A Story of Anxiety...(and one pug's silent protest)

A few weeks ago, our pug started to exhibit strange behavioral changes. He wouldn't eat his breakfast, he wouldn't eat his treats, he would barely nibble at his dinner...and then he would throw it up. I scanned the pet food recall list over and over and over again because I was certain we were inadvertently poisoning him with his IAMS.

Then we realized that the days he does this are only and always the days that we are scrambling to get the loft all cleaned up because the realtors want to show it to a client.

He has also started to strategically pee...inside...on white linen things...right before the realtors show up. For example, the white floor-length curtain that covers my closet in the bedroom - or - the white bedding. It's like clockwork. The realtor calls....he lifts his leg...we walk in the room to find him mid-pee, staring at us like we're crazy for thinking we can sell *his* house.

Over the last month we have perfected the routine of dusting, windexing, sweeping, washing, turning lights on, lighting candles, cueing music, etc. to get it all done right before they show up. And, part of that routine includes moving Muggsy's crate out to one of our cars so that it isn't an eyesore. This sends him over the edge. You'd think he was going to have a heart attack - he shakes and whines and just generally freaks out. Poor little guy. When we first got him and started to crate train him I didn't believe the books that said "your dog's crate will be his safe space, and soon he will love to spend time in there". Well, I'm pretty sure that he has never "loved to spend time in there". In fact, he HATES to go in there most of the time. If the door isn't shut, he won't stay in it. So, why all the anxiety when we take the crate outside? You'd think he'd be happy to see it go away.

I recently tried to explain this whole moving process to him, using my best "dog language". I don't think he gets it. Or if he does understand, then he clearly doesn't want to go anywhere. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Cheer up Muggsy Boo Boos, once our home is sold and we move to Texas you'll have a new house and a backyard to play in (and pee in til your heart's content!). You won't need to stay in your crate anymore and it will be much more fun.

Muggsy: