Is my dog stupid and bad dog?

Question

She is about 17 yrs old(human years) and she hates going outside. She is occassionally house broken. She is petrified of thunderstorms and just as terrified of rain storms. She breaths so heavy and gets so scared when storms approach. She eats my kitten's food when she knows we don't want her to. She waits til she can sneak to steal my cats food. She has a bowl full of her own food though. She just isn't the best dog. She always behaves like we beat her, but we have never struck her.

Answer 1

First of all she is very very old, and the reason most likely that she hates going out side is that she cannot see nor hear that well anymore, which makes her afraid. (my 15 year old yorkie fell in the pool three times now because she can not see too well, I just happen to look out there and see her splashing around, now she is never allowed w/out one of us. She potty's indoors cause she most likely has to go a lot and cant hold it anymore, this most likely will get worse very rapidily.

As for the cat food, it has great smell to animals, and that old dog food you are giving her she most likely doesnt like the smell if she really smells it at all anymore.

She isnt a bad dog, she is just old, and doesnt really know what to do anymore, kind of senile as they say. I had to put down my 14 year old shepard and it was really horrible. But he was sneaking around to get to my yorkies food, and pooping in the house, just walking down the hall, then one day he could not get up. Then another day passed he could not get up, would not eat and would not drink, the 3rd day we had to get someone in to helps us get him to the car and take him to the vet, where the old guy said good-bye.

All the family cried for days....

She most likely cowards because you are raising your voice to her for things she knows she shouldnt do but is. Be patient with her, she will be gone soon.

Oops did not address the thurdestorms, that is just about the norm for most dogs. Its the electricity in the air, it confuses them and makes them think you are going to shoot them.

Answer 2

Your dog is not stupid she is however old.
She is not occasionally house broken she is most likely inncontinent.
Most dogs as they age loose some hearing when it storms she can not distinguish where the sounds are comming from and it firghtens her. You will have to live with that. Comfort her to the best of your ability when it storms.
As for the cat food all dogs do this. Cat food is higher in protein and tastes better than dog food so most dogs will risk life and limb to eat the cats food. Put it up where she can not reach it or into aroom you do not allow her in.
Problems solved.
Be nice to this dog she is old and has had a long life. She may be loosing some of her mind and cognitive ability. Please try and make her last years some of the best you owe her at least that much.

Answer 3

Don't take this personally, but I never say stupid dogs...only stupid dog people.

Regardless of years. There are a lot of dogs that are scared of storms. They need to be comforted or crated to feel safe. Sometimes having another dog who isn't helps them as well. I have seen where dogs come in to where I work and their people say they are scared and while they are there around other dogs, they are perfectly fine during a thunderstorm.

On eating cat food, put the cat food up high so that she can not get into it. I have a cat and 2 dogs. Yeah, if I leave the food down for them to get to it...they will!!! Your cat can jump high, it will jump to get its food!

Answer 4

If these behaviors are relatively new to your dog, I would say she is suffering from senility, Dogs age the same way we do, lose of cognitive function, maybe not even recognizing you, fear of loud noises, and soiling the house are a sad part of old age. Have your vet check her for cataracts, and other disabilities that come with aging.
As far as eating cat food, it just tastes better than dog food, most dogs will eat it if they can get it. Because of your dogs age the higher protein in cat food is probably not good for her kidneys, put it up high where the cat can reach it, but the dog can not.

Answer 5

Look, your dog is old...Consider yourself lucky to have a dog that old & still around with you.
She probably doesn't care or have no interest in the outdoors as much as she was in her youth. She's 17 as you said. She rather lay around in the house and be content with that.
Breathing loudly because, well, she's a senior dog.
All dogs are terrified of thunderstorms. It's normal.
She's eating your kitten's food for attention or that she's not pleased with her own diet. Hint, get her on a better food.

You can't possibly say that she not a good dog. She is a senior dog and senior dogs just don't much except trying to enjoy each day as if it was their last. So just enjoy your dog, appreciate and be thankful that she's been with you for 17 years.

Answer 6

That's NOT nice. She is NOT stupid u need 2 train her--U R the stupid/ bad one! Put the cat food on the counter so she doesn't eat it! Take her 2 the vet and have them give her a sedative 4 the thunderstorms! There r solutions 2 the problems u just need 2 work with her!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

Of course not! Dogs gennerally like cat and kitten food because of higher fat content makes it taste better than their own. Some dogs are naturaly timid around people( even family, especially if they cant see very well anymore) And why is it any worse for a dog to be scared of storms then it it for little kids to be scared of it? Plus its really difficult for old dogs to avoid accidents...

Answer 8

She is a old dog. She is not stupid or bad, she's just old and like a old humans sometimes need help doing and remembering things they could once do on there own. She just needs a little reminder and to be taken out even when she doesnt want to go. That will help out some.

Answer 9

your dog is old 17 years old is the equivlant to 95+ she can needs more health care than she did when she was younger are you feeding her a age apropriate diet this may be why she is eating the kitten food it may be giving her better nutrition than her dog food. Consult a veterinarian on the issue. Cat food is not bad for dogs but dog food is bad for cats.

Answer 10

Alot of dogs are afraid of storms.They are born with this fear because they could be struck by lightening if they were outside.Your dog is getting old.Try her on puddle papers.You can get them in the pet dept.They have a scent on them that make dogs want to potty on them.If she likes the Cats food,Sit it up,out of her reach when the cat isnt eating.

Answer 11

After having dogs my entire life PLEASE know that she is not stupid! Dogs like humans have their own issues and personalities. PLEASE be kind, loving and most of all patient with her. When my dogs reached that age and didn't want to be walked I found out that they were ill. As far as the cat food for some reason it may taste more like a meat to her. Mix some of the gravy sauces for pets with her food and she will stop that. If not so what she likes the taste of cat food. PLease give her lots of ice water in the hot summer and bring her out of the cold in the winter months. Write more with questions.