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Living with Older Dogs -- Part Two
Last week we talked about a 14 year-old spaniel mix, Lena who was being routinely beat up by her 9 year-old Jack Russell Terrier house-mate, Ella. Previously, the two had been getting along just fine. Kim, their owner had called me when Ella had started to beat up on Lena. We had determined that the reason was Lena, unknown to Kim, had lost her hearing and most of her sight to old age. She could no longer see nor hear Ella and her demands.
I suggested that Lena be given a geriatrics exam by her vet. What, exactly, was going on with her eyes? Also, was there something that could be done to improve her hearing? Only her vet can tell her these things.
I instructed Kim to purchase as many different scented soaps as she had rooms in the house and to place a different scented soap in each room. The one thing that almost never completely fails in old age is a dog’s superior sense of smell. Having a scent marker in each room will help Lena stay oriented when and if she loses all of her sight.
We also need to make Lena safe by keeping furniture stationary. All furniture has to be put back to it’s original location if moved and boxes, bags of groceries, etc., need to be placed on counters when brought into the house – never on the floor. If we assume that Lena will indeed lose all of her sight it is best to let her learn what will be the permanent layout of the house before all of her sight is gone.
Now we have to address the problem with Ella. Ella was not being bad or vicious. She was just being Ella. Most of her life she had routinely bossed Lena around and gotten whatever she wanted from Lena through intimidation. Now, Lena couldn’t see Ella’s posturing or hear Ella’s demands to give up favorite resting spots or treats. From Ella’s perspective, Lena, always the subordinate in their relationship, was ignoring Ella’s status. Attacking Lena for insubordination was Ella’s only recourse as far as she was concerned.
The first thing I did was have Kim pick up all toys, treats and chewies. Nothing should be left out to give Ella a reason to beat up poor Lena. I instructed Kim that when handing out toys and treats, give them to Ella first, but have her enjoy them from the confines of her crate or her favorite resting spot. Kim tied a short leash to the couch leg, pulled Ella’s favorite bed over to the couch, and let her have her chewies there. This way, Ella was unable to get up and demand things from Lena.
It worked.
Peace was restored to the pack. Kim, Lena, and Ella are a happy family again.
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