will soon change) chihuahua/something mix - he looks like a chi mixed with papillon to me, but two vets have said dachshund.

Buster has his own little kennel with his own little doghouse, but he won't use the doghouse. He would rather sit outside in a drenching downpour than go into that doghouse. It has an open front but is otherwise solid...

So, we started kenneling him in the big kennel with Fluppy. Her doghouse has a towel "door". He wouldn't go into her house, either, until one day I thought I'd see what would happen if I took off the "door". It took him a good two weeks before he would venture into the doghouse, and now they share. However, I would really like to put the door back on since fall and cooler weather is right around the corner.

Before anyone thinks that I have those sad dogs that never get to leave their kennel, they're only in there when we're not home so they don't go visiting at grandma and grandpa's.

Thoughts?

**gbarmranch** · 08-16-2007, 08:47 AM

I don't know, but several of our dogs are the same way - either claustriphopic or they just like the rain..

KatieMae · 08-16-2007, 08:50 AM

Sounds like a Chi/Doxie mix to me... They're pretty popular.

Chihuahuas are very clingy, one person dogs... So the chihuahua in him may be causing him to want to be with you and not in the kennel... Also, it took me awhile to get my last Chi to sleep in his "hut" as I called it.. It took me rubbing my hands all inside of it so it smelled like me for him to get inside... Try getting an old towel, get your scent on it, and leave it in the kennel for him

**beth55051** · 08-16-2007, 08:51 AM

Yes, dogs can be clausterphobic.

My parents have a GSP that is extrememly clausterphobic. They can't even lock her in a seperate room when people come over. She's destroyed several kennels both plastic and wire as well as destroying her teeth and front paws trying to get out.

She's the first dog they've ever had that was never able to be crate broke. She was always a bit of a whiner when she was a puppy but it got progressively worse and worse.

The only time she's able to be locked in a crate is if she's in the vehicle on her way somewhere. But once you get there she starts to panic.

roberts617 · 08-16-2007, 08:55 AM

Did he stay inside all the time at your sister's? I'm just wondering, we have a big goofy boxer mix that we used to keep inside ALL the time. We now have a big yard with a huge doghouse and he reufses to go in it when it is raining. He sits staring at the door looking bewildered and forlorn. I think he just wants to look so pathetic so he can come in muddy paws and all. (Not saying that is the cast with your new one, but maybe??) He is one of those dogs that when you take him to the vet he has to have minimal restraint or he freaks out. You can do anything to him you want except put your arm around his neck to hold him for the vet. He will be perfectly still with no one holding him...so maybe he does have some claustrophobia?? Silly dogs

**Orchid** · 08-16-2007, 08:58 AM

KatieMae, here's a picture of the little devil:

He just doesn't have those funny short legs that doxie's seem to pass on...

Well, claustrophobic about the doghouse or not, I know he accepts a crate in the house. So when cold weather rolls around, I guess that is where he will have to reside since I don't want to come home to a frozen Bustersicle!

**gbarmranch** · 08-16-2007, 09:00 AM

Yup, not fun when you can pick them up by the stiff and frozen tail..

He is so cute - and he does have that "devilish" look in his eye..

**Orchid** · 08-16-2007, 09:05 AM

He is such a clown, too - we were playing tag in the yard last night and he runs so fast his belly almost drags on the ground.

And, he deadheads the Gerbera daisies for me - he never takes the new ones, but he shreds the flowers going to seed. Go figure.

**gbarmranch** · 08-16-2007, 09:07 AM

Does your other dog bowl him over when they both run - poor Molly has that happen to her by Sparky and B'alana all the time when they play fetch..

roberts617 · 08-16-2007, 09:08 AM

He does look like a chi-doxie. Cute onery lookin little fella! With that face he surely knows how to work the system!

KatieMae · 08-16-2007, 09:18 AM

Ohh that is a hard decision.. Chi/Dox or Chi/Papillon... Hmmm. Cute little guy, though!

