Dealing with pica dogs professional#

Ruling Out Other Causes for Your Dog’s Behavior Seems unable or slower to learn new tasks or cues.Shows decreased responsiveness to known cues for obedience, tricks, sports and games.Sometimes seems unable to recognize familiar people and pets.Demonstrates an impaired ability to work or perform tasks.Develops incontinence (accidental release of bladder).Uses body language less (body postures and signals associated with feelings).Eliminates in sleeping areas (for example, in his crate or on the couch or floor).Eliminates indoors after returning from outside.Eliminates indoors in random locations or in view of you or family members.Sleep-Wake Cycles/Reversed Day-Night Schedule Is anxious about being separated from family members.

Explores less and responds less to things going on around him.Licks you, family members or objects a lot.Needs constant contact, becomes overdependent and clingy.Less interested in petting, interactions, greeting people or other dogs, etc.Gets stuck and can’t navigate around or over obstacles.Goes to the wrong side of the door (where the hinge is).

As the saying goes, use it or lose it! Checklist for Cognitive Dysfunctionįollowing is a list of possible changes and symptoms in your senior dog that could indicate cognitive dysfunction. Just as with humans, dogs need to use their brains and bodies to maintain their mental and physical fitness. There are many ways to keep your older dog’s life interesting and stimulating that don’t require vigorous physical effort. A CPDT can also help you change your verbal cues to hand signals if your dog has lost his hearing and help you adjust your training for any physical impairments your dog may have developed. Patiently keeping in mind his slower learning curve, you can have fun sharpening up rusty behaviors he once learned and teaching him some new behaviors and tricks.

Dealing with pica dogs professional#

Talk to a Certified Professional Dog Trainer in your area (CPDT) for fun ways to teach your old dog new tricks. You will likely need to adapt play and exercise to his slower movements, reduced energy level, declining eyesight and hearing, and any medical conditions he may have. In addition to seeking professional help from your veterinarian and an animal behavior expert (such as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, CAAB or ACAAB) for the age-related behavior issues covered in this article, a key contributing factor to keeping your older dog healthy is to continue to play with him, exercise him and train him throughout his life. Many changes in behavior can be signs of treatable medical disorders (please see Ruling Out Specific Medical Problems, below), and there are a variety of therapies that can comfort your dog and manage his symptoms, including any pain he might be experiencing. Don’t assume that your dog is “just getting old” and nothing can be done to help him. Understanding the changes your dog is undergoing can help you compassionately and effectively deal with behavior problems that may arise in your dog’s senior years.īe sure to report all changes you see to your dog’s veterinarian.

Aging can also change their social relationships with you and other pets in your home. Their memory, their ability to learn, their awareness and their senses of sight and hearing can all deteriorate. As they age, our dogs often suffer a decline in functioning.