11 year old terrier sleeps all day

[User24689]

Hi all. I have a border Terrier who will be 12 this year. He has always been a very energetic dog and we have noticed that the last few months he has really slowed down. He sleeps most of the day and when he isnt sleeping he is lying down quietly just watching what is going on. I'm in and out most of the day (SAHM) and honestly I would say he spends about 6 hours a day sleeping on the end of our bed as well as sleeping all night for about 12 hours. He doesn't even get up in the morning when we do anymore, he's usually just ambling down the stairs when I get back from the school run!

I've also noticed he has less patience with my two year old. The 2 year old loves him and is always trying to hug him, stroke him etc and when he does he growls, so I've been keeping them separate unless I'm watching and making sure DS leaves him alone. He has always been excellent with the kids and very tolerant of their affections!

He still runs and runs when we walk him and jumps around like a loon when anyone knocks on the door so I don't think there can be too much wrong with him.

Does this just sound like what dogs do when they get older? Do they suddenly slow down in this way?

My Yorkie is 15 and sleeps all night and won't surface till about 11.30 a.m. Then snoozes for a few hours in afternoon.

Any change in behaviour you should get a vet to check them out.

He still runs and runs when we walk him and jumps around like a loon when anyone knocks on the door so I don't think there can be too much wrong with him.

Dogs can mask pain very well so running about outside means nothing so don't take that as meaning there is nothing wrong.

The growling when hugged by your DC could very well be because your dogs in pain or unwell as their tolerance for being bothered is less just like ours is in such circumstances.

Whilst I totally agree that all changes of behaviour like this should trigger a vet visit, just to be sure. It is also possible this is age related.

We have 2 terriers who are 14 and who I would describe in a similar way. They sleep for more of the day, get tired out on walks sooner than they used to, are more reluctant to go out in the cold and wet than they were and whilst they remain super tolerant of humans (we have no children), they are much less tolerant of our younger dog than they used to be.

Get a health check and - assuming he gets the all clear - just look at ways he can get some peace and quiet, can get away by himself to sleep and keep the 2 year old away and safe.

My BT is only 8 but sleeps similar amounts!

You need to get him seen by a vet.

Ours masked his pain very well but he has arthritis in his hips and was very grouchy too.

He's on anti inflammatory meds now and so much happier. It's costly with the meds and blood tests to make sure he's tolerating them ok but he's infinitely happier.

Still sleep lots though...

Thanks a lot everyone. I will book him in for a checkup next week to be on the safe side.

I think it's pretty normal, our BT is the same age and sleeps a lot! He's started sleeping more once he got to 10 ish.