If your dog is getting a little gray around the muzzle and they’re not quite as active as they used to be, they’re probably heading towards their senior years. Along with changes in their physical appearance and energy levels, pet parents may notice changes in their senior dog’s behavior. For example, they’re grumpy (or grumpier), they forget where things are or they have accidents in the house. These behavior changes shouldn’t just be considered a part of old age — they may be a result of changes in your dog’s health that can be managed by your veterinarian and by adjustments at home.
When Are Dogs Considered Seniors?
When your dog reaches senior status depends on their breed. The American Animal Hospital Association defines the senior stage as, “From the last 25% of estimated lifespan through end-of-life.” So becoming a senior depends on the expected lifespan of your dog. Small breeds generally live longer than large breeds, so they will become seniors at a later age. For giant breeds like the mastiff, they can be considered seniors at just 5 years of age!
Causes of Senior Dog Behavior Changes
There are typically two reasons for senior dogs’ behavioral changes: underlying medical conditions and cognitive dysfunction (their brain doesn’t work as well as it used to). Older dogs often have medical conditions that are the underlying cause of their behavior. For example, arthritis or joint pain can make dogs irritable and a little wary when people or other pets go to touch them. Vision or hearing loss can make them more cautious and less responsive. Kidney disease or urinary tract infections could be the reason behind their incontinence.
When senior pets experience cognitive decline, it can lead to changes in behavior like confusion, separation anxiety, memory loss and house soiling. A common disease in aging dogs is cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), also called canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), which affects the brain in a similar way to Alzheimer’s in people. Dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome have slowly progressing behavioral changes. However, if CDS is diagnosed early, the disease can sometimes be managed with medications and mental stimulation.
Help! My Senior Dog Is Pacing and Won’t Lie Down
Compulsive behaviors and repetitive activities like pacing are behavioral changes that can be observed in aging dogs. Senior dogs may also lick an object or themselves repetitively, stare at something continuously or snap at “flies” in the air. However, any of these behaviors can be due to medical issues, so if you notice your senior dog pacing or doing any other unusual behaviors, consult your dog’s veterinarian.
Senior Dog Behavioral Issues
There are many other behaviors that can appear as dogs age, and some of them can be frustrating for dog owners. Some examples of an older dog’s behavior include:
- Aggression — snapping over situations that wouldn’t normally bother them
- Sleep/wake cycle changes — awake more at night and sleeping during the day
- Anxiety — unsure of new things or not wanting to be alone (separation anxiety)
- House soiling — eliminating in the house or in their crate
- Confusion — not recognizing family members or not knowing where things are
- Lethargy — spending more time sleeping or lazing around, not wanting to play
- Less responsive — not understanding commands or not paying attention
- Excessive vocalization — howling, barking or whining more
- Destruction — a senior dog’s anxiety may cause destructive behavior
Managing Senior Dog Behavior Problems
As well as consulting with your vet, there are ways to adapt your life at home to help your senior dog feel more comfortable and potentially reduce some of their behavior problems. Vision and hearing problems can make your dog more cautious and easily startled, so approach them more slowly and make sure they’re aware of your presence before touching them. Get their attention by calling their name loudly, or by stomping or broadly waving at them if they’re deaf. You may also need to change training methods to adapt to their new needs.
If your dog is showing signs of confusion or disorientation, it’s important to keep changes to a minimum. For example, keep furniture in the same position, keep your dog’s food and water bowls and bedding in the same spot, and stick to a consistent routine.
Be adaptable and cater to your senior dog’s new needs. For example, if they no longer like anyone coming near them while they eat, respect this new behavior and keep pets and people away from them at dinner time.
Keep them active. A senior dog may not have the same energy levels as younger dogs, but it’s still important for them to exercise and be physically active (e.g., short daily walks) as well as mentally stimulated (e.g., puzzle toys, play hide and seek). Just adapt to their slower pace.
Behavior Changes as Dogs Age Shouldn’t Be Ignored
The behavioral changes you may notice in your senior dog shouldn’t just be accepted as a part of your dog getting older. There could be medical issues causing behavioral issues that can be treated or managed (e.g., dental disease decreasing a dog’s appetite). Pain from arthritis is often overlooked and it can manifest as various behaviors. It’s often difficult to tell how much pain they are in until they are treated appropriately. There are many options your veterinarian can offer to address pain in older pets. There are also ways to help manage cognitive decline in older dogs. So if you notice changes in your senior dog’s behavior, take them to your vet for a thorough examination. Early detection can result in a better outcome for your dog.
The behavior changes that senior dogs can go through, like house soiling or anxiety, can be challenging for pet parents. But remember that your dog is not doing it to make you mad — they’re experiencing difficult changes and need your support. The goal is to improve your dog’s quality of life and manage their senior years to make them as comfortable as you can.
