Elderly dog sudddenly started barking at night.

**Canis-Lupess** · 01-14-2007, 03:08 PM

I have two border collies who have lived outside all of their lives. They only come in at bonfire and at new year when there are fireworks.

The oldest is 14 and 8 months and the younger one will turn 13 on the 21st of this month. They are mother and daughter.

The older one, Mist, is going a bit deaf these days but can still hear you speak to her when you are relatively close and can obviously still hear fireworks and thunder etc...
In the last few months, she has started getting quite vocal, whinging and whining often during the day and barking at night. She isn't very loud and does it from inside the kennel but I don't want it to start being an issue. My brother and his GF and their kids next door haven't heard her at all but I am losing sleep over it and I worry other people might hear.

At her age, I know she's not going to be around that much longer. Apart from arthritis, she is ok but the arthritis will get the better of her soon no doubt and anything else could happen suddenly as we all know.
I have a plastic box muzzle like what greyhounds wear in their kennels and I found that putting one of these on Mist when she barks helps to shut her up without stopping her from drinking and all the rest but I don't like doing it and I'm also not sure how long the effect it has will last.
The other dog is fine and they are kept together and she's always been fine before so why start now at this age?
I can't bring her in because the parents won't allow full stop and I can't afford to move out. I can't rehome her at this age. She wouldn't cope with somebody else now and it's just too long to have owned her. 14 and a half years is a long time. I'll need a month off work when she dies.

I take them for a walk 2 or 3 times daily and the last one is as late as I can get it, about 10 pm, but I still find her start barking in the early hours. It's only since December that I've heard her barking at night and she doesn't do it everynight. In fact, there are more nights she doesn't than when she does but she never used to do it at all.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

**Karen** · 01-14-2007, 04:33 PM

Is it possible that she's barking because she cannot hear well anymore, so is lonely not hearing the sounds around her?

**borzoimom** · 01-14-2007, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by Karen

Is it possible that she's barking because she cannot hear well anymore, so is lonely not hearing the sounds around her?

I agree- also- both dogs are senior citizens- and maybe they also can not see well enough to determine things are okay. At their age, my personal opinion- they deserve to be inside at least at night...

**mike001** · 01-14-2007, 05:28 PM

My friend who owns a Spaniel has a 12 yr old dog that lost most of her hearing last year. She had the same problem. I started noticing how she was whining one day and my friend ignored her. I asked why she didn't take the dog to the vet as it seemed in pain. That's when she told me that the vet said a lot of dogs going deaf or completely deaf do this, and theyalso bark. It seems that the dogs reassure themselves in that manner since they feel the vibrations and hear their own voices. Now my cousin's Bichon is doing it and she says the same thing.
But I would definitely say to bring her inside near and dear for the rest of her days, A dog needs to be with it's human friends, not alone in a doghouse.

**borzoimom** · 01-14-2007, 05:33 PM

Night blindness, just like in people, shows up in dogs earlier than other problems with sight.. I would check it out, or bring the dogs inside.

**agilityk9trainer** · 01-14-2007, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by mike001

My friend who owns a Spaniel has a 12 yr old dog that lost most of her hearing last year. She had the same problem. I started noticing how she was whining one day and my friend ignored her. I asked why she didn't take the dog to the vet as it seemed in pain. That's when she told me that the vet said a lot of dogs going deaf or completely deaf do this, and theyalso bark. It seems that the dogs reassure themselves in that manner since they feel the vibrations and hear their own voices. Now my cousin's Bichon is doing it and she says the same thing.
But I would definitely say to bring her inside near and dear for the rest of her days, A dog needs to be with it's human friends, not alone in a doghouse.

This is true. Deaf dogs are known to bark more than their hearing counterparts. My hard of hearing boy had a huge barking problem. I wasn't prepared to deal with that! My boy can hear his bark, so I think that's comforting. The totally deaf guys can feel the vibrations.

Another thing is senliity. I believe some dogs bark when they get older just because they are becoming a bit senile. You see it in people, too, who will talk constantly as their minds weaken. And, all of the physical problems mentioned with old age are also to be considered.

