As he or she ages, your dog’s behavior may change. You may notice some different facets of conduct creeping in to everyday life. This is nothing to of which to be afraid. Behavior changes are simply a part of getting old. It is only if the conduct becomes severe or bizarre that you may need to consult an animal behaviorist or a veterinarian. Either may help you decide whether training is the answer. While it may be true it is hard to teach old dogs new tricks, training older dogs may sometimes be necessary.
The types of behavior changes you may see in an older dog can range from the physical to the mental – in all sense of the word. On the one hand, your dog’s behavior may alter mildly. He or she may actually become more sedate and less excitable. On the other hand, an older dog might exhibit severe signs of separation anxiety or phobias. You need to react to them as symptomatic of old age.
Some problems of your pet are due to changing physical circumstances. The ability to control bowel movements is weaker in older dogs. This requires either diapering or altering your habits and movements to meet the new potty times. It is you, not the animal, who will require training.
Older dogs may also suffer from stress and anxiety. This may be the result of a changing environment. Senior dogs are less tolerant of change than puppies. If you move things about, introduce new people or animals, or move to a new home, this will stress out an older dog. As a result, the dog’s behavior may easily change. In this case, extra attention and positive reaffirmation of their needs is best.
In the case of increased vocalization or aggressiveness, consider some form of training. Older dogs can be led along new paths. First, however, see if the causes are physical. If an animal cannot see properly, it may become more aggressive. This is particularly true at twilight when shadows leap out and forms become fuzzier. A lack of hearing can also produce increased barking. Talk to a trainer and your Veterinarian to see about help in these areas when training older dogs.
Cognitive dysfunctions are found among some older dogs. Anxiety and separation anxiety are the two most common forms of this disorder. To deal with these and such things as aggression, consider professional help. You are dealing with an older dog and you do not want to increase the levels of stress. This could produce physical manifestations such as heart and respiration problems.
It is not easy dealing with the physical changes of your dog. Imagine how it feels from his or her end. While you need to prevent any bad behavior, you need to ensure you are meeting your dog’s needs. You must not consider a dog’s behavior a whimsical change, but as part of the aging process.
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