Can dogs have mental behavoir problems?

Question

well, its kind of a sad story. we found a cute puppy in the streets and my son picked him up, so we asked ourselves why would a nice puppy be lost or thrown away, so we took her in. the thing is that a few days later we found out that the puppy was not normal, she would go crazy and do the merry go round for a long while and then run like crazy and destroy everything, she would rip things tear down things, chew on everything and attack our other animals, she would also bring dirt after digging so much and garbage all around the house, its like a non stop tornado. so we couldn't deal with her and had no control over her, so I gave it to some neighboors that had a bunch of kids and they kept the dog for a few days and then dumped the dog on back to the streets and she ended home again. we couldn't deal with the puppy so I wanted to call the animal shelter and my mom (which is sick and cant take care of the dog, neither my son who is too young and I travel alot) said not to call the shelter because they will kill the dog or starve him to death and torture her (because this is not in the US, its in PR) and the animal shelter system is a dump and known for animal cruelty, but I didnt know this until my mom told me. so we ended up putting the dog on the streets near a nice neighborhood to see if someone can really take care of her. I think this was not a normal dog. can dogs be autistic or have a extreme bad behavior that you cant deal with them, like a psycho dog or something?

vets are too expensive over here and we tried to put her on a leach but she would somehow get loose or try to choke a few times and we saved her life. we just had no control and my mom says this dog may have extreme mental behavior problems. is this true?

Additional Details

nikko not to disrespect you, but I didnt want to throw the dog out. but if your mom was in a wheel chair for life and cant barely move, your son was 3 and you have to travel for months and your son its in daycare with other relatives that cant have or care for dogs and your mom its with a nurse who does not feed dogs because thats not her job, then how were we suppose to take care of it. this is not heavenly US or a modern country so put yourself in my life and shoes and see if you can either let go of the dog to be free, put her in a shelter to get tortured or starve the dog to death because you cant take care of it. choose of the 3 options and please get back to me.

Yodel: PR is a US territory but its way different in terms of caring for animals, well once there was an outrage in the news because the shelters were so full of animals that people didnt want that some were thrown freely to the streets and some were put alive in bags and thrown down a huge bridge and drawn to death, it was the most cruel and heartless thing I ever heard and saw in the news, so shelter its not an option.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Short answer- yes, dogs can indeed have "mental" problems akin to what we'd label a "psychosis" in a human. It's fairly rare. I've seen it once, in a Toy Poodle when I worked for a veterinarian. Constant bizarre, unsettling behavior....fluctuating from rage to hysteria to "cuddly" affection and right back to full-blown rage....all within a span of 5 minutes, with no triggers. I'll never forget it.

It's hard for anybody to accurately "label" the behavior you saw from the little stray dog. Could have been a mental problem....brain damage from a car injury; brain damage from consuming something poisonous- both reasonable hazards for a stray dog. Could have been born that way.

It could have also been an extreme example of a behavior problem compounded by hyperactivity. A dog with no training and a "rough" upbringing....it's very hard to say without seeing her behavior, whether she was just stressed and confused from her lifestyle, lacking direction and training, or if she was genuinely "mentally disturbed".

It's a shame there wasn't any safe place you could take her....I didn't know PR was so far behind the US in terms of animal care standards? Are there any independent dog rescue groups in PR? Maybe if you could find enough dog-loving people in your community you could organize an effort to either clean up the shelter or form a volunteer-run dog rescue group. Just an idea if you're feeling ambitious today :)

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

thanks

Answer 2

Yeagh it can.

Source(s):

almost.

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

Most defiantly ! If you got the dog from someone selling the pups of their pets or bought from a Pet Store which is stocked by puppy mills. These places are known for the sick dogs they sell.

Contact your Vet or a trainer & get an evaluation.

Answer 5

You wonder why the dog is behaving like this??? Just look at what you and everyone else did to this dog.You take it in love a bit and give no training expecting the dog to know what it is suppose to do.Then you give it to a neighbor,they keep a few days throw it out and then you take it and throw it back on the streets.I think I would be nuts too!!! Do you really think a puppy with no training on what is right and what is wrong whats good whats bad is suppose to know from the day it was born..Heck NO..This poor thing has'nt a clue as to why it's being thrown aroun like a rag doll with no one to love ot.Do you bring a child into this world and treat it the same way NO.I think this is cruel on your part and the dog does'nt have a chance if no one is willing to train it..Shame on you guys!!!