Old dog problems (long post)

dreamers75

Having some issues with an old dog so kinda long post and looking for opinions.

We have 3 dogs, 13 years , 4 years and 1 year. (all bar 1 rescue dogs so types are inconclusive see below)

They can be described as:

13 year old(Tall Yorkshire and something) literally barks at everything, wind, papers, someone at door. He is never bothered with other dogs. He is not an outside dog and has never bitten a person or attacked another dog*** He has slaughtered any cat or bird that has entered his back garden. If a cat is on the wall he will try to get tru the door to get at it (very annoying at 4 am)

4 year old(jack Russell, Yorkshire, possible greyhound) extremely annoying and ridiculously fast dog, can jump really high. Tries to attack other dogs again not an outside dog.

1 year (pug ****su) small fat lazy, doesn't really do much other than eat. We have to take food away as they feed together he would literally eat all the dogs food and more. Its like he doesnt understand there is a time in the day when you are not eating.



Some notes, we have a large walled back garden they have full use of it and they sleep in the kitchen at night, I am not a dog person, wife and kids own the dogs. 1st 2 dogs taken from rescue pound places, 3rd one bought.

We had an issue a few months back with our next door neighbors full bred breeding pit bulls getting into the garden as he had built some sort of fort that allowed them to walk up to wall height and drop in. There was 2 incidents where the dogs managed to be in the garden together. They are afaik the only times our dogs have ever been in what I would call fights.
Outside dog imo is a dog that is let out the front unsupervised. Not a chance I would ever let them out unless it is for walks and they are on leads.

*The oldest one has lately in the last 2 weeks started to literally attack the 4 year for what can only be seen as no apparent reason. 4 year old was in kitchen beside me, 15 year old on his bed and growled angrily got up and tried to murder the 4 year old. This has happened several times now. This is not a barking thing he is trying to murder him, he has I think killed 11 cats and 9 birds (no fcuking clue how) but he always brings them to the door.

**The 13 year old his behavior is weird and very out of character, he is literally trying to murder the 4 year old and tonight he bit me whilst I was dragging him off. This has never happened ever. For now we have them separated and I am bringing old dog to vet morrow.

I know dogs get old but I had hoped he would have a peaceful end of life and unless vet has another opinion I intend to let him live out his life here.

As a non dog person I am not sure what could be causing this, he doesnt go near the 1 year old only the 4 year old.

Thanks for reading to this part

Bells21

First port of call may be a trip to the vets to rule out anything medical. Given his age and sudden change in behaviour you should have him checked over.

Edit: just to add that given the circumstances until you can nail down the cause of this change in behaviour, it may be wise to keep them separate.

Gael23

Trip to a vet first and then take it from there.

Ms Doubtfire1

Check the eyes.Vet indeed but I suspect his sight might be going awry.the 4 year old would be seen more as competition.

something else: 
quote:
This is not a barking thing he is trying to murder him, he has I think killed 11 cats and 9 birds (no fcuking clue how) but he always brings them to the door.'
That needs to be stopped immedeatly. Muzzle him outside if needs be.It is not acceptable that a dog is allowed to kill other animals, probably / possibly someones pet.Kennel outside otherwise.

aonb

glad you are bringing older dog to the vet, always best place to start when there is a sudden change of behaviour/attitude. Especially with an elderly dog.

are the 13 year old and the 4 year old neutered or not?
Could the 13 year old be suffering from some sort of dementia?
Are the attacks somehow prevoked - eg is younger dog invading older dogs space, is younger dog eating something - is there a not obvious to you, common denominator that causes the attack?

Could the older dog realize that he is slipping down the pecking order, the younger dog threatening the older dogs authority/superiority?

My neighbour has 3 bitches. This year, middle bitch (age-wise) has started to attack/fight older bitch at drop of a hat. No medical issues, no provoking, nothing they can pinpoint... total nuisance - they just have to keep them seperated as much as possible, and supervise 24 hours/day!