Ddog is 13 and has generally been a calm quiet dog, only barking at the doorbell and when excited for play.
Over the past couple of years he’s started to bark whenever he’s with people standing up talking , either out or at home, and now it’s escalating to barking when DH and I are talking even if we’re sitting down.
It very much looks like it’s anxiety driven, he’s stressed and doesn’t want to be touched when he’s in this mood, although he’s normally very tactile and asks for strokes. He had a difficult start before rescue, so I’m wondering if his past experiences are coming out.
We’re trying to ‘break the spell’ by rewarding him for getting in his bed - that worked for a bit, now he gulps the treat and leaps out again. He gets chews - they distract him sometimes but not usually. I get down to his level and reassure him but it doesn’t last. He’s also quite deaf now.
Overall he gets a reasonable amount of stimulation and interaction, he has an hour or so off lead every day, short walks later, finding and scent games at home, and as he’s older he doesn’t want more.
Anything else we can try?
I’m quite concerned about Christmas, there will be a lot of people around and last year at MIL’s he was very barky and unsettled. Not an option to leave him at home.