Barbara Dobbins, my friend and frequent contributor to WDJ, once wrote a post for this space that described how her senior Border Collie, Daisy, had earned a “permanent hall pass” for jumping up on the counter to help herself to any food that had been left out. Two years into cancer treatment, Dobbins was happy that Daisy had an appetite! She also described other dogs she knew whose owners had decided to look the other way when the dogs did naughty things.
Otto is definitely showing some signs of aging
At 12 ½ years, my senior dog, Otto, has seemingly decided he should get a pass, too. My husband and I are not sure whether he’s getting a little senile, or simply emboldened by the plethora of as-yet uneducated foster puppies that have been trampling the landscaping and chewing drip-irrigation lines (or, alternatively, whining in a crate), or some combination of these things. Whatever the cause, the fact is that his behavior has begun to deteriorate just a bit.
Don’t get me wrong; he’s still a very, very good dog! But, adolescent misadventures aside, he’s always been near perfect – like the kid who sits in the front row and always – ALWAYS – has his hand up in class. If he hears me telling any other dog to “sit” or “down” or “come here,” he’ll pop up out of a dead sleep and run over to prove that he can perform those behaviors better and faster than the other dog can. So it’s a bit of a shock to have him completely blow me off when I call him after hearing him roar his terrible roar at the FedEx truck that’s passing by our house, and see him go tearing down the fence line, determined to chase the truck to the very edge of our property. How do I know he actually heard me and decided not to leave the chase? Because I could see him look over his shoulder and hesitate just a moment, and then decide, “Oh forget it, she’s too far away.”
Otto’s sudden interest in playing fetch
He’s also apparently decided that enough is enough when it comes to the relentless fetching of our younger dog, Woody – one of those dogs who would likely fetch until his feet turn bloody or until he passes out from heat exhaustion. If Otto is by himself, he will fetch a time or two, and then, chase the ball or other fetch item a third time, but just as he’s about to reach the fetch item, seemingly catch a whiff of some mystery aroma he just HAS to check out! “Excuse me, Mom, I think there was a raccoon on our lawn four nights ago, I should investigate.” In other words, he’s never been all that into fetching. But suddenly, he’s started to get very competitive when Woody is fetching.
He’s not nearly as fast or as coordinated as Woody, but he’s started to insert himself into any session of fetch, trying to beat Woody to any throw where that seems likely – which, because Woody never watches the ball, but just takes off running in the most likely direction, and Otto actually visually tracks the ball, Otto can get to more of the throws than he ought to be able to at his age. He also will try to intercept Woody on his way back to me with the ball and forcibly take the ball from him! Thank goodness, even though Woody is 4 ½ years old, he is still very submissive in the face of Otto’s “attacks.” He doesn’t quite give in, but he has not yet once tried to retaliate, either; he either tries to outmaneuver the older dog, or will stop and hunker down in a submissive pose, holding the ball tightly in his mouth and squinting his eyes tightly shut as Otto bites his face, trying to get the ball. “Sorry, man, I just can’t let go!”
Does Otto actually want to play fetch himself? Is he jealous of the attention that Woody gets for fetching? It seems that he just wants the ball; if he gets it, he just leaves with it! “Ha! That stupid game is over!” he seems to say. And, yes, I’ve tried having two balls on site when we are playing, so if Otto steals one, Woody and I can play on . . . Otto will drop whichever one we let him have and come in pursuit of the “active” ball in the game, so lately I’ve been putting him in the house when Woody needs a good, long session to work off some energy. I don’t want him to get hurt trying to overdo the fetching heroics!
It’s just weird, because he used to just watch Woody fetching like, “Yuck! What an idiot!” And now he’s like, “I have to STOP this!”
Other changes in Otto’s behavior
Also new: For most of his life, even if he didn’t want to do something, like, suffer through a bath in the yard with a hose, he would come when I called him. Slowly, sadly, but he would come (and he would get thanked, rewarded, and fussed over). Now, if he sees a hose and thinks a bath might be in the works, he just leaves, even if I’m calling him. “Nope! Just… nope!” He thinks – actually, he knows – I’m just not going to make him suffer through a hose bath anymore if he doesn’t want one.
But the biggest surprise came a few days ago, when my husband left his dinner unattended on the coffee table for a minute, and Otto just started helping himself to the food. WHAT?! He’s NEVER been a counter-surfer or helped himself to food like that before, which made both my husband and I wonder if this is a bit of dementia creeping in. He actually looked a bit surprised when both my husband and I, shocked at the same time, yelled “Hey!” I told my husband, we have to treat him more like a puppy again; we can’t take it for granted anymore that he knows all the house rules and will follow them. While I’m happy to issue him that “permanent hall pass,” and will likely just go ahead and let him have the rest of any burrito he manages to steal from now on, part of me is a little sad at these age-related behavior changes. Dogs just don’t live long enough! We’ll cherish all the time we have together, a little more now.
I can so identify with this article. I have watched 6 of my babies age over the past many years, and it is indeed hard. I’ve been relatively lucky in that I’ve had the time to adjust to their aging and infirmities, and yes they most definitely got a lot of “passes”.