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08-16-2007, 08:42 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,089	Can dogs be claustrophobic? Maybe that's a dumb question...but I really don't know the answer! My sister's little dog Buster has now become my little dog Buster. Buster is a one year old unaltered (that will soon change) chihuahua/something mix - he looks like a chi mixed with papillon to me, but two vets have said dachshund. Buster has his own little kennel with his own little doghouse, but he won't use the doghouse. He would rather sit outside in a drenching downpour than go into that doghouse. It has an open front but is otherwise solid... So, we started kenneling him in the big kennel with Fluppy. Her doghouse has a towel "door". He wouldn't go into her house, either, until one day I thought I'd see what would happen if I took off the "door". It took him a good two weeks before he would venture into the doghouse, and now they share. However, I would really like to put the door back on since fall and cooler weather is right around the corner. Before anyone thinks that I have those sad dogs that never get to leave their kennel, they're only in there when we're not home so they don't go visiting at grandma and grandpa's. Thoughts? __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

08-16-2007, 08:47 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,584	I don't know, but several of our dogs are the same way - either claustriphopic or they just like the rain.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

08-16-2007, 08:50 AM
KatieMae Seasoned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: C.FLA Posts: 4,140	Sounds like a Chi/Doxie mix to me... They're pretty popular. Chihuahuas are very clingy, one person dogs... So the chihuahua in him may be causing him to want to be with you and not in the kennel... Also, it took me awhile to get my last Chi to sleep in his "hut" as I called it.. It took me rubbing my hands all inside of it so it smelled like me for him to get inside... Try getting an old towel, get your scent on it, and leave it in the kennel for him __________________ You can only blame your problems on the world for so long Before it all becomes the same old song.

08-16-2007, 08:51 AM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	Yes, dogs can be clausterphobic. My parents have a GSP that is extrememly clausterphobic. They can't even lock her in a seperate room when people come over. She's destroyed several kennels both plastic and wire as well as destroying her teeth and front paws trying to get out. She's the first dog they've ever had that was never able to be crate broke. She was always a bit of a whiner when she was a puppy but it got progressively worse and worse. The only time she's able to be locked in a crate is if she's in the vehicle on her way somewhere. But once you get there she starts to panic. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.

08-16-2007, 08:55 AM
roberts617 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 5,153	Did he stay inside all the time at your sister's? I'm just wondering, we have a big goofy boxer mix that we used to keep inside ALL the time. We now have a big yard with a huge doghouse and he reufses to go in it when it is raining. He sits staring at the door looking bewildered and forlorn. I think he just wants to look so pathetic so he can come in muddy paws and all. (Not saying that is the cast with your new one, but maybe??) He is one of those dogs that when you take him to the vet he has to have minimal restraint or he freaks out. You can do anything to him you want except put your arm around his neck to hold him for the vet. He will be perfectly still with no one holding him...so maybe he does have some claustrophobia?? Silly dogs __________________ He who never made a mistake never made a discovery! Samuel Smiles

08-16-2007, 08:58 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,089	KatieMae, here's a picture of the little devil: He just doesn't have those funny short legs that doxie's seem to pass on... Well, claustrophobic about the doghouse or not, I know he accepts a crate in the house. So when cold weather rolls around, I guess that is where he will have to reside since I don't want to come home to a frozen Bustersicle! __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

08-16-2007, 09:00 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,584	Yup, not fun when you can pick them up by the stiff and frozen tail.. He is so cute - and he does have that "devilish" look in his eye.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

08-16-2007, 09:05 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,089	He is such a clown, too - we were playing tag in the yard last night and he runs so fast his belly almost drags on the ground. And, he deadheads the Gerbera daisies for me - he never takes the new ones, but he shreds the flowers going to seed. Go figure. __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

08-16-2007, 09:07 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,584	Does your other dog bowl him over when they both run - poor Molly has that happen to her by Sparky and B'alana all the time when they play fetch.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

08-16-2007, 09:08 AM
roberts617 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 5,153	He does look like a chi-doxie. Cute onery lookin little fella! With that face he surely knows how to work the system! __________________ He who never made a mistake never made a discovery! Samuel Smiles

08-16-2007, 09:18 AM
KatieMae Seasoned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: C.FLA Posts: 4,140	Ohh that is a hard decision.. Chi/Dox or Chi/Papillon... Hmmm. Cute little guy, though! __________________ You can only blame your problems on the world for so long Before it all becomes the same old song.