Settling Older Dog After Toilet Break

[BruFord]

Our older dog (12) has become more clingy as he’s aged and while he used to sleep downstairs, he now insists on sleeping in our room, which is fine. He needs to go out outside between 5 and 5:30, but then he won’t settle afterwards. He wants someone to come downstairs with him and walks around the bed growling and sneezing trying to get DH or I up. If we take him out of the bedroom, he scratches on the door!

Has anyone found a way to settle their dog after a toilet break? We need that extra sleep!

Is there some sort of chew or snack you could give which he would need to lie down with to consume?

I’m not sure why the first answer is to give him a snack! By 12 months let alone 12 years a dog should settle when being told to. If they cannot or will not, there’s something wrong.

He sounds a bit disoriented, distressed and not quite 100% with it tbh, OP. I’d be going to the vets for an opinion at the very least. I wouldn’t be happy with a dog harassing me or growling at me - and I wouldn’t not take them to the vets when it’s a new behaviour

Take him to the vet - it sounds like the beginnings of doggy dementia and there’s medication that can help.

Another vote for CCD (dementia). My first dog had it and didn't like sleeping on his own anymore.
I have no advice on helping him to settle again, other than to see if the vet can help with medication. Sorry.
If you get up with him, what does he do? Would you be able to sleep on the sofa for an extra hour or two? It's not ideal, I know.

Thanks all. I did think about getting something to distract after he’s been outside and yes, I’ve tried to sleep on the sofa, but it’s not great, I’m exhausted when I have to get up for work! All he seems to want is company downstairs, he’ll often nap again, he just doesn’t want to go back into the bedroom.

Re. The growling/sneezing. It’s not aggressive in any way, he’s just trying to get our attention, he’s always made these types of sounds when he wants attention!

I hope it’s not the onset of dementia, but you’re right that I should have him checked. He’s a lovely boy. 😕

I used to put our old boy into our bed. He was old, unsettled, I needed sleep. Agree with a vet check first

@DallasMajor Yeah, we really don’t want to start doing that. I’m wondering whether to set up a more comfy bed for myself downstairs (have a duvet and pillows ready on the sofa) so that it’s easier to sleep down there.

I think he’s decided that when he needs a wee, it’s time for his humans to get up and go downstairs!

He's scared and wants to be close to you. Can't you let into your bedroom to be with you? Our dogs have always been with us during the night so this is normal for us.

Keep him downstairs in the kitchen. Obvs with a bed for him to sleep in.

They seem to get more needy when they get older and want to be close to you. We have trouble with our old retriever. He wants to be with us but he can't go upstairs any more and he has to be asleep before we go up otherwise he barks for us now. He was always fine downstairs when he was younger. Sometimes my DH has to sit up until 01.00 until he is completely asleep. Usually it is before midnight though. He also sometimes wakes in the night and needs us. Probably about once every 3 weeks and I have to let him out for a wee then lie on the sofa till he is asleep again which can take up to an hour. He lies down but keeps checking I'm there. He has become very needy, was always fine when he was younger. Luckily we are retired and don't need to get up for work. He often sleeps in until gone 9.00 now. We go down and make a cup of tea and he stays asleep!

@Chinsupmeloves He does sleep in our bedroom, we’ve got a bed in there for him now. It’s the fact that he won’t settle again in the bedroom after his 5 a.m. toilet break, he wants to be downstairs with someone. That’s why I’m considering a makeshift bed on the sofa so I can get abit more sleep.

@valentinka31 Downstairs is completely open plan, he’d just come upstairs and scratch on the bedroom door. I suppose we could put up a stair gate, but it seems cruel making him stay downstairs all night. Although a stair gate that we only close after his toilet break might work, especially if I left him a chew or something else downstairs to occupy him…hmm.

Yes I think if he had a chew then that will distract and reward him. Won’t be all night - sounds like only a couple of hours or so. I’d defo give the stair gate a try. He’ll be perfectly safe and comfy. Sometimes a line has to be drawn to protect your own sleep.

Update: We’re trying him on chews after his toilet break and he seems to like that, they keep him occupied for a while and he does seem more settled after he’s been outside. Also taken him to the vet’s, they mentioned possible cognitive decline but overall he’s in good shape, it’s certainly not severe yet.

They prescribed a mild sedative to give him at bedtime. He’s still waking up early to go out, but he’s slightly calmer once he’s awake. I’m not sure whether it’s the sedative or the chew tbh!