Sudden behavioural issue with my old boy

Hi all... hoping you lovely folk can help me with an issue that's suddenly surfaced within the last 4-5 months or so.  And I apologise in advance for the long-winded post.  My 11 year old Buster the Wonderdog has started developing anxiety issues which I don't necessarily attribute to separation, but more like a "spoilt child" behaviour.  Buster has had the run of the living areas of the house since we've had him (from 8 weeks), and he's always been extremely well behaved and rarely acts up.  He has his doggie door which he can go in and out of through the day, and he's always been very content to vegetate on the couch when I head out to work each morning.  I have lunch with him most days, and then leave again for work.  I've never had any issues with him getting anxious about being on his own.  But for some reason he's suddenly started getting very naughty if I've gone out somewhere without him (this could be me heading out to the shops, or going out to dinner for a couple of hours).  His access has always been limited to just the living areas, so there's no changes there.  In fact, there has been absolutely no change to his routine or surrounds at all.  When I come home I find that he's dragged all the cushions off the chairs and has also scratched them up.  He seems to jump from chair to chair given the state of them when I get home.  After I've returned home he's completely stressed and gives me that look as if he knows he's done something wrong.  I don't punish him as I can't see the point given he's so stressed out already (I certainly don't reward him though!).  He'll run outside and roll and roll on the grass before doing laps of the garden - it appears that he's trying to find a way to cool himself off (?).  He's turned into a stress-head after I return from going out.  His behaviour is almost like he's punishing me for leaving him (but he's never like this throughout the day).  I'm not completely sure it's separation anxiety as he's fine throughout the day.  Any suggestions or advice anyone can offer would be extremely helpful.  I will add that he's never been crated (and never will be), so with all due respect I won't consider that as an option.   Thanks all.

That's a difficult situation. I went through the same thing with my last dog as well. She was completly used to being by herself with no issues and then all of a sudden she started destructive behaviour when left alone. I attributed it to old age and made sure to exercise her before I left and ensured that she had everything she needed. After a week or so she was back to normal and I just attributed it to old age. Don't know if this helps or not though.

Hi and welcome to the forum from me and the zoo xx

Could be old age. Knox has his moments where he'll jump all over the sofa and scrabble at it scratching in, and throwing his covers all over the room, even sometimes peeing in the process!

Hope you get it sorted x

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me.

Could be a few things, when did he last have a check up from the vets ?, it may be fading eyesight or hearing which is causing the sudden change in behaviour and he is panicking about something.

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Hi and welcome from me and Daisy   Maybe a health check is a good idea?

Agree with a health check first.
Another thing you could try is to set up a video recorder in the living room to see what he is actually doing. Even if you cant always see him in it you should be able to hear. Also you may pick up a sound or something that is upsetting him.

Hiya from me and Vinnie, cant add anything to whats already been suggested. Definitely a health check would eliminate any underlying problems   

Hi and welcome from Ozzy and me, I'm sorry I can't add to any of the other answers

Welcome from Darcy and me

hia from me and sasha   ,he looks a gorgeous old boy  ,agree with whats been said,def get a health check done on him,and could be alot to do with him getting older,sash is 10 this year and some days she will sleep a lot and other days she zooms around like a pup!when i come home i too will find cushions scathered around the room!

Thank you so much for responding everyone.  What a lovely friendly group this is!!  He actually is booked in for his monthly arthritis shot today and I'll be having a chat to the vet about his issue.  He has regular vet checks, so it certainly makes sense that it's probably more of an age thing (particularly given you've all suggested this).   Incidentally.... I was out last night for dinner - came home and the cushions and couches were intact!  He did, however, jump in the water-feature to de-stress himself..... (**SIGH**)  Thanks again everyone for the advice and assistance.  What a great community!

Let us know how you get on at the vets won't you xx

Hi from banes and myself

Howdy from Jed and i, hope the vet can shine some light on the subject   

Welcome from me and Axl. What a gorgeous old boy he is I love the oldies    Let us know what the vet says I reckon its probably old age bless him

Hello all and thanks so much again for your advice and assistance.  So Buster the Wonderdog and I spoke to the vet yesterday about his issue.  As soon as I mentioned what was happening a little smile crept over the good Doctor's face, and he said that this is fairly typical behaviour for staffy, particuarly one getting on in years.  He was extremely helpful (as usual) about some methods to try - he even told me some new things I wasn't even aware of in relation to thunderstorms and the old boy (he hates it!).  The good doctor has given me some very mild Valium - 2mg (I did question if it was for me or Buster!), and he's said that this will be enough just to take the edge off Fatty if I slip one into his dinner about an hour before I head out in the evening next.  Because Buster's on heart tablets and diuretics, the valium won't present any contra-indications that may affect him or his current medication.  I did purchase some DAP spray to try first though, and I've also got plenty of Rescue Remedy which I can try for when I get home from being out (in an effort to de-stress him).  So I'll keep my fingers and tootsies crossed that the "natural" remedies will have a positive effect before I try him out on the valium.  Here's hoping.....  

