Barking Older Dog

[SpanielLedWeaning]

Hi. I could really do with some advice. I am possibly looking to get a behaviourist in for the New Year if I can sort this myself!

Background - 12 year old rescue springer spaniel which we've had since he was 5. Recently put on Metacam for arthritis which he's had for a while but got worse over last few months. He's fed twice a day (morning and evening) with meds given in morning. He's getting elderly so possible issues with hearing and eyesight.

He's started a habit of barking at us in the evenings, particularly my husband. It's a high pitched bark meaning he wants something and the only thing he seems to want is more food, not fuss and attention. He won't stop if told off. He just goes on and on.

He's also now barks if we leave any leftover food on the side in the kitchen or on the kitchen table as he wants it. Just sits next to it and barks and barks. It means we have to clear everything immediately.

This has been a gradual change over the last 6 months. The vets did a blood test before he went onto metacam and nothing odd showed up.

We've tried giving him kong treats/toys to distract him which work for a while but then he barks at us for more.

The odd thing is he doesn't do this at any other time of the day - only after our dinner time and particularly when DS is in bed and we want to unwind. I hate it as this annoying behaviour is really making me fall out of love with him at the moment and I can't think how to fix it!

Sorry that's long. Any advice really appreciated right now!

I have had something similar with two of our elderly goldies. The first (also on metacam and very bad on her legs) would bark if she couldn't see you. That high pitched "I want something" bark. I think it translated as I'm here, where are you? I had to make sure I moved her round with me and that she could see me, she was very deaf so if she had her back to me she would bark.
The current oldie has decided that she is on the wrong side of the door, all the time. She barks to go out, then turns round and barks to come in. Over and over again. Yap yap yap. She will even bark if the door is open until you go and "show" her. I think she is loosing the plot, she is now very deaf and doesn't see all that well either unless you drop food, then "smellovision" takes over.

Sorry, that wasn't very helpful, but I do sympathise! I found I could limit the yapping by making sure the first girl could see me, and currently by distraction. I fetch her away from the door and keep her by me.
Do you think your spaniel has just forgotten he's had his tea? Or is just getting very greedy?

I did wonder if this was a sign of canine dementia. Never had a dog with dementia before so not sure what to expect.

I think he's becoming obsessed / single minded to the exclusion of everything else.

Can't decide whether I need to find a solution to get rid of the habit or just manage it long term

One of my dogs did the same and it was canine dementia. The barking was the first sign - he was a lurcher and had never barked in the house before.
It got that he would bark at me for food every half hour or 45 minutes from early afternoon till evening (mornings were fine). I had to feed him to stop the barking. I ended up buying different foods, sometimes the small packs intended for small dogs, because varied was best. I tried not to give him too much at a time but if it was too little he barked again!

He did put on a bit of weight but the vet had been through the same with his dog and understood. The dog forgets he's eaten and wants more.

It was incredibly irritating, which made me feel guilty, but once I knew what it was and how to cope with it, it wasn't quite so bad.

The last few nights have been ok (not perfect but significantly better). I've moved his dinner time to later in the evening after our DS is in bed (before it was straight after our dinner as he'd get scraps in his bowl too). We've also kept things calm and simple.

I have a couple of frozen kongs ready for when he has a bad night which will hopefully keep him amused but I'd rather have them as a last resort otherwise he'll be demanding them every night.

It's going to be difficult over Christmas as we are staying with my parents so it'll be a different house and a different routine.