Senior Ransacking?????

[Amaruq]

I would like to know what the heck is going on with my two perfect little angel seniors. These two have been loose in the house for EVER and never, ever being bad. NEVER. The last THREE nights I have come home to all of my paperwork and junk (yes I will admit that my desk is a MESS right now). Nothing has changed these past three days but they have made a nasty mess. I doubt Lakota could do ALL of it as she simply cannot reach some of the stuff that they have pulled off. They each have their special "Senior toys" that they get when I go to work. Lakota her soft squeeky toys that the other dogs destroy and Chimo either his Occi or a Cuz that still squeeks. Each night that have assulted a different "section". I already told Chimo he WILL have a crate set up by Sunday. Lakota I can't really crate as she will scream bloody murder if I do and I cannot have her screaming the whole time I am at work. Aty least I should know at that point which one is instigating. I really have no way to confine Lakota.

I think something might be "off" with Chimo still. Whatever has been causing his hot spots and now I think he has been on antibiotics too long and possibly has some type of a UTI. Basically makes sense because antibiotics can throw the bacteria levels off and yadda yadda. Technically he COULD be acting out because he has to GO out. Knowing the intelligence he is probably trying to send me at email at work to come let him out. Normally speaking I could come home on my lunches to let them out.....but poor weather I cannot make it here and back in time and there is no one to let them out. Yes, I am calling the vet tomorrow.

This is kind of a vent kind of thinking out loud well out in cyber space anyway but also kind of leaving it open for suggestions.

[GSD10]

Ummm... interesing indeed! Wonder if you could set up a web/nanny cam to see what's going on. I don't have any suggestion other than that. Mas does what I call "jumping jack" where he just randomly gets up and starts whipping his body and playing like crazy out of no where. Wonder if Chimo is just doing something similar then getting a kick out of it all

...now I am going to be nervous to come home to my 2 senior and see what they have been up too!

[3K9Mom]

My trainer and I were just discussing this yesterday. She has an 11 year old. Our other trainer friend has a 10 year old. I have 15 year old Zamboni.

It's like our dogs just decide after years of being obedient, they're done with it. They know we're not going to reprimand them (well, not seriously). We're not going to send them back (the warranty has long expired. And who has the receipt anymore, anyhow?).

So, they do what they want to do. For example, Zamboni was never allowed near the table during the dinner. If she even looked at us during dinner from her bed, I'd ask her "are you begging?" and she'd look away. Now, she sits next to me at dinner and stares at me. When I say to her "you're begging," she stares harder, as if to say "yeah, so? Give me some food and I'll stop. "

They still follow direct commands, but with less enthusiasm. And they're far less compliant when we're not around.

What is it? We think it's that they're bored. Yeah, they lead really interesting lives, by OTHER dog standards. But this is the only life they've known (they're not other dogs) and they're bored with it. Maybe it's a tiny bit of dementia kicking in, but probably not.

My trainer is taking her agility dog and starting rally with him. I'm making an effort to put Zamboni in new classes ( I started taking agility classes with her last year, as well as obedience classes just for a change of pace...she doesn't need the OB classes, but it's a night out to meet new dogs and learn new commands. ). And the other trainer, whose dog is her demo dog and a therapy dog will likely try something new as well.

In other words, we're mixing up what they've always done with new stuff.

I know it will help. Zamboni has been doing water (swimming) therapy for years. Last week, I switched her to a new facility that has an underwater treadmill -- all new physical and cognitive skills required there. Last night, I watched her dream. Not twitching and murmuring, but her legs were running almost at the speed they were when she was on the treadmill. They say we process and download new info when we dream. Boni was definitely processing something!

And she's been in a great mood this week -- a little sore from the new work out, but in a great mood, and more compliant.

So...that's a LONG answer, eh? I'd rule out veterinary issues, then get your dogs into new activities. Tired dogs are good dogs, as you, of course, know. But seniors require new, different activities to tire out their brains. Mental stimulation. Same as what we tell puppy owners. The problem is our seniors have done all this before. We have to be creative and give them something new.

Oh, I love seniors. They're always teaching us something! Hugs to your Paq.

[angelaw]

Duchess is 12 1/2 now, going deaf as well. She has learned the hand signal I taught her for come, but she listens as she so chooses now. Granted, I don't crack down on her because I feel she doesn't have much time why waste it?

Sometimes you just gotta put up, lol. What about putting Lakota in the bathroom for the day?

[BowWowMeow]

How funny! Chama is deaf now and she knows how to take advantage. She heads straight for whatever she wants to get into (poop or cat food are the biggies) and then turns around to see how far away I am and gauge whether or not she will be able to get some of the forbidden goody before I get to her!

Last week she and I actually got into a fight because she kept eating Cleo's food no matter how well I barricaded it. Of course it was making her sick and also fatter.

So finally I put a full box into the barricade that Cleo can get over but Chama can't move. And this week I'm adding sardines and salmon to Chama's food to wean her from her cat food addiction.

[3K9Mom]

Quote:
Granted, I don't crack down on her

I think there's a senior dog chat room somewhere online where they share this information.

Quote:

Duchess: Hey, did you know that you can just refuse to come when they call?

Zamboni: Yeah, and if you go snorffling through your mom's bag, she'll kind of yell, but won't actually do anything?

Lakota: Really? It's just as easy as that? Just do stuff I'm not supposed to? No penalty at all?

Zamboni: Nope. Just pretend you can't hear anymore. Give a big blank stare.

Chimo: No way! I've always wanted to mess around with the stuff on the desk. I smell food crumbs on it!

Lakota: Great! We'll try that next time Our Human is at work!

Chimo: Thanks! This ought to be fun! I bet our Humans go on their internet board and complain about us then.

Duchess: That's ok. It gives them something to do. Don't forget, a busy human is a good human.

[angelaw]

LOL, there has to be!!! What really gets me, is that she sees the hand signal, just stands there staring at me. OR she'll start acting like she's coming then la de dah this is more interesting over here.......then when she sees me starting to come after her, she'll finally start to move her behind!

[Amaruq]

I *do* think a part of it is medical. I still swear Chimo is trying to e-mail me at work.

I have half the Paq heading back to the vet tomorrow. Actually I think I have 2 possibly three of the Paq with UTI's. I am so sick of dealing with UTI's....... Actually it is not so much the "dealing" with them as it is the "not knowing what is causing them, therefore, not knowing how to make them go away and stay away" issue that frustrates me. It is really depressing when I am not catching the symptoms before most people do.

I am beginning to think I should just apply for a job there and he can just direct deposit my check.

Although I have my suspicions of something that DID change that could affect 2/3 of the possible UTI's so once they are cleared up I am hoping I can go back to what I was doing to keep them away. The other one I have a hunch about too.

[Amaruq]

Originally Posted By: Angela_W
Sometimes you just gotta put up, lol. What about putting Lakota in the bathroom for the day?

Ummmm not really. The last door she ate is long gone to the dump and I am down to my last "spare" door.

Ya know a 8*9 bathroom is STILL a crate to her. Yet her favorite place to sleep is crammed under the futon.....I mean she lays UNDER it more than on it and it is 1/3 as high as her crate would be.

[Amaruq]

Originally Posted By: 3K9Mom

I think there's a senior dog chat room somewhere online where they share this information.

No doubt. Now I may have to go and find one of those "parental control" websites......