Slightly Concerned about Poppy

David

David

Moderator
Staff member
We left her at a new (to us) kennel for a couple of nights on our way to Cornwall. We had a track day to run en route so she needed to be kenneled. The reviews looked good but of course we couldn't visit in advance. We picked her up yesterday and she was like a mad thing on the lead. I thought all her training had taken a back step in the kennel, but when we fed her in the evening she calmed down.

We visited friends for dinner yesterday as well and introduced Poppy to their Boxer and Springer cross pup. She played well with them but when Maisie the Boxer barked at Poppy she just squeeked back - no bark. I didn't really think anything of it but today on a couple of occassions when she would normally have barked only a squeek came out.

I may be worrying over nothing but I'm now wondering if they did anything to her at the kennels that's affected her bark. She seems fit in other respects although she was definitely hungry yesterday so I don't think she'd been fed (at least breakfast although they said she had been fed breakfast).
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
I can understand your thoughts David. Have you asked the kennels? It may be that she did a lot of barking and has strained her vocal cords, or there may be some other explanation they can offer. I get a sense you may not entirely trust them (I sympathise), so maybe if there’s no clear answer a precautionary vet check might be worthwhile to look at her throat in case there’s anything underlying it?
 
Lisa

Lisa

Moderator
Location
Alberta, Canada
There is a lot of barking that goes on in kennels. Simba is a very silent dog, but after several stays in our local kennel, he does bark more than he used to. So maybe it’s as @HAH has said, she’s strained her vocal cords somehow?
 
M

M.F.

Did they walk her on a collar? I always worry when I see dogs straining on a collar—tracheal collapse is apparently quite common. I’d also be worried if I were you, although barking and losing her “voice” sounds quite plausible. Hopefully she regains her bark and you don’t need to worry anymore.
 
Anne123

Anne123

Location
Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
Yes, similar experience here. All of our dogs who went to a kennel had lost their voice/bark. A lot of barking going on here too. It’s not easy to find, but have you considered looking for an address that will take poppy privately? There where she can stay with just a few dogs in a home situation?
The option of giving her some honey from @kateincornwall is a good one!
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Nothing to do with her squeak, but the crazy after the kennel is probably just a logical thing. Yes, she was used to kennels. No, she likely didn't have any bad experiences back then. But with a lot of fosters, if they've been handed back and forth a lot and then settle with someone where they are stable and happy, and then they go somewhere else 'permanent' (even if we know it's only for a few days) their attitude can be 'hell no'. If you take her to kennels again, she will learn that "Dad comes back to pick me up, so it's ok". This time around, however, she may have been more stressed than usual, and maybe barked more than usual too.
 
David

David

Moderator
Staff member
Thanks, everyone. Very helpful. Yes I'm probably over reacting. I'll see how things are tomorrow. Poppy has had a bit of an unstable early life largely as a result of the Covid pandemic. She needs time.

We took her to the beach today. She'd never seen the sea before. Lovely! Fast asleep now.
 
SwampDonkey

SwampDonkey

David said:
Thanks, everyone. Very helpful. Yes I'm probably over reacting. I'll see how things are tomorrow. Poppy has had a bit of an unstable early life largely as a result of the Covid pandemic. She needs time.

We took her to the beach today. She'd never seen the sea before. Lovely! Fast asleep now.
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Whatever happens she'll be safe with you. Once she realises she's there to stay she'll relax by as lot more
 
David

David

Moderator
Staff member
Loraseal said:
How is Poppy today?
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Naya said:
Hope Poppy’s bark is a bit better today?
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She's a bit better bark and growl-wise. I think she must have been barking a lot and as you say - a sore throat. I haven't called the kennels to enquire. Otherwise she's as fit as a fiddle. She loves the beach (obviously) and yesterday we met up with a group - all complete strangers to each other - on a beach and chatted while our dogs all had a lovely time. Poppy was in heaven!

Walking the coastal path is a work in progress. I need to keep Pops on a lead because of the cliffs and she's still too puppyish to chance near a steep edge and of course the lead aggression is difficult to manage when we meet other dogs. Apart from that we are all having a lovely time.
 
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