Dog is getting old...?

Question

My dog has been acting older since we got a new puppy - he gets very cranky and pouty and seems stiff and sore. He spends most of the time he used to spend running sleeping, and in the past six months since we've gotten the other dog, his muzzle has gone very white. He's about 8 years old. could the new dog be the reason he's so cranky?

Also - he seems to be angry at us for bringing her in. He's definitely jealous. It's to the point that if she gets something that he doesn't he'll attack her and not let us touch him. I've been very worried about him lately. Is there anything I can do?

Answer 1

Being stiff and sore and spending more time sleeping is definitely not because of the new puppy. Why not take him in for a geriatric check up, including the blood panel? When dogs get older, things can change so very quickly, especially if he's a larger dog. His jealousy may also be because he's just not feeling good. If you're giving him time away from the annoying (to him) puppy, giving him as much attention as he had before, feeding, petting and greeting him first, I'd say the biggest part of his problem is physical.

Answer 2

I agree with WalkingLady. New puppy has nothing to do with your dog's aging symptoms. Depending on breed, dogs at about 8 years old are considered seniors.

Regarding your dog and puppy interaction, your dog is reacting to a newcomer in his territory, a stranger to his pack. What makes it worse is if you're giving a lot of attention to the puppy, the older dog takes that as a threat to his position as the alpha dog. The solution to that is to make sure your older dog is treated as top dog, including:

-paying more attention to the older dog and ignoring the puppy in the older dog's presence, at least for the first few weeks. It will be hard, but the puppy needs to learns her place in the heirarchy, and the dog will feel less threatened.

-feeding the older dog first and the puppy last. Both should eat AFTER you do, of course, since, essentially, you're the top dog. Dogs in the wild do this to reinforce heirarchy, which your puppy needs to learn and your older dog already understands.

-if you need to give something to the puppy that the older dog can't get, be it a toy, food or treat, first distract the dog with something, like a bone he likes to chew on. Praise him as well, and he'll learn to correlate these things positively.

Before you do any of these things, though, I think you should keep them in separate rooms for a while. The dog should have acces to more of the house than the puppy, and the puppy should be in a place that hardly you or the family spend time in; in other words, don't put puppy in the master bedroom - the older dog sees this as the master's lair, and could interpret that as puppy getting royal treatment. While separated, let them sniff each other through the door. In a few days, you can have them switch places so they can smell each other out. You'll want the transition to be slow, since there's already tension between them.

Google "new pet introduction" or something similar. You'll find a lot more info from experts.

Good luck, I hope all works out!

Answer 3

Hmm.. I don't think he is cranky cause of the new dog.. I think you are starting to see that he is getting older, comparing him to the younger dog. He isn't old.. You should take him in for a check up..Maybe the vet can offer him some help with his symptoms, so that he is feeling better and not so pouty.. I would feel horrible if I found out I just left a cranky dog thinking he was jealous and finding out later he was in horrible pain.

Answer 4

Dogs do get jealous but they are pack animals and if you give it more time they will sort it out themselves. The older dog at 8 is getting old biologically and can be cranky when those little sharp baby teeth get anywhere near him. He is just tiring to teach the young one how far she can go around him. I am sure the young one just loves the old guy. You need to let the old guy know he's the leader in the house by allowing him his space and all his regular privileges. Let him correct the pup when he chooses, don't scold him for acting naturally. If you stay out of it they will become the best of friends in time. If you interfere they will still become great friends but it will take much longer. You will enjoy the natural order of pack life unfold.

Answer 5

Some dogs do act this way and you just have to be sure he is getting his share of attention. With time, he will accept the new puppy.
However, it concerns me when you said his muzzle is white? If you mean his gums, you need to get him to a vet right away. That means he is very anemic for one reason or another and needs to be checked up. Anemia usually doesn't better itself on its own, and there is a cause for him losing blood. There maybe parasites, or all sorts of other things he could have contracted.
Also, if he is stiff and sore, no matter the reason, he needs to be on an arthritis medication and this may greatly improve his mood. Ask for Rimadyl or Dermaxx.
Good luck

Answer 6

8 is considered senior for dogs - and for some breeds, especially the larger breeds, 8 is truly advanced.

There are a few things to remember. Dogs are NOT like our children who should be treated as similarly as possible. Dogs are programmed to live and die by a pecking order. As pack leaders, you are paying attention to the puppy when he had your undivided love before. Dogs don't like to share - and Clancy's place has been threatened.

Try giving him more attention - and less to the puppy. No. Don't treat the dogs the same - play favorites - with Clancy being the favorite. That's OK.

Of course, all squabbles are to be settled by YOU - not the dogs. And yes, that may mean taking the toy away from BOTH of them. But you're the pack leader and can do as you see fit. But truly make the puppy understand that Clancy is over her and not the other way around.

Take him on regular walks by himself. Play with him alone the way you used to. Yes, play with them together - but definitely give Clancy more reassurance that his place hasn't been usurped by this upstart brat.

Answer 7

Im sure hes jealous. Make sure he feels as important as he used to, even give him more attention/new chew toys, than her. She wont notice but it will mean alot to him. A trip to the vet might not hurt also. If he is sore from the start of arthritis or hip problems this will make him very tempermental. Snapping at the new dog could also just be him claiming his dominence. As long as hes not hurting her of course, its ok forhim to do this. If he isnt running like he used to and there is no health issure then you be the one to encourage him to get out and run, this will keep him feeling important and keep himhealthy. good luck with both dogs :)

Answer 8

I've heard of this before. When I got my second dog, my older dog seemed to to be depressed for a short period of time. I paid a bit more attention to him, walking only him at time and treating him as though he's still special in my eyes. Activities are a great idea too, car rides for him (if he likes them) and treats for him when no one else was around. He may feel like he's being replaced, special treatment for a while will snap him out of it. If all else fails, I would speak to a vet.

Answer 9

We have a 10-year old Lab puppy dog and just brought home a 10-week old Lab. Our older girl sleeps a lot more now, but we try to spend time with her and her only. When I take them both for walks I talk to both of them and pet both of them. It sounds as though attention is the key here.

Good luck with these great life-long friends!

Answer 10

my aunt has two dogs one older then the other you just have to pay alot of attention to the older dog and make sure he knows that he is stilled loved by the family