I think you will find a solution. The shed sounds like a good option. I was thinking of the garage. As the dogs age, you also need to take into consideration their need for warmer quarters.

Good luck.

**wolfsoul** · 01-14-2007, 05:57 PM

This is very common in older and deaf and/or blind dogs. We have several old dogs that come into the shop and we have to lock alot of them in the back because they are too noisy to keep out front. They will usually bark whether you are grooming them or they are put away.

**angelchampy** · 01-14-2007, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by mike001

My friend who owns a Spaniel has a 12 yr old dog that lost most of her hearing last year. She had the same problem. I started noticing how she was whining one day and my friend ignored her. I asked why she didn't take the dog to the vet as it seemed in pain. That's when she told me that the vet said a lot of dogs going deaf or completely deaf do this, and theyalso bark. It seems that the dogs reassure themselves in that manner since they feel the vibrations and hear their own voices. Now my cousin's Bichon is doing it and she says the same thing.
But I would definitely say to bring her inside near and dear for the rest of her days, A dog needs to be with it's human friends, not alone in a doghouse.

I agree with Mike. I have heard this too. I also think you might be making things worse if you put her in a shed (in the dark, I'm sure) by herself. Now she doesn't have the companionship of another dog and she's alone in the dark. That's not going to make it better. They really do need to be with humans, especially at that age. If you absolutely need to put her in the shed, put a nightlight (or some kind of light) in there and put the other dog with her.

**agilityk9trainer** · 01-14-2007, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by angelchampy

I agree with Mike. I have heard this too. I also think you might be making things worse if you put her in a shed (in the dark, I'm sure) by herself. Now she doesn't have the companionship of another dog and she's alone in the dark. That's not going to make it better. They really do need to be with humans, especially at that age. If you absolutely need to put her in the shed, put a nightlight (or some kind of light) in there and put the other dog with her.

Good point. Also, dog proof the shed.

**lizbud** · 01-14-2007, 04:35 PM

I would think the problem is that at her age, she's feeling the effects of
age is maybe in pain when she tries to rest outside. maybe she is feeling
or sensing change in the enviroment. Any changes in her outside enviroment?
More people passing by,,etc? If you don't have your dogs on any joint
suppliment medicine, maybe you should look into that too.

**Freedom** · 01-14-2007, 04:58 PM

Has something changed in the area which could be getting her attention? Especially since it is not every night and not something the other dog in with her senses. Sounds like it is early morning that she starts this? Like did the milk truck change its route (does anyone even still HAVE milk delivered??) That kind of thing? Just a possibility to consider.

**Canis-Lupess** · 01-14-2007, 05:23 PM

I've not noticed any changes. Her hearing is probably too poor to hear traffic out on the fronts now really.

I have had her on glucosamine sulphate for years now and also cod liver oil and she is also on metacam from the vets but I don't think thats making much of a difference. I'm thinking of going back to see if there is anything else we can try on her.

The idea that her advancing deafness might be making things a little "Too" quiet for comfort is a viable idea, I suppose. I know she can still hear things closer up but most of the little sounds at night are further away and quieter like owls hooting, other dogs barking maybe, the odd car driving past, cats fighting, lol and just the general sound of breeze against foliage etc... I'll ask the vets if they've ever heard of it happening before. If it is that, I don't suppose there is anything they could do about it?

This evening, I have put her in the shed. She's been in there before without problems so I know she'll be ok. I made a comfy bed for her and put a dish of water in there. She went for a walk and we got back at about 5 past 10 and I gave her an evening meal along with her glucosamine tablet.
I think I have heard her yap in the shed a couple of times but I suppose it will be quieter and more muffled in there at least. I'll take her out first thing tomorrow and put her back with Jess.

As for eyesight, I have not noticed any real degeneration there. She can still see me easily enough even from quite a distance when we are on the field for example and can still see where she is going at night. I'm sure her eyesight isn't what it used to be but I don't think it has gone really poor.

Thanks for answering guys. Anymore comments or suggestions are welcome.