We're completely confused and sure would love some opinions, ideas, feedback, whatever. I'll try to make this as brief as possible. Murphy will be 3 in May. Since February of 2007, he has gone one day each week to PetsMart for Day Camp. He has also boarded there about 5 times. There has never been any kind of problem whatsoever. In fact, everyone has told us that he is absolutely the sweetest, happiest, boy and always has a great time. He's always very excited to go and can hardly wait to get into the playroom. Once there, he runs about meeting and greeting everyone and is soon swept up in the crowd, off and running. Each dog is put into a kennel for an hour from 12:00 to 1:00, then back to play until 5:00 when they go back to their kennels until they are picked up. Murphy is always tired, but happy, when we pick him up. We take food, which he almost always completely finishes.
Last week, we got a call, midafternoon, that he was panting and shaking, and had a fast heartrate. They were taking him upfront to the Vet's office, to be checked. We went over there immediately. He was still shaking when we got there. Once we sat down with him, he began to settle down. We had sent his whole day's food, which is put into his dish free feed, the way he eats at home. He has always eaten half at noon and the other half at 5:00, and almost always finishes it all. That day, he had eaten the entire ration at noon! When they came to put him back in the play room, he didn't want to leave his kennel. They picked him up and carried him to the play room and he just kind of hid in the corner and "didn't act like himself". They said they were all trying to find out what was wrong and then he began the panting and shaking.
When we got him into the car and back home, he acted perfectly normal and has been fine all week. We decided that maybe his tummy hurt from so much food and he didn't feel like playing. Then when everyone began to hover over him, it upset him. He does pick up on tension around him.
Today, he went back to Day Camp and was excited and happy when he went into the playroom. I had divided his food into two bags, one for lunch, one for dinner. I called about 1:30 and they said he had eaten most of his lunch and was in the playroom. When we picked him up this evening, they said he had done the same thing as last week, about 2:30. They put him back in the kennel for awhile, and then brought him back to the playroom, but he didn't want to play with the other dogs. They said he was fine with the people and wanted to cuddle close to them, but when they stopped petting him and went to be with the other dogs, he would go into a corner again.
They've suggested that next week we bring him to Day Care, rather than Day Camp. In Day Care, he will remain in the kennel except for about 30 minutes to an hour in the morning and again in the afternoon, in the playroom.
Do you think all day play is just too much for him, now that he's not such a puppy anymore? At home, during the week, he plays outside a lot, but also naps inside quite a bit. Maybe this intense day is getting to be a bit much for him? Or, do shiba's make changes like this at about this age?
Anne, Bill, and Murphy (I'm OK Mom!)
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy
Brrrr!
