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I live with my parents and a roommate who has a dog, a Catahoula husky mix named Moxi. She's trained not to bark and is energetic and if she goes into defensive mode, she's supposed to only growl. When things are intense and she needs to get attention, she does have a sharp, warning bark. Six months ago we moved into a new apartment and the neighbor below us was awful. Constant harassment, pounding on his ceiling, yelling, accusations, pounding on our door, stressing everyone out for six months until a couple of weeks ago when he finally moves. Moxi, however, is still acing on edge.
She's following my dad around more often and even following him into his bedroom when she used to be content on the couch, and I don't think it's just because he likes to spoil her. Last night she was by the door and barked; her sharp warning bark. Maybe a week before that she was in my parent's room and also barked. We weren't sure if she saw something out the window, or if she was asleep or had a bad dream.
A few months before that, and what I think started her use of warning barks, was when we had to call the police on the neighbor. It was late at night and from the porch, you can clearly see the police cars and the neighbor arguing and getting aggressive with the officers. Moxi was on watching, alert, and concerned, and she barked.
Also, during those six months, one of our cats unfortunately died, and I know she was fond of him and she acted differently after his death.
I'm convinced that all the stress is getting to her, that even though the neighbor is gone she is still in 'defense mode' and is developing or has developed anxiety. My parents don't really notice and are too busy with their own issues to deal with whatever is going on with her. My roommate, her owner, insists that what she is panicking about is spirits, but 'it's ok because they're not malevolent.' When I tried to point out everything that's been going on, what her symptoms were, and how he really just wants it to be ghosts because he loves the paranormal, his response was 'what, no, I don't want it to be spirits. My dog doesn't have anxiety, I've known her for years'
Should I let this go? Is her barking, acting skittish, clinging to my dad, restless sleep, all because of ghosts? If it's anxiety, what can I do to reassure her that she's safe now?
She's following my dad around more often and even following him into his bedroom when she used to be content on the couch, and I don't think it's just because he likes to spoil her. Last night she was by the door and barked; her sharp warning bark. Maybe a week before that she was in my parent's room and also barked. We weren't sure if she saw something out the window, or if she was asleep or had a bad dream.
A few months before that, and what I think started her use of warning barks, was when we had to call the police on the neighbor. It was late at night and from the porch, you can clearly see the police cars and the neighbor arguing and getting aggressive with the officers. Moxi was on watching, alert, and concerned, and she barked.
Also, during those six months, one of our cats unfortunately died, and I know she was fond of him and she acted differently after his death.
I'm convinced that all the stress is getting to her, that even though the neighbor is gone she is still in 'defense mode' and is developing or has developed anxiety. My parents don't really notice and are too busy with their own issues to deal with whatever is going on with her. My roommate, her owner, insists that what she is panicking about is spirits, but 'it's ok because they're not malevolent.' When I tried to point out everything that's been going on, what her symptoms were, and how he really just wants it to be ghosts because he loves the paranormal, his response was 'what, no, I don't want it to be spirits. My dog doesn't have anxiety, I've known her for years'
Should I let this go? Is her barking, acting skittish, clinging to my dad, restless sleep, all because of ghosts? If it's anxiety, what can I do to reassure her that she's safe now?
