What Could Have Happened?

[ShellyBeggs]

I got home last night to silence, not the usual excited yapping, and then when I let the dogs in.....there was none of the usual enthusiastic joy to see me, no playing and they all seemed quite upset.

They spent the evening laying in seperate areas and usually they play together and then sleep on the couch together....the lab was on the floor (he is usually boss of the couch), kelpie pup on the couch (he is usually playing and running around silly until bedtime) and the border collie hid in the dining room.

None of them would come to me for a cuddle, none of them wanted to play and only the lab ate his dinner, and everyone elses. Even cooked chicken breast came out as a treat and they weren't interested.

I was unable to find any signs on them of a serious fight (no sore spots or broken skin)....I searched where they are locked up on the back verandah and can see no signs that they have eaten anything they shouldn't have (no plants, no bird feathers or mouse bits)....

So I am at a loss to what has happened.

They are still all avoiding each other this morning when I left them but they were at least eating their breakfast (all except the lab who must have been too full and was snoring in his bed).

Any ideas on what could have happened????

I have never seen dogs 'not speaking' to each other.

[Erny]

I have never seen dogs 'not speaking' to each other.

On the assumption that your group has had some sort of pack heirarchy sorting (and without knowing your dogs I would have no idea as to whether this is the case), don't believe for a second that they are "not speaking" to each other. In fact, all of their interactions such as they are, would be speaking volumes to each other.

There are some sections in your post that are difficult to make sense of though - especially as we are unfamiliar with your dogs.

[ShellyBeggs]

Thanks Erny

I got home last night and everything seemed back to normal........they all played and all slept together and there didn't seem to be any of the behaviour from the night before.

I guess they must have just had a 'barney' but will keep a close eye on them!

[Scales of Justice]

Three dogs together unsupervised is not a good scenario at the best of times as two can "gang" up on one. I would suspect that they had had some issues between themselves, and bearing that in mind, I would be very carefuly leaving these three together in the future. It might not happen today, or tomorrow or next week, but if they have had issues of some sort in the past, it will rear its ugly head again in the future and you might not be so lucky next time.

[ShellyBeggs]

I wouldn't for a second imagine any of my dogs doing much more than snarling at each other before going off to sulk.

My lab is still very much the boss and although doesn't involve himself in the other two having little squabbles he is very quick to put them both in their place if they get carried away. He is a wonderful mum to his babies and teaches them manners and how to behave....he treats them both as his babies....even the border collie who is nearly 3.

I have never ever thought to worry about leaving the dogs together and have always had many dogs together without problems.

Gee I pity people that have that worry......I worry about my babies enough without worrying they would hurt each other. I like them having company while I am at work and couldn't imagine them being locked up alone...they would prolly go nutts!

[Staff'n'Toller]

My bet is they had tummy upsets or something similar...