Age

THE DOWNS VETERINARY PRACTICE

Age-related behavioural changes

Signs of age-related behavioural changes:

· Staring into space

· Failing to recognise familiar landmarks

· Sitting at the wrong door to be let out

· Delay before appearing to recognise you

· Decrease in enthusiasm when greeting

· Decrease in speed of response to commands

· Loses interest in games

· More irritable

· Sleeping for longer periods

· Pacing/barking at nights

· Loss of housetraining

Note that some of these signs are consistent with other age-related changes such as arthritis and urinary problems.

What to do

	Take your dog for 3-4 short walks per day to stimulate interest
	Take him outside frequently if he loses his housetraining and reward him for toileting outside. Do not punish him for soiling indoors.
	Emphasise rewards when he responds to simple commands
	Use exaggerated hand signals to reinforce commands
	Play recall games and ball games with food as reward
	Increase his independence by leaving him alone for short periods, which gradually increase with time
	Increase the predictability of routines eg ringing a bell when food is ready
	Consider use of the drug, Selgian