Best of luck and pleased to hear the trip to the vet was worthwhile   

The good doctor has given me some very mild Valium - 2mg (I did question if it was for me or Buster!),

  

Glad to hear the good doctor was able to prescribe something for Buster, I could recommend the DAP spray, we use this for Rocky when there are fireworks going off or any other time of stress, it does work well for him.

My Snoop used to follow me everywhere and would get upset if i left him even if someone else was still at home. If we were all out we would come back to a smelly present. I used to ignore it and would clean up. My Snoop was 13 years old and suffering from cancer so i did let him get away with things.
You could try filling a kong with some treats and maybe it will take his mind of you not being there.

welcome to the forum from me and Lula

Hi and welcome

Hi and welcome from me and my two

I know omega 3 is very important to keep the brain healthy. You could try supplementing his food with sardines - keep him sharp and support him into old age.

Hi again all... just a quick update on how Buster's "little episodes" (as I call them) are going so far. I was out for dinner last night and I thought that I would try the "housewife's helper" on him, ie, the Valium that the good doctor vet had prescribed him. I gave him his 2mg tablet a couple of hours before I went out (just in case he had a reaction to it so I would be home to go into a big panic and rush him to the vet) and then gave him his dinner as usual. After his tea he fell asleep on his couch and didn't really move until I was heading out. While I was enjoying my meal I suddenly realised that I'd accidentally left my bedroom door open so assumed I'd come home to Buster under the covers with his head on the pillows (as he usually does given half the chance), or find the doona and pillows and his doggie-bed scattered all over the room (which is what has happened during "his episodes"). I was out for a couple of hours and kept thinking (worrying!) that the Valium might actually relax him so much that he'd be kicking back listening to sitar music, smoking herbal cigarettes and thinking that the world was groovy. So I get home and there's Buster waiting for me with his tail on it's usual spring. And lo and behold, he hadn't been using the couches as trampolines nor scratched them up (most unusual for him lately), and he hadn't even ventured into my bedroom either!!! What a shock for me! I was sure he'd at least make himself comfy on my bed. Now, it could have been the fact that he'd been down to the river for a big swim in the morning, or had had his usual afternoon walk in the local park, but I'm fairly sure he pretty much slept for the couple of hours I was out. I'm not suggesting that the Valium did or didn't have any effect - I'm keeping an open mind. But I am hoping that perhaps his little pill was, in fact, helpful in taking the edge off him. Next time I'm out I'll try him without one, just to see what happens, but I won't discount using them again on the odd occasion. I would, however, like to know why my Ravi Shankar record has suddenly disappeared....   Oh, and Rupertsbooks, thank you, and I have heard of the benefits of Omega 3 for older dogs. I've been substituting Buster's usual meat and kibble with sardines twice a week for some time now. He loves them, but the fish breath.... phew!

Glad to hear that the tablet may have worked for him. Have ever considered setting up a video camera for while you are out to see what he does ?

Hope you manage to find your record again, it may be well hidden though   

Hello and welcome from me and Pixee. Glad you seem to have found something to help Buster. Does Buster like his swimming that much? My Pixee cant swim   , but show her water where she can see her feet, and she is in and playing.

Hi Lynn and Pixie... Buster ADORES the water. But he will only play in a river or dam - he doesn't like the ocean at all. It did take him a couple of years to learn how to swim though - when he first started he kept sinking, but we managed to "teach" him that he needed to use all four legs! I'm sure he's part-dolphin as he loves to get his head under the water!

And Kathy & Rocky... great idea about the video camera - it'd certainly be interesting to see just what he gets up to while I'm out! I'll give it a shot one of these days and put up a post about it. Thanks for the suggestion   

moisy_buster wrote:Hi Lynn and Pixie... Buster ADORES the water.  But he will only play in a river or dam - he doesn't like the ocean at all.  It did take him a couple of years to learn how to swim though - when he first started he kept sinking, but we managed to "teach" him that he needed to use all four legs!  I'm sure he's part-dolphin as he loves to get his head under the water!  

I am so glad Buster loves to get his head under water, as Pixee loves doing that too, other times its like she is hooving the water   . Theres two rocky ledges on parts of the canal we live next to, Pixee loves standing on those and putting her head under water as if she is looking for fishes, I am totally amazed she can do that! Just like your Buster. But she wont swim as she has fell off the locks we walk over to get to the walking side a few times and has just sink under. Scared her to bits, rivers she loves so long as she can see her feet.