As a dog ages, it's common to have some health concerns. Something like dental pain, arthritis, or vision and hearing loss can trigger aggression in a senior dog. If a dog is experiencing dementia or confusion, these can also trigger aggression.
Fear and anxiety
Older dogs can become more fearful and anxious for a whole host of reasons and this can easily develop into aggressive behaviour. Often aggression provoked by fear is only temporary and happens if they feel they're in danger, cannot escape, and think they need to defend themselves.
Behavioral changes may be one of the first signs of aging you notice. Dogs may become more irritable or reluctant to engage in their old favorite activities if they're struggling with pain or discomfort due to arthritis or another condition.
As with their human owners, dogs' personalities change as they age. But some traits stay the same. All dog lovers know that their pets in older age aren't the same as they were as puppies, but owners often can't pinpoint the exact personality changes brought on by the passage of time.
There are multiple reasons that a dog may exhibit aggression toward family members. The most common causes include conflict aggression, fear-based, defensive aggression, status related aggression, possessive aggression, food guarding aggression and redirected aggression.
A household member moving out or passing away; a baby arriving; building work or changed layouts in the home, and house moves could all be triggers. Lack of attention or a fall-off in exercise can also plunge a dog into anxiety, depression – and sometimes, irritable behaviour.
Health issues that can change your dog's behavior include arthritis, hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, sore teeth, thyroid problems, epilepsy/seizures, ear infections, digestive issues, skin or environmental allergies, yeast infections, hearing loss, eyesight loss, and cancer.
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
As a dog ages, it's common to have some health concerns. Something like dental pain, arthritis, or vision and hearing loss can trigger aggression in a senior dog.
Having a dog is one of the best things in the world, but it isn't without its downsides. One of the worst aspects of having a dog as a family member is watching them age relatively quickly. Most dogs enter their senior years at around 7 years old, a little sooner for larger dog breeds.
The adolescent period typically begins around six months of age, and will be over when a dog reaches physical maturity around two to three years old. The most pronounced behavioral issues will be noticed between six to 12 months old.
By about two years of age, many dogs have reached the full extent of whatever aggression they have in them, and there may be a dogfight or biting incident around this time.
Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months).
Small dogs are considered senior citizens of the canine community when they reach 11-12 years of age. Their medium-sized friends become seniors at 10 years of age. Their larger-sized colleagues are seniors at 8 years of age. And, finally, their giant-breed counterparts are seniors at 7 years old.
As dementia starts in our beloved senior dogs, initially it may be difficult for you to recognize. The early signs are sometimes very subtle. That's why it is important that dog parents know what to look for. Dementia in dogs has three stages of symptoms—mild, moderate, and severe.
Changes in behavior can signal an underlying physical problem or may be a normal sign of aging. For example, if your sweet dog has suddenly turned grumpy, they may be in pain caused by arthritis or be experiencing some other physical discomfort. Or your high-energy companion may be sleeping hours a day.
The Senior Stage
It is important to cherish each stage as a dog's golden years will begin roughly between the ages of 7 and 10. Their muzzle will tend to become grey and they will slow down, preferring a quiet stroll to an energetic run.
Dog aggression can be related to fear, prey drive, socialization issues, and guarding territory, among other things. Most aggressive behavior in dogs stems from fear and anxiety, rather than the desire to hurt others. A certified animal behaviorist can help you safely deal with your dog's aggressive behavior.
If an otherwise non-aggressive dog suddenly turns aggressive, it's possible that they might be sick or in pain. Dogs that are hurting will even snap, growl, or bark at their owners. Take your dog to a vet to see if there's a health issue.
Reason #1: Aging
Our dogs go through so many physical and mental changes in their first few years of life that it's actually equivalent to more than 20 human years. Imagine growing from a bouncing baby to a college graduate in just two years — of course your personality and preferences would change along the way!