creeping...?

Question
Hi, i was wondering why my 12 year old female black lab litterally creeps around bushes and plants like shes in some kind of trans..?

Answer
Dear Lindsay,

I have a few ideas about your question, but not nearly enough information (or as much as I would like) to provide a sound answer to this question.  Without the benefit of seeing (or obtaining reeally good, written detail) regarding what you dog is actually doing around bushes (there can be SO many variations and possibilities of what you are describing as 'creeping'...) I can't really say what she's doing.  While I have several images in my mind of what your dog _may_ be doing, none of them might be correct.  

Some of my questions would be:
- Is this a new behaviour?  If so, when did it start?  Did it coincide with hot weather, or with her coming into season/heat?  Is she spayed?

- Do you have any idea what caused the behaviour if it is new?  Might it have started when the weather became hot?  She is a black Lab, after all.  Black coloured dogs absorb a lot of heat in the sun.

- When was her last vet check-up, and what was done?

- You wrote that she 'plants' - but did you meant to write that she 'pants'?  If she 'plants,' do you mean she plants herself and won't move while under or near a bush; or do you mean that she gets near a bush, sniffs it, and then 'pants?'

- If 'pantng,' how long after you have been walking her does the panting start?  Is it hot out when you're walking her, or if she's on your own property doing this 'panting' or 'planting' herself?  Are your walks pretty long, or is her time outside in the heat if she's loose on your property or in a park long?  If so, your dog may be very hot and seeking shade.  If this is what she's doing, you need to keep her out in the heat for less time and also provide her with clean, cool water on walks - not too much at a time, but frequent laps of water as she indicates she needs or would like them when you offer.  Dogs can't sweat like people do - they cool off through their paw pads or by 'panting' (not 'planting'), so if it feels hot outside to you, it feels quite much more hot outside to your dog!

Try to send me as much information as possible in a follow-up, and I will see if I can send you a more thorough answer.  If you think I have answered your question already, please let me know and remember to rate my answer!

Best,
Madeline (www.ny-njDogTrainer.com) at AllExperts