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Aging dogs, like some aging people, may suffer
from arthritis pain, may feel achy and stiff
in cold weather, or may just get less tolerant
and more crotchety as the years pass. Feeling
cranky may cause dogs to bark at things that
didn’t bother them much before – other
animals, noisy cars or equipment, or children.
Older dogs may develop problems with vision or
hearing
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that cause them to become startled more easily (this is
also one reason some older dogs start biting people
they’ve always liked before. If your dog snaps at you
and then acts immediately ashamed, you may have startled
him).
If your older dog is suddenly barking a lot, start by
checking out his physical surroundings and any obvious
changes in his health. If you don’t see anything
different, haul him off to the vet for a check-up and
talk to your vet about possible physiological changes
that may be causing your dog’s new behavior. As an older
dog’s hearing starts to go, he may bark at things that
are not really there. In his mind it’s better to be safe
and bark than to be caught unaware and asleep on the
job.
Sudden and/or prolonged barking may signify a change in
your dog’s mental state—old dogs sometimes suffer from
confusion and even dementia just as people may—and there
are drugs to help with these problems of aging.
Article Summary
Older dogs have unique health issues (pain, confusion,
crankiness) that may contribute to barking.
Have your dog’s eyes and ears tested.
Arthritis may make a dog feel achy and stiff –
especially in cold weather.
Notice whether he is sometimes startled.
Dogs may suffer from age-related dementia, or chronic
joint pain, which might cause them to bark and bite.
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