Behavior Problems in Older Dogs | ASPCA

Dogs who sleep more during the day can become more restless and active at night. Some dogs start overreacting to things they once ignored, like the garage door ... Skiptocontent YouareherePetCareDogCareCommonDogBehaviorIssues BehaviorProblemsinOlderDogs TheEffectsofAgingAstheyage,ourdogsoftensufferadeclineinfunctioning.Theirmemory,theirabilitytolearn,theirawarenessandtheirsensesofsightandhearingcanalldeteriorate.Agingcanalsochangetheirsocialrelationshipswithyouandotherpetsinyourhome.Understandingthechangesyourdogisundergoingcanhelpyoucompassionatelyandeffectivelydealwithbehaviorproblemsthatmayariseinyourdog’ssenioryears.Besuretoreportallchangesyouseetoyourdog’sveterinarian.Don’tassumethatyourdogis“justgettingold”andnothingcanbedonetohelphim.Manychangesinbehaviorcanbesignsoftreatablemedicaldisorders(pleaseseeRulingOutSpecificMedicalProblems,below),andthereareavarietyoftherapiesthatcancomfortyourdogandmanagehissymptoms,includinganypainhemightbeexperiencing.Inadditiontoseekingprofessionalhelpfromyourveterinarianandananimalbehaviorexpert(suchasaCertifiedAppliedAnimalBehaviorist,CAABorACAAB)fortheage-relatedbehaviorissuescoveredinthisarticle,akeycontributingfactortokeepingyourolderdoghealthyistocontinuetoplaywithhim,exercisehimandtrainhimthroughouthislife.Youwilllikelyneedtoadaptplayandexercisetohisslowermovements,reducedenergylevel,decliningeyesightandhearing,andanymedicalconditionshemayhave.TalktoaCertifiedProfessionalDogTrainerinyourarea(CPDT)forfunwaystoteachyourolddognewtricks.Patientlykeepinginmindhisslowerlearningcurve,youcanhavefunsharpeninguprustybehaviorsheoncelearnedandteachinghimsomenewbehaviorsandtricks.ACPDTcanalsohelpyouchangeyourverbalcuestohandsignalsifyourdoghaslosthishearingandhelpyouadjustyourtrainingforanyphysicalimpairmentsyourdogmayhavedeveloped.Therearemanywaystokeepyourolderdog’slifeinterestingandstimulatingthatdon’trequirevigorousphysicaleffort.Justaswithhumans,dogsneedtousetheirbrainsandbodiestomaintaintheirmentalandphysicalfitness.Asthesayinggoes,useitorloseit!ChecklistforCognitiveDysfunctionFollowingisalistofpossiblechangesandsymptomsinyourseniordogthatcouldindicatecognitivedysfunction.Confusion/SpatialDisorientationGetslostinfamiliarlocationsGoestothewrongsideofthedoor(wherethehingeis)Getsstuckandcan’tnavigatearoundoroverobstaclesRelationships/SocialBehaviorLessinterestedinpetting,interactions,greetingpeopleorotherdogs,etc.Needsconstantcontact,becomesoverdependentandclingyActivity—IncreasedorRepetitiveStares,fixatesonorsnapsatobjectsPacesorwandersaboutaimlesslyLicksyou,familymembersorobjectsalotVocalizesmoreEatsmorefoodoreatsmorequicklyActivity—Decreased,ApatheticExploreslessandrespondslesstothingsgoingonaroundhimGroomshimselflessEatslessAnxiety/IncreasedIrritabilitySeemsrestlessoragitatedIsanxiousaboutbeingseparatedfromfamilymembersBehavesmoreirritablyingeneralSleep-WakeCycles/ReversedDay-NightScheduleSleepsrestlessly,awakensatnightSleepsmoreduringthedayLearningandMemory—HouseSoilingEliminatesindoorsinrandomlocationsorinviewofyouorfamilymembersEliminatesindoorsafterreturningfromoutsideEliminatesinsleepingareas(forexample,inhiscrateoronthecouchorfloor)Usesbodylanguageless(bodyposturesandsignalsassociatedwithfeelings)Developsincontinence(accidentalreleaseofbladder)LearningandMemory—Work,Tasks,CuesDemonstratesanimpairedabilitytoworkorperformtasksSometimesseemsunabletorecognizefamiliarpeopleandpetsShowsdecreasedresponsivenesstoknowncuesforobedience,tricks,sportsandgamesSeemsunableorslowertolearnnewtasksorcuesRulingOutOtherCausesforYourDog’sBehaviorIfyourdogshowsanyofthesymptomsorchangeslistedabove,yourfirststepistotakehimtohisveterinariantodeterminewhetherthereisaspecificmedicalcauseforhisbehavior.Anymedicalordegenerativeillnessthatcausespain,discomfortordecreasedmobility—suchasarthritis,dentaldisease,hypothyroidism,cancer,impairedsightorhearing,urinarytractdiseaseorCushing’sdisease—canleadtoincreasedsensitivityandirritability,increasedanxietyaboutbeingtouchedorapproached,increasedaggression(sinceyourdogmaychoosetothreatenandbiteratherthanmoveaway),decreasedresponsivenesstoyourvoice,reducedabilitytoadapttochangeandreducedabilitytogettousualeliminationareas.Ifmedicalproblemsareruledout,andifprimarybehaviorproblemsunrelatedtoagingareruledout(forexample,problemsthatstartedyearsbeforeyourdogbeganagingorthosethatstartedinresponsetorecentchangesinhisenvironmentorfamily),thenthesebehavioralsignsarepresumedtobeduetotheeffectsofagingonthebrainandarediagnosedas“cognitivedysfunctionsyndrome.”TreatmentofCognitiveDysfunctionTheprimarysignsofcognitivedysfunctionsyndromecanbesummarizedwiththeacronymCRASH,whichstandsfor:Confusion/disorientationResponsiveness/recognitiondecreasesActivitychangesSleep-wakecycledisturbancesHousetraininglapsesCognitivedysfunctionsyndromecanbetreatedbyyourdog’sveterinarianwiththedrugselegilinehydrochloride(brandnameAnipryl®).Thereareanumberofothermedicationsandsupplementsthatyouandyourvetmayconsideraswell.It’smosteffectivetocombinedrugtherapywithbehavioraltreatmentthat’sbasedonthespecificproblemsyourdogishaving.SpecificGeriatricBehaviorProblemsandTheirBehavioralTreatmentAnxiety—IncludingSeparationAnxietySomecommonconcernsreportedbyguardiansofagingdogsareincreasedsensitivityandirritability,increasedfearofunfamiliarpetsandpeople(sometimesaccompaniedbyaggression),decreasedtoleranceoftouchandrestraint,increasedfollowinganddesireforcontact,andincreasedanxietywhenleftalone.Noisesensitivityfromhearinglosscanalsomakesomedogsmoreanxiousandvocal.Yourownfrustrationanddistressoveryourdog’sbehaviorcanaddtoyourdog’sanxietyaswell.Ifhousesoilinghasbecomeaproblem,someguardiansopttocratetheirdogswhenthey’renothome.Unfortunately,confiningaseniordogtoacratecanraisehisanxietylevelifhe’sneverbeencratedorisnolongeraccustomedtoit.Tomakethingsworse,ifhecan’tgetcomfortableinthecrate,orifhecan’tcontrolhisbowelsorbladder,he’llbeevenmoreanxiousandmayattempttoescape.Inthesecases,itmaybetheconfinement,nottheguardian’sdeparture,thatcausesanxiety.Ifit’stheguardian’sdepartureandabsencethatcausesadog’sanxiety,it’scalledseparationanxiety.Thecardinalindicatorsofseparationanxietyare:Predepartureanxiety:pacing,panting,salivating,hiding,tremblingordepressionasyoupreparetoleaveHousesoiling(orsoilingthecrate),destructivenessorvocalizingthatoccursoonafteryouleavethehouseDestructivenessdirectedatexitpoints,likewindowsanddoors,andhousesoilingwhileyou’regoneRefusaltoeatwhenleftalone(evenifyouleaveyourdogfood,treatsorafood-stuffedtoy,hedoesn’teatatallwhenyou’regone,butdoesafteryoureturn)Themostimportantfactorindiagnosingthesebehaviorsasseparationanxietyisthattheyoccuronlyduringyourabsence.Ifthesebehaviorsoccurwhileyouoryourfamilymembersarehome,otherissuesmaybecausingtheminstead.Forexample,ifyourdogsoilsinthehousebothwhenyou'regoneandwhenyou'rehome,youprobablyhaveahousetrainingproblem.Thesameistrueofdestructiveness.Ifdestructivechewinghappenswhenyou'rehome,it'satrainingissue,notseparationanxiety.Adistinctfeatureofgeriatric(late-onset)separationanxietyisthatitcanmanifestasnighttimeanxiety,almostasifyourdogviewsyoursleepingasaformofseparation.Yourdogmaykeepyouawakebypacing,pantingandpawingatyou,anddemandingattention.Thistypeofseparationanxietymayindicateundiagnoseddisease,anditcanberelievedbytreatingthediseaseor,atminimum,relievingyourdog’spainordiscomfort.Athoroughexaminationbyyourdog’sveterinarianiscrucialtodeterminewhetherthere’samedicalbasisforyourdog’sanxiety.Treatmentforseparationanxietyinvolvescontrollinganyunderlyingmedicalproblemsandusingabehavioraltreatmentcalleddesensitizationandcounterconditioning(DSCC).Identifyingandchanginganyofyourownresponsesthatmightbeaggravatingyourdog’sbehaviorisalsohelpful.Inconjunctionwithbehavioraltreatment,pheromonesanddrugscanbeusedtoreduceanxietyandimproveyourdog’scognitivefunction.Pleaseseeourarticle,SeparationAnxiety,formoredetailedinformationonthisdisorderanditstreatment.   ExcessiveVocalizationYourseniordog’svocalizingcanbecomeaproblemifhedoesittoooftenoratinappropriatetimes,likewhenyou’resleeping.Anxiousvocalizingisusuallyaplaintivehowlorexcessivewhining.Ifyourdogdoesitonlywhenyou’regone,itcouldindicateseparationanxiety.Ifhedoesitwhenyou’rehome,thenyou’llneedthehelpofabehavioristorveterinarybehavioristtodeterminewhat’scausingyourdogtovocalizesomuch.Lossofhearing,cognitivedysfunction,centralnervoussystemdisordersandmedicalconditionscanallcontributetoyourdog’sexcessivevocalization.Hemightwhineorhowlifhefeelstheurgetoeliminatemore,ifhe’sovereatingandwantsyoutogivehimmorefood,orifhe’sinpain.Ifyourdoghasbecomemorefearfulandanxious,hemightbeginvocalizingatthingsthatscareorstresshim,likenoisesorvisitors.Showingyourownfrustrationorpunishingyourdogforvocalizingcanalsoincreasehisanxietyandaggravatetheproblem.Onceanyunderlyingmedicalproblemandcognitivedysfunctionaretreated,behavioraltreatmentinvolvesidentifyingandmodifyinganyofyourownresponsesthatmightbereinforcingoraggravatingyourdog’sbehavior.Forsomedogs,trainingthemtobequietoncueandrewardingquietbehavioriseffective.Forotherdogs,nonshockbark-controlcollars,suchasthecitronellacollar,maybeneeded.Drugtherapymayalsohelpifyourdog’svocalizationsaremotivatedbyanxiety.Pleaseseeourarticle,Howling,formoreinformationonthevariouscausesandtreatmentsforexcessivevocalizing. Restlessness/WakingatNightDogswhosleepmoreduringthedaycanbecomemorerestlessandactiveatnight.Somedogsstartoverreactingtothingstheyonceignored,likethegaragedooropeningorthenewspaperbeingdelivered.Keepingarecordcanhelpyouidentifywhattriggersyourdog’snighttimeactivity.Sensorychanges,suchaseyesightorhearingloss,canaffectyourdog’sdepthofsleep.Hissleep-wakecyclesmaybeaffectedbycognitivedysfunctionorothertypesofcentralnervoussystemdisorders.Askyourdog’sveterinariantodoacompleteexaminationtolookformedicalproblemsthatcouldcauserestlessness,discomfortoranincreasedneedtoeliminate.Anymedicalproblemsshouldbetreatedfirst,andthen,ifnecessary,youcangentlyretrainyourdogtoreestablishnormalsleepingandwakinghours.Tryincreasinghisdaytimeandeveningactivitybygivinghimfrequentwalks,playinghisfavoritegames,practicingobedienceortricks,andgivinghimfood-puzzletoysandbonestochew.Youcanalsoaskhisveterinarianaboutcombiningyourretrainingwithdrugstoinducesleepor,alternatively,drugstokeepyourdogmoreactiveduringtheday.  