Have dogs tested for Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
Our 11-year-old dog started wandering out of the bedroom at night. He is pacing. Sometimes he has an accident. This is very uncharacteristic. We have to lead him back to the bedroom. The veterinarian has checked him for a bladder infection. The test came back negative. We have offered other options for places to sleep and adjusted the heat. None of this has helped. How do we get our old dog to sleep through the night?
When adult dogs exhibit changes in behaviour, the first course of action is a full medical workup. All of these behaviours can independently be symptomatic of a health issue. Alternatively, it could be a cluster of symptoms.
In elderly dogs, one possibility is Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD). CCD is similar to Alzheimer’s in humans. Other symptoms may include wandering, confusion and anxiety. Some dogs will stand facing a wall, seeming unable to back away from it. Diagnosis of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction happens by eliminating all other possibilities.
Dog trainers are not veterinarians. It would be overstepping to offer medical advice. However, when symptoms include behaviour changes, trainers should know that this particular cluster of symptoms requires a referral to a veterinarian.
They can encourage clients to discuss all of the changes in behaviour. Unless veterinarians know all the symptoms, diagnosis may be elusive.
Owners of pets with CCD may feel lost with this new reality. Training cannot fix this problem. Owners can find support in a new e-book entitled Remember Me?: Loving and Caring for a Dog with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, by Eileen Anderson. Anderson is quick to point out the necessity of seeing a veterinarian. The book offers hope by discussing the efficacy of pharmaceutical treatments. Dogs usually live comfortable lives right up to the end stages of the disease.
Other strategies discussed by Anderson include the importance of incorporating enrichment activities. Keep the senior dog’s brain active. Most importantly, create safety and support. Keep dogs confined if unable to be supervised. This may mean closing the bedroom door at night.
Install baby gates to prevent falls down stairs. While it might be sad to see our dogs age, modern medicine offers treatments that mitigate symptoms.
Our dog behaves very differently for the dog trainer than for us. When we try doing the training exercises, our dog wanders. However, she focuses completely on the trainer. We feel inadequate. Why won’t our dog respect us the way she respects the trainer?
Dogs should respond better to the trainer. A trainer has far more experience. That experience should translate into better results with nearly any dog they handle.
Do not feel inadequate. It would be like feeling inadequate learning hockey from Gretzky. He obviously is better. Gretzky’s greatness came with a lot of hard work. There is no escaping the learning curve or the practice. Soak up what you can.
Small but significant details get a dog’s undivided attention. Trainers reinforce good behaviour often and quickly. They actively watch for good behaviour.
Training goals are supported by giving treats in very specific locations. Pay close attention to where the trainer is placing rewards.
Experience matters. Professionals likely have taught the same behaviours to hundreds of dogs. Training looks effortless. They know when to push the dog a little harder and when to ease up. There was a time when every trainer was a novice. Most remember that the first step to doing anything well involves a little struggle. Practice and try without being afraid to fail. Dogs are forgiving.
A dog’s desire to work is not about respect. It is matter of skill. Skill is something everyone can learn. Yvette Van Veen is an animal behaviour consultant. advice@awesomedogs.ca.