Do you think a full moon affects animal behavior? - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

Bluedobie · 02-24-2013, 05:51 PM

I'm sure all of us at one time or another have heard people talk about the "crazies" that come out during a full moon. I've been searching on the internet and most sites believe it is just an urban myth. What do you guys think?
The reason I ask is that my girl has been more, for the lack of a better term, disobedient the past couple of days. Earlier today, I took her on an almost hour long walk. She got to see the ducks, she got plenty of sniffing time etc. All in all she was very good. I just got back from another 40 minute walk and just before home, she starts biting the leash, biting my pants and in general being a brat. I can't figure out why. I stood still and tried to wait her out without looking at her, but it didn't help. I made her sit and treated her thinking I could distract her and it worked just for the treat, then back to biting. Sigh, maybe I'm just trying to come up with an excuse for her behavior or mine with this full moon stuff. Sorry for the long post, I was just curious as to others opinions and or experiences. Thanks.

falnfenix · 02-24-2013, 05:56 PM

she's still a baby. they go through spurts of being little brats.

dglvr · 02-24-2013, 05:59 PM

Sounds like a regular teenaged doberbrat to me..

bean · 02-24-2013, 06:05 PM

I haven't noticed that at all. But I have noticed that dogs under a year (or two years, for some) can get crazy for no apparent reason.

Stick with it!

GingerGunlock · 02-24-2013, 06:30 PM

I've noticed more "crazies" seem to come to the library at the full moon, certainly.

Elka's been kind of bratty lately, but i was just sick for a week and less than interactive, so that might be why. I'll try to keep track next full moon, to see if she's more "normal"!

lolonurse · 02-24-2013, 06:30 PM

well...i can tell you that most nurses i have worked with over the last 3 decades have taken it as a given that more women go into labor, more patients go a bit crazy, more strange things happen during a full moon... so if it affects humans, it must surely affect dogs, cats, fish, birds.... may not be scientific, but it sure seems to hold true!

Beaumont67 · 02-24-2013, 08:03 PM

Good or bad, I let my dobe carry the leash home, last block from home...they love it, and its a good ending & positive reward.

I believe people with some forms of mental illness &/or institutionalized, often ramp up their crazies...on a full moon.
- heard this in the educational field, real life human example after example
If a "full moon power" can affect the ocean tides, I am sure the possibility of minor change in dog behavior is there...or is an issue, if one allows it.

**Patches Mom** · 02-24-2013, 08:39 PM

Know when I worked at the hospital always hated working full moon time. Really have not noticed any thing with the dogs but most likely there is.

Odin's_Master · 02-24-2013, 09:27 PM

Not sure from an animal point of view. But my mom worked in a Toronto emergency room for 15 years and I work as a DSW with behavioral clients and we both agree that A LOT of crazy happens suing a full moon.

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kmbeach22 · 02-24-2013, 10:13 PM

Jasmine and one of her sisters, Baby (cat) seem like their normal crazy selfs. Her other sister on the other hand, Mimi (feral cat), is going nutso. She acts like this when there's storms too. She gallops through the house and then jumps up on beds, chairs, and then jumps back off and gallops round some more. It's pretty funny. She's going nutty-nuts tonight too. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the full moon.

**SpecialK** · 02-24-2013, 10:48 PM

Another vote that the crazies go crazier during a full moon.

I've worked in a behavioral hospital and currently in a special ed school for kids with emotional/behavioral problems. Never fails, when things go all wonky and seems like every kid/classroom/unit is off the chain, you hear people asking, "is it a full moon?"--I can't tell you how many times I've finished one of those crazy days and checked...sure enough...full moon! (give or take a day).

I think if it affects people so much it makes a lot of sense that it would impact dogs and other animals. Not really sure how, though.

crazyinluvwithmydobes · 02-25-2013, 08:41 PM

Our crew acts up more around the full moon time so we believe it to be true. They seem to act different too when major storm events are going to come through.

Toby'shuman · 02-26-2013, 11:46 AM

My dogs tend to bark more when there is a full moon.

This of course could be because they can see more, (not sure how far a dog can see at night) and because full moon nights are usually quite still and sound travels better so they can hear all the other dogs in the area as if they were stood next to them.

dobermansrule · 02-26-2013, 12:42 PM

Q could care less about a full moon.. but I think it's because daddy pulls out the camera to photo the full moon (when they are visible here).