HouseSoilingAswithallthebehaviorproblemscoveredhere,anynumberofmedicalproblemscancontributetohousesoiling,includingsensorydecline,neuromuscularconditionsthataffectyourdog’smobility,braintumors,cognitivedysfunction,endocrinesystemdisorders,andanydisorderthatincreasesyourdog’sfrequencyofeliminationordecreaseshisbladderorbowelcontrol.Ifyourdogsoilsinthehouseonlywhenyou’regoneandshowsothersignsofseparationanxiety(pleaseseeabove,Anxiety—IncludingSeparationAnxiety),thenhemaybesufferingfromthisdisorder.Pleaseseeourarticle,SeparationAnxiety,fordetailedinformationonthisproblemanditstreatment.Sincethey’reoftenlessadaptabletochange,someolderdogsmightbeginsoilinginthehouseifthere’sachangeintheirschedule,environmentorhousehold.Onceyourdoghasusedanindoorlocationtoeliminatewhenyou’regone,thatareacanbecomeestablishedasapreferredspot,evenifyou’vecleaneditthoroughly.It’softennecessarytohaveacompletebehaviorhistorytakenbyaqualifiedprofessional,suchasaCertifiedAppliedAnimalBehaviorist(CAABorACAAB),aboard-certifiedveterinarybehaviorist(DipACVB)oraCertifiedProfessionalDogTrainer(CPDT),todeterminethereasonforyourdog’shousesoilinganddesigneffectivetreatment.Tofindoneoftheseexpertsinyourarea,pleaseseeourarticle,FindingProfessionalBehaviorHelp.Onceyourdog’smedicalissueshavebeenidentifiedandtreated—forexample,afterhisanxietyhasbeeneased,hispainreducedorhisincontinencecontrolledthroughmedication—thenyou’llneedtoreestablishproperhousetrainingwiththesamemethodsyouusedwhenhewasapuppy.Thesemethodsincludeclosesupervisionindoors,confinementinacrateorothersmallareaawayfrompreviouslysoiledsiteswhenyoucan’tcloselysupervise,andaregular,frequentscheduleoftripsoutdoorswithtastyrewardsforoutdoorelimination.Youmayneedtoadjustyourscheduletoaccommodateyourdog’sneedformorefrequenteliminationinhissenioryears.Ifyoucan’t,considerhiringadogwalkerorprovidingyourdogwithaplaceindoorstoeliminate,suchasnewspapers,adoglitterboxorpottypads. DestructiveBehaviorJustaswithotherbehaviorproblemsofseniordogs,theunderlyingcauseofdestructivebehaviorneedstobedeterminedinordertoprovideeffectivetreatment.Somedestructivebehaviorsreportedinseniordogsarepica(ingestinginedibleobjects);licking,suckingorchewingbodyparts,householdobjectsorfamilymembers;andscratchinganddigging.Eachofthesemayhaveadifferentcause,soathoroughmedicalevaluationcombinedwithabehavioralhistoryisnecessarytodetermineacauseorcausesforyourdog’sbehavior.Forexample,cognitivedysfunctionmightbeconsideredindogswithlicking,chewingorpica.Treatmentofunderlyingmedicalproblemsandcognitivedysfunctionmayresolvesomeproblemsbutnotothers.Ifyourdogissufferingfromanxiety,phobiaorfearofparticularthings(people,situations,objects,thunder,etc.),theseissuesneedtobetreated.PleaseseeFearsandPhobiasbelowformoreinformation.Modifyingyourhomeandyourdog’senvironmentcanbehelpfulaswell.Preventaccesstositeswhereyourdog’sdestructivenesshasoccurredormightoccur,andprovidehimwithnew,interestingtoystochew(orbones,rawhides,bullysticks,food-stuffedtoys,etc.).FearsandPhobiasSensorydecline,cognitivedysfunctionandanxietycanallcontributetofearsandphobias.Thefirststepintreatmentistocontrolunderlyingmedicalproblemsandcognitivedysfunction.Olderdogscansufferfromfearsandphobiasofnoiseandthunderstormsand,lesscommonly,ofgoingoutdoors,enteringcertainroomsorwalkingoncertaintypesofsurfaces.Dogguardians’ownunderstandablyfrustratedreactiontotheirdogs’behaviorcanalsoaggravatetheproblem—especiallypunishmentisused.Trykeepingyourdogawayfromwhatevertriggershisfearsorphobia,ormaskingthenoisewithbackgroundmusic.WiththeguidanceofaCertifiedAppliedAnimalBehaviorist(CAABorACAAB),youcanalsousebehavioraltreatmenttochangeyourdog’semotionalresponsetothingsthatfrightenorupsethimand,asaresult,changehisbehavior.