Change in older dogs reaction - eye sight issues?

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Annette4

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Jack is off the the vets on Friday so already plan to speak to them but wondered if anyone could shed some light on this before had to make walks easier.

Jack is a fit and healthy 11yo dog who has always been a little 'on guard' with larger dogs but only in terms of a warning growl when he was on the lead and they bounced towards him. He's always been fine off the lead and never aggressive or reactive to larger dogs.

The last two times we have met a black lab (not the same dog) and a walk he has growled and snapped....not to try and get the dog as such but to keep them well away if that makes sense? Said labs were walking towards him but not boucey and totally ignoring him. One of them had stood still to allow him to pass but both were in a similar spot in terms of it being wodded and slightly shadey.

I'm really wondering if he is struggling to see them and as such trying to keep them away if that makes sense? He's now staying on a lead on walks just in case and I will probably invest in an extending lead for him and he is a bimbler rather than an ran about sort of dog.

Has anyone else had a similar reaction to a certain colour/type of dog before? We haven't met any other types of dogs in the same spot to know if it's just a black lab thing or any other dogs.
 
Our old girl Jessie got like this in her older years........ poor old love, I think she really struggled to see, plus she obviously knew she was a little more fragile than in her younger days which made her feel really vulnerable.

This is what happens in older dogs; and unfortunately, dogs being dogs, it is the nature of the "pack" to take advantage of this.

I would hesitate to use an extending lead in the circumstances you describe: your old boy would probably find it far more reassuring to have the contact of a fixed lead in this situation.

Something I found helpful was the "Yellow Dog" tabards and accessories: basically you can buy a yellow tabard with the words "My Dog Needs Space" printed on it clearly; this gives other dog owners plenty of warning to keep their dogs away from yours (unfortunately you will always get some rude inconsiderate geek who won't respect this though and/or will stand around letting their badly mannered dogs tantalise yours, asking stoopid questions like "WHY does your dog need space.........." grrrggghhhh :( ). I think the website is www.yellowdog.co.uk
 
My 15yr old rescue bitch was always friendly and confident with any dogs she met. Now she stops as she sees a dog coming towards her even if its just going to walk by, she doesn't growl because its not in her nature. I think she just feels a bit vulnerable as she isn't so quick now. Sometimes I put her on the lead for confidence.
 
My lovely boy started displaying similar behaviour a few months ago having always been very friendly with other dogs. I took him to the vets and it turns out his arthritis had got worse. He's on Devil's Claw and Cortaflex now and is back to his usual friendly self. Definitely get him checked out. Sending positive vibes for you :)
 
Agree get eyesight checked, possibly hearing, could also be low grade chronic pain (can make them generally a bit grumpy, and could also be quite guarded as does not want another dog jumping all over them as they are sore).

For making walking easier try to yellow dog thing, people are becoming more aware of it. My old dog is blind and arthritic (on yumove and now metacam). He has a yellow ribbon on his lead, and if young dogs come bouncing up to him I shout to the owners to call theirs back as mine is old, blind and grumpy! When he had vision he was always off-lead, or had a lead and halti when around other dogs, but he now has an extendable lead on a collar so he can bumble about on it (and so I can save him from bumping in to things).

Has he had any bad experiences with a black lab in the past? Mine did with a german shepherd and has hated them ever since.
 
He's had a couple of not overly polite meetings with labs but nothing bad. He's always been a bit of a grump with larger dogs but he's just grumbled and got out of the way. He has got more protective over Fizz too as she's been beaten up a couple of times (all her own fault and no harm done just the friendly dog she was playing with telling her when enough was enough) and I do wonder if some of it is also wanting to protect her.

No worries with his hearing. He can here a packet rustle and a crumb drop from 3 rooms away and beat the whippet to it!

I'll deffo use a yellow lead/ribbon from now on anyway although now we're having to muzzle Fizz (because she makes herself really poorly eating dead things) people give us a wider berth anyway ;)
 
I think your first instinct is right: a black lab standing still in the shade is pretty invisible! And probably gave Jack a fright when he spotted it a bit late. Just make sure Jack has seen any dog approaching then give it a wide berth. Keeping the lead loose and soft in your hands will help a lot too. I agree with MiJodsR2BlinkinTite that extending leads are not helpful - they continually tighten.



Beverley
 
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I agree about the arthritis. I wonder if your dog might have some sort of age related soreness that is making it nervous of being knocked by other dogs or feeling less sure of itself because of the soreness.
 
I spoke to the vet today and she couldn't feel any signs of soreness or arthritis but he does have possible early stage cataracts.

The vet did say he may just have been in a bad mood which I can also believe from him. I'll keep an eye on him and make sure he can see approaching dogs etc. we haven't had any trouble with him since in his defence.
 
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