Nervous Dog and Cranky Cat

Since we moved into the new house, Bandit has gotten into a bad habit of hiding under the bed whenever he's nervous (he would sleep under there at night too). We didn't set up his crate in the new house, so that might be part of the problem. But if Marc and I are playing video games (in other words, we're usually yelling and cussing), or if we're bickering or arguing even a little bit, Bandit heads straight for the underside of the bed.

It's no small feat for him either, as a 50-pound dog doesn't fit really well under a bed. He literally has to lie on his side, and pull himself under using a swimming motion with his legs. It's ridiculous.

We finally got around to blocking off the bed, and Marc set up his crate in the bedroom. We have it all covered up and everything so that it's like a nice, safe den for him to lie in when he needs to "get away." It's been working pretty well so far, as he doesn't try to go under the bed nearly as much anymore, and sleeps in his crate most nights.

Well, last night, poor Bandit was trying to go to bed, when he discovered that Stubby had decided to take up residence in his crate. How did he find out? He stuck his head in, and promptly got a good whack on the head from a cat's paw.

I moved Stubby out, and Bandit went in. A few minutes later, Stubby went to go check out the crate again, and Bandit got out. When Bandit tried to go back in again, he got whacked again by the little squatter.

Bandit finally went out to go sleep in the hallway.

A little while later, right before I fell asleep, I saw Bandit come back inside, and he oh-so-carefully poked his head in his crate. He didn't go in, and instead just looked back at me, concerned. So I got up and checked the crate. No sign of Stubby, who must have decided to go sleep elsewhere. Safe at last, Bandit went in his crate to sleep for the night.

Stubby has just been cranky lately! He has been sort of a Jekyl and Hyde. One minute he's sweet to his sister (they have always gotten along well), and the next he's hissing and growling at her. Poor Snuggles doesn't seem to know what his problem is. Most of the time he's just a super lovebug with me, always being affectionate, but every once in a while he starts getting cranky about something while I'm holding him.

Just this morning he was hissing at Snuggles while I was holding him, and I scolded him and put him down. As I walked away from him, he ran up to me and smacked me on the back of my leg! No claws or anything, it seemed more like him being a brat than being malicious. Another time, Bandit happened to be lying on the floor when I put Stubby down during a cranky moment. Stubby went over to Bandit and started to lick him, but then suddenly just started smacking him in the face. Poor dog just closed his eyes and took it.

I think he gets out of sorts with the foster cats around, even though they're in their own room most of the time. They really make him ornery, and I think sometimes he thinks they're running about when they're not.

Pets, I tell ya!