Senior Dog Comfort & Care

Just because they’re getting older doesn’t mean your dog will lose their voice! In fact, older dogs may bark more. Why is this? It can get frustrating to lose mobility and not hear and see as well as they used to. Barking can be a sign of this frustration, and your dog could be trying to get your attention so you can help them. Hearing and vision loss can cause anxiety for your dog. If they can’t tell what’s going on around them, they are more easily startled and often bark in reaction.

Barking is a symptom of cognitive dysfunction. If your dog starts to bark in the middle of the night or other unusual times for no obvious reason, or if you notice a change in the way their bark sounds, make an appointment with your veterinarian to evaluate for medical issues.

If your dog is barking out of anxiety, frustration, or confusion, do not punish them. Barking is simply communication! Focus instead on teaching your dog that being quiet is rewarding. Help prevent frustration by setting up the environment to make things easy. If your older dog alert barks at the window, consider closing the blinds or blocking their view to prevent barking episodes.