Changes In Your Maturing Dog

Dogs, as they get older become more adversely affected by, and less adaptable to, stress and change. Unfortunately, many dog owners do not consider this when they make plans involving their aging pet. You may still get much pleasure running through the woods, retrieving sticks, but as your dog gets older he will not find it so easy to keep up.

What used to be great fun for him may now make him breathe harder and this might make him little grouchy.

You have changed the decor in your house, and there is now a new piece of furniture where your dog's bed used to be. Your dog will become moody, restless, and although he may never have urinated in his own space previously, he will not think twice about using the new item of furniture as a toilet. Why your dog does this will remain a mystery to you, until you put yourself in his shoes.

Whilst you should not spoil a dog just because he is aging, (many owners fall into this trap all too readily), you should be aware not to cause unnecessary stress for your pet. Is it vital that the new item of furniture has to be placed where your pet has always had his snooze? Remember, as far as the dog is concerned this particular spot belongs to him.

He would probably have reacted in a similar way to such changes when younger, but would soon have gone off and found another place to make his own. The older the dog the more difficult he will find it to change and this adjustment may result in undesirable behavior developing.

Your dog should be encouraged to partake in family life but you must remain alert to avoid the undue stresses of unnecessary change.

A dog can be both dependent and independent in his relationship with you. In youth he will be under your feet most of the time, following in your every footsteps. He just loves to be at your side everywhere you go, and there are very few occasions when he wants to be alone.

As he matures to an old dog, however, this often changes, and he may enjoy solitude a lot of the time. He still loves you just as much but, depending on his physical condition he just prefers to be by himself. He will still want to play from time to time and be your companion, but he is not likely to be as responsive to you as he was when he was younger.

Killing him with kindness by offering what in your mind are tasty morsels of human food such as ice cream, cake, bacon, or liver pate can create serious intestinal and stomach upsets due to the sudden change of diet. These nibbles may cause diarrhea and sickness and in the long run feeding him this way may discourage him from eating his normal food, which will in turn prevent the nutritional food balance he needs, whilst growing old.