(Pleaseseeourarticle,FindingProfessionalBehaviorHelp,tolocateaCAABorACAABinyourarea.)Seeyourveterinarianaboutpossibledrugorpheromonetherapyforpanicandanxiety,whichcanalsohelpeaseyourdog’sfearsandanxiety. CompulsiveandStereotypicBehaviorsCompulsiveandstereotypicbehaviorproblemsencompassawidevarietyofbehaviorswithmanypossiblecauses.They’redefinedasritualized,repetitivebehaviorsthathavenoapparentgoalorfunction.Examplesincludestereotypiclickingorovergroomingthatresultsinself-injury(“hotspots,”forexample),spinningortailchasing,pacingandjumping,airbitingorflysnapping,staringatshadowsorwalls,flanksuckingandpica(eatinginedibleobjects,likerocks).Somemedicalconditions,includingcognitivedysfunction,cancontributetoorcausethesebehaviors.Compulsivedisordersoftenarisefromsituationsofconflictoranxiety.Thingsorsituationsthatmakeyourdogfeelconflicted,stressedoranxiouscanleadhimtoengageindisplacementbehaviors,whichcanthenbecomecompulsiveovertime.(Displacementbehaviorsarethosethatoccuroutsideoftheirnormalcontextwhendogsarefrustrated,conflictedorstressed.Anexampleisadogwhostopssuddenlytogroomhimselfwhileenroutetohisguardianwhohasjustcalledhim.Hemaybeunsureofwhetherhe’sgoingtobepunished,soheexpresseshisanxietybygrooming,liplicking,yawningorsniffingtheground.)Drugtherapyisusuallynecessarytoresolvecompulsivedisorders.Butifyoucanidentifythesourceofconflictearlyonandreduceoreliminateit(suchasconflictbetweenyourpetsorinconsistentordelayedpunishmentfromyou),behavioraldrugtherapymaynotbenecessary. AggressionAmultitudeoffactorscancontributetoanincreaseinadog’saggressivebehavior.Medicalconditionsthataffectyourdog’sappetite,mobility,cognition,sensesorhormonescanleadtoincreasedaggression,ascanconditionsthatcausehimpainorirritability.Aggressiontofamilymemberscanoccurfollowingchangesinthefamilymakeup,suchasmarriageordivorce,deathorbirth.Aggressiontootherpetscanoccurwhenanewpetisintroducedtothefamily,asayoungerdogmaturesorasanolderdogbecomesweakerorlessassertive.Increasedaggressiontowardunfamiliarpeopleandanimalscanarisefromyourdog’sincreasinganxietyandsensitivityasheages.Aggressioncan’tbeeffectivelytreateduntiladiagnosishasbeenmadeandthecausehasbeendetermined.Pleaseseeourarticle,FindingProfessionalBehaviorHelp, tolocateaqualifiedanimalbehaviorexpertinyourarea,suchasaCertifiedAppliedAnimalBehaviorist(CAABorACAAB)oraboard-certifiedveterinarybehaviorist(DipACVB).Ifyoucan’tfindabehaviorist,youcanseekhelpfromaCertifiedProfessionalDogTrainer(CPDT),butbesurethetrainerisqualifiedtohelpyou.Determinewhethersheorhehaseducationandexperienceintreatingaggression,sincethisexpertiseisnotrequiredforCPDTcertification.Oneoftheseprofessionalscanevaluatethesituationandhelpyoutreatyourdog’saggression.Treatment—whetherdrugtherapy,behaviortherapyormakingchangesinyourdog’senvironment—willdependonthespecifictypeofaggressionanditscauseortriggers.Forexample,treatmentforfear-basedaggressioninvolvesdesensitizationandcounterconditioning(DSCC),aswellastrainingtoimproveyourcontroloveryourdog. Avoidingorpreventingthetriggersofyourdog’saggressionmaybethebestoptioninthesecases.Headhalterscangiveyoumorecontroloveryourdogandincreaseeveryone’ssafety.Pleaseseeourarticle,AggressioninDogs,formoreinformation.1Landsberg,G.,Hunthausen.W.,&Ackerman,L.(2003).HandbookofBehaviorProblemsoftheDogandCat.Saunders:NewYork. 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