Nancy, I don’t usually read or leave comments because the blow back from some of your readers drives me nuts…but please know that your article on older dogs is spot on. Over the last 3 years, I’ve lost three senior dogs (I obviously wasn’t thinking ahead when I brought three young dogs into my life!) at ages 13, 15 and 14. The golden at 13 was the first and the hardest – she slowly stopped enjoying our pet therapy visits so we stopped. Physical issues crept up on her as did the infamous thousand yard stare and getting lost in the fenced in yard – hall pass, no qualms. The English setter at 15 was next – her activity level remained high until she passed in her sleep but she became a grumpy old lady, Queen of the couch. Again, hall pass, no qualms. The failed foster was the last to go at 14. Despite medical and behavioral intervention from the age of 7 mos, she was never able to overcome her lack of early socialization – no hall pass necessary when cancer claimed her. I believe if we’re lucky enough to have a dog live to a ripe old age, a “hall pass” is a small price to pay. I am counting on my kids to feel the same about me when the time comes!
My Lab/pit mix Bear has been on the decline for over a year now. His hips just barely get him there on our short walks. I’ve tried several things to aid him and have found Osteo BiFlex helps the most. His cognition has slowed and I give him coconut oil that helps. Because he couldn’t get in bed with me and his sister Lulu I took my bed off the frame so he is able to. He can’t control his bowels anymore so I just clean him and the mess and go back to sleep. If he COULD control any of this he would. But he’s my faithful companion of 13 1/2 years and I’m blessed to repay all the love and devotion he’s given me. I praise God daily for another day shared with my Bear. It certainly is no fun to watch but we take it one day at a time. Peace
This warmed my heart! Thank you for sharing! 💙
Bear is lucky to have you and I know you feel just as lucky to have him. 🙂
My Cairn is 12 1/2 – and “STUBORN” episodes have also set in. He is well trained, but does respond “elective” now as per his choosing. The walks have become a big ordeal (“I sniff every leaf, thank you very much”) – the recalls are “If I feel like it I will come” – otherwise I just sit down and look at you. Medically he is o.k. – just had a major check up… hearing is FINE, he hears everything outside. And our senior Lab (12 years) and the Cairn, seem to both observe and copy the “bad manners”. I have decided to put effort into reinforcing good behavior and correct/re-train very bad behavior that is new. (Example: Excessive barking when someone walks past the fence or if there is a Squirrel in the tree …) other than that, they get the “senior “get out of jail free card …
The changes are very interesting, and challenging at times. What is reasonable to expect? What is really going on? (Avoiding labels etc). I feel blessed to have my 13 yo snoozing next to my chair while I work from home, I cherish every minute with him.
Aging dogs are a lot easier than aging dogs with CCD!
They forget their house breaking training, change in appetite and attitude toward owners, don’t know which side of door to go out, etc. Not to mention mobility issues. We started CBD and it has really helped.
My almost 14 yr old Chihuahua, Petunia, doesn’t exactly fit in with the size group in this discussion, but I see some similar behaviors. She doesn’t always respond to my command not to bark now, bc she has lost some of her hearing ability. This is also a blessing in disguise bc she used to be a nervous blubbering wreck when she heard thunder…she blissfully sleeps through it now. Loss of hearing is also “helping” her to not be a “challenge” dog. I recently adopted a 10 yr old Chi/Pom, Molly, who had always lived alone, and was worried that Petunia would be a little aggressive with Molly. Hasn’t happened, and I think a part of that is due to the fact that she can’t hear Molly growl at her if she gets too close; she just doesn’t hear the warning, but Molly also hasn’t carried through with bad behavior, partially, I think, bc Petunia doesn’t react. Another new behavior for Petunia is that she has become a “ball dog.” She will retrieve a small cat ball many many times before quitting. In other words, has become a little more playful than I ever expected. She has some health issues—high liver enzymes, possible EPI—and I thought at one time several weeks ago that we would have to say goodbye. But she has responded to a good food (I’m now feeding her Just Food For Dogs low fat hepatic diet) and pancreatic enzymes on her food. It IS tough watching our best pals grow older. My goal for her is a contented, pain-free life, so we’re taking her new, sometimes odd, behaviors in stride….happily 😊
I have rescued older Alaskan malamutes for 18 years and it is heartbreaking to watch them go from quite well to aging and final moments. Sometimes they had diseases or pain but I was able to keep them comfortable with a combination of pain control and herbs.
Last year I was given a different dog breed; a 10 year old Finnish Lapphund. He has advanced obedience, rally titles as well as being a therapy dog. When he came here he was almost like a puppy and I thought a smaller dog would live a lot longer than a big malamute.
He turned 11 in November and around that time suddenly he slowed down. I watched for some time and became concerned when he exhibited very low thyroid signs. I took him to the vet last week and his blood work is perfect. He is just aging. He also has decided what commands he will obey and which he won’t. He only chases toys in the house, not outside where he has to run further.
After watching 13 malamutes go through the aging and death process, this dog will get a pass on most behaviours. It is not that important to me that he be obedient all the time. I’m a pet owner, not a trial dog owner. His happiness is what is important to me.
Sorry. In above third line from bottom I meant “reprimands not “genteel. Must proof … must proof ….
I have a fifteen year old scruffy Terrier mix. I have had many rescues and he has always been one of the brightest and the most active. He is still very independent but now he also follows me from room to room and just wants to be where I am. I think this is because his hearing and vision are fading but when he’s with me he knows he’s good. He starts out fast on walks but a block is good enough for him now.
A minor issue is that my usually very relaxed and tolerant chowchow Ruby now tries to boss Griffin around as he is almost too old to defend himself. No teeth are gnashed or blood is spilled and I don’t put up with it; sharply calling her lets her know to leave him alone. I guess I am artificially Keeping him at the top of the pecking order but he’s Always been the boss and if it just takes a gentle to keep him there I am going to continue to do it. I really like old dogs. Oldest dog I’ve rescued was a nine year old Chow but she only lived three years.