[NAGDU] Home alone and aging

Thu Jan 2 18:51:12 UTC 2020

I tried putting the relieving belt on Irish in the house but he wasn't
comfortable. He had a really big fatty tumor  that may have interfered or
made it uncomfortable to have it on when he was in the house lying down.

You put it so well, though, Tracy, the dogs have given us so much. I really
wanted to do the best I could for my boy and make the best decisions that I
could for all of us.

Charlene

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, January 2, 2020 9:39 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Home alone and aging

When my old gal Echo started having accidents in the house, I tried a couple
things.  
First, I tried the dog diaper, but it didn't work so well.
Then I tried putting a relieving belt and bag on her in the house, and that
worked fairly well.  It's been a while, but I think she had it on most of
the time, except for a little while after she'd filled the bag.  It didn't
work 100% when she had an accident lying down, but even then it caught some.
I had to pay attention, so I could take off the bag quickly after she had
the accident, so she wouldn't sit on it, or get bummed out by poop following
her around.

Caring for an old dog is hard.  But my dogs have given me so much, I feel I
owe them in return.  My husband says people always talk about the
unconditional love dogs give, but really, it goes both ways.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Charlene Ota via
NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2020 12:09 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Charlene Ota
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Home alone and aging

Hey Cindy, I truly empathize with the problems with the accidents. I think I
could pretty confidently say it's not behavioral in your dog's case, he's an
old boy now and sadly it seems to come with the territory. That was one of
the deciding factors for Irish was that he couldn't seem to poop outside
anymore when we'd take him but he'd drop his poop in the house and hang his
head and with some of my arthritis issues and all, it was just too hard to
try to get it all cleaned up and so on. He had other issues including pain
that had been increasing quite a lot and nothing I could really do for it
anymore. I had never been through life with an aging dog either so it was
all new and nobody can really tell you what to prepare for and heaven knows
the dogs can't tell you much either. Just living with him I got to know the
things that let me know Irish was in pain or not but that took time and
paying a lot of attention.  I would sometimes get so frustrated with the
accidents but had to stop and remind myself of what the situation was and
not be upset with him or I knew I'd feel so bad later. But trust me it took
me some time to figure that out, too!  Good grief, we're so spoiled by our
dogs having such exceptional behavior that when they get older and start
having issues it's hard to make those adjustments and considerations.
(smile!) 

Forgive me if I'm rambling, but I guess I hope sharing about aging dogs
might help someone who has to go through it. 

Charlene

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, January 1, 2020 7:30 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: cindyray at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Home alone

Well, today he unzipped the top and sides of the thing and came out, but I
think he stayed until we got home. We have always crated, so I just don't
know, especially since we have had more accidents. Last night Bob stayed at
home so he was fine. Yes, it is odd what goes on. I've not had a dog this
old before.
I think you  made the right decision with Krokus.
Hugs,
Cindy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, January 1, 2020 9:16 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Home alone

Hi Cindy.
On the rare occasions I leave Krokus home alone, he does very well.  I used
to put him in a crate, when he was a wild young thing, but now he just sacks
out somewhere until we get back.  He was very happy to see us, though, and
then he ran to point to his kibble can to get a treat.  That's my boy!
I thought of tying him to a chair at the event, but he could easily move a
chair.  Or move himself out where he could see us better, and get stepped
on, or fed by some "sympathetic" stranger.  Or stick his face up on the
table and help himself.  Better to leave him home for a bit.

Maybe Fischer is getting a bit of separation anxiety in his old age?  My old
gal Echo had some anxiety issues in her old age.  In her case, she came to
hate going anywhere.  I don't know if it was that her arthritis made it
uncomfortable to get in a car, or if her decreased hearing and mental
capacity made it confusing to be out of a familiar place, but she became a
real homebody.  It's hard to know what's going on in a dog's head.  But it
seems like old age can have mental effects, as well as physical ones.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via
NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 4:02 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: cindyray at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Home alone

Well, Tracy, I'm thinking of something similar, but my situation is
different from yours now. Fisher is rarely left, but sometimes we have had
to leave him for nine hours. Trust me, that is rare, and I hate that. But of
late when we get home he starts crying from his crate and is very anxious.
Sometimes it is because he needs to get outside, but not always. Yesterday
and Sunday he was alone for only a little over two and yesterday about three
but we got the same results. I am wondering what caused this, and I am
beginning to feel like staying home with him, though Bob isn't feeling well
and might. Then it wouldn't be a worry, but he seems very anxious lately.
As for Krokus, I probably would leave him that long and in a care, though if
he doesn't stay alone all that often, it might make him stress. I would
probably take the dog and tie him to a chair when I was going out on the
dance floor, but I've never done it, so I can't say for certain.
Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 12:09 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: [NAGDU] Home alone

Tonight my husband and I are going to a dinner dance, and I decided Krokus
can stay home alone.  We'll only be gone about 4 hours, and I don't want to
be worrying about what he's up to when we're out on the dance floor.  

I know I'm a silly Midwesterner, but I worry that, if something happens,
like we get into an accident or something, no one will know the dog is here
and come rescue him.  So I've told my neighbor we'll be out, and she can
rescue Krokus in the unlikely event we don't get home.  I've probably
confused the heck out of her.

Does anyone else think about these things?  Do others have a better idea?

Tracy the worry-wart

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