Neurois

OK, I'm an incurable dog nut. I sometimes fantasize but not in reality. Our latest adoption was a 100# Rottweiler. It's been over a year but it's been obvious she had a good home and still remembers. I read an article where dogs are neurotic caused by a traumatic experience, possibly the loss of their home. She came to us as a stray and after about a month of trying to find her home, I wrote our phone number on her color. She had a new home but it was obvious she wanted me to take her back to her "home". No ID. Her pleading brown eyes made me feel guilty that I didn't know how. She has accepted us as her home and is super loyal and protective of our property.
The article I read said a dog that was stressed, neurotic, would lick their paws. She does this. She would stop when I told her to not lick her foot and looks at me with sad eyes, but with my new education I laid beside her and talked to her. She changed to licking my hand then took a nap. I will no longer just tell her to not lick her foot. It's a sign of mental stress. She remembers.. IMO..
I know that 99% of the folks here are dog nuts but I think many of us, though our dogs are rotten spoiled, may not totally understand them. This Rotti is the saddest of the three strays we've adopted. The other two appeared to not have a decent home if any.. She's having a hard time forgetting her other home, even after a year.. It's obvious she's happy but there's something in the back of her memory that's just not right...Our pets are thinking, feeling beings, not potted plants....FWIW, from a dog wacko..:)