[DanaDP1]

I have an eleven-year-old borzoi who has just started to refuse to go OUT through the dog door. He approaches the door enthusiastically, then stops. He’ll stare at the flap for a second, and even stick his head through a bit. He’ll start to go through – then STOP, and even retreat. So, for the first time in his life, he’s having some housebreaking issues because he can’t will himself through that door in time. I must stress that we are NOT punishing him or yelling, etc. He’s a sweet old man who is having a challenge, and I would never give him grief over this. We just quietly clean up and then give him some extra TLC. The house soiling is NOT the reason I’m writing; I’m hoping for insight on WHY he’s suddenly stopped going through the door on his own. In other words, I want to treat the disease, not just the symptom.

We’ve decided to try to head off any house soiling issues by giving him regular walks. Because we have the doggie door, daily walks aren’t part of our pack routine. They have a big yard and two other dogs to play with; they get PLENTY of exercise. My theory is that if he gets used to eliminating on walks, the scary, scary dog door won’t be an issue. But obviously, we want to also help him re-learn how to go out on his own, as he has for so many years, too. He isn’t having problems with his vision, as far as we can tell. He navigates around the house with no problem, even with chairs in unexpected places, etc. He is not head shy, doesn’t seem to be startled by objects near him, doesn’t trip over his bed, etc.( I’ve had a dog with vision problems, so am somewhat familiar with the signs.)

Once he is encouraged, he hops through the door with no problems. He re-enters the house without hesitation, so my thought was that maybe he fell once going out and it hurt and now he is afraid? I also thought that since the deck outside is darker than inside, he was having problems seeing his “landing” so I put some rope lights out to illuminate the way. He still won’t go out on his own – as he has without problem for the eight years we’ve lived in this house). And today, during full daylight, he refused to go out until I physically held the flap out of the way and commanded him to go through, and then minutes later, but blew right through coming back in without the tiniest hesitation.

But SOMETHING’S changed … I don’t think he’s suffering from cognitive dysfunction; he’s his “old self” and has no problem coming when called, knowing where bowls are, recognizing his pack mates, etc.

Any ideas? Suggestions? We’re taking him to the vet as soon as we can, but certainly would appreciate any advice from those who have either seen this before or have other insight that might help us help our sweet old man.

[Corky/Max]

Do you have a ramp to this doggie door? (I also have a doggie door and a ramp so guess that is why I was wondering about there being a ramp.) If you have a ramp or 'drop' (not level to the ground) I was wondering, since he is a senior now --that maybe he doesn't like to go 'down' things anymore. Could have arthritic issues with the elbows, etc. I know it bothers me more to go down steps than up them because of this (knees). I don't know if this would be an indication or not but in my breeds book it says this: Borzois need a well-padded bed to prevent callouses and irratation to elbows. (unquote) These are a pretty heavy breed so prob. more prone to arthritis than smaller dogs. Have you noticed any symptoms--subtle or not, of stiff joints--harder to get up from lying down or other things? Can you lead him to some steps and see how he reacts to going DOWN them?

[DanaDP1]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Do you have a ramp to this doggie door? (I also have a doggie door and a ramp so guess that is why I was wondering about there being a ramp.)

No; it's installed at the recommended height right in the wall. Because our hounds are so TALL, we can't really work with a ramp as taht would make it impossible to get ALL of them through without bashing their heads/back. We also took pains to ensure that the deck is at the exact same height(outside) as the floor is (inside) so that they would have a consistent launch and landing level.

If you have a ramp or 'drop' (not level to the ground) I was wondering, since he is a senior now --that maybe he doesn't like to go 'down' things anymore. Could have arthritic issues with the elbows, etc. I know it bothers me more to go down steps than up them because of this (knees).

He's arthritis free, but as he ages, he's lost some strength. He's on a powerful cocktail of joint support supplements, eats a raw diet, gets all kinds of good, healthy food every day. The vet says that he's still amazed that this dog is as old as he is. He's in pretty good health, all things considered. He's just developed a fear of his door...

I don't know if this would be an indication or not but in my breeds book it says this: Borzois need a well-padded bed to prevent callouses and irratation to elbows. (unquote)

You should SEE his bed: layers of orthopedic foam swaddled in fleece. I wish MY bed was this cozy!

These are a pretty heavy breed so prob. more prone to arthritis than smaller dogs.

Ironically, for their size, the aren't as heavy as you'd think. Lki stands almost 34" at the shoulder - and weighs only 90 pounds!

yHave you noticed any symptoms--subtle or not, of stiff joints--harder to get up from lying down or other things?

Well, sure; he's eleven!

He's had some spinal/alignment issues but he gets regular adjustments. He's slowing down, for sure, but there's fight in the old boy yet! Getting up and going down ARE harder for him now thanks to a prolapsed disc that troubles him now and then, and a general loss of muscle mass in his hips.

Can you lead him to some steps and see how he reacts to going DOWN them?

He's been banned from the stairs for almost six months now; he just doesn't have the POWER he needs to get up them safely. He is a first-floor dog now, and with his amazing bed, is quite content. If he was exhibiting a long list of old age's assaults, that would be one thing. But really, beyind this new door fear, he's the same dog he's always been - loving, enthusiastic, always up for a walk (a short one, but a walk) or a trip to the dog park. He's eating and drinking okay ...

We just need to build his confidence again, and until that point, Loki gets all kinds of extra mom-and-pup time (which makes the younger dogs NUTS!) - and that will be good for both of us, body AND soul.

[Lara's mom]

I understand what you're going through. I'm having a similar issue with my almost 13 year old Border Collie X except that it involves the water bowl.

She has absolutely no problem eating her meals out of a bowl on the floor. However, for the last couple of weeks, she has flat out refused to drink out of either of the two water bowls I have set out. One sits on the floor and one is raised. She will go to the water and cry until I come and scoop out a bowl of water and hold it for her while she drinks.

[DanaDP1]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I understand what you're going through. I'm having a similar issue with my almost 13 year old Border Collie X except that it involves the water bowl.

She has absolutely no problem eating her meals out of a bowl on the floor. However, for the last couple of weeks, she has flat out refused to drink out of either of the two water bowls I have set out. One sits on the floor and one is raised. She will go to the water and cry until I come and scoop out a bowl of water and hold it for her while she drinks.

Lara,

Are your bowls plastic or metal? If plastic, I have a theory for you.
Our guys just stop drinking from plastic bowls after a while - and we figured out that the bowls themselves had developed some sort of bacterial infection. As plastic is cleaned, especially aggressively with scrubbers and the like, it can develop small cracks and scratches and holes in which the bacteria set up camp and no amount of cleaning can get to them. So they develop a sickly funk that only puppy noses can detect. That may be why she is refusing to drink from that bowl...no matter where you put it. So we just replaced them with steel bowls and we haven't had that issue since!

Hope that helps...

[Lara's mom]

Neither bowl is plastic. The smaller one that sits on the floor is ceramic and the raised one is glass. I've never used plastic bowls for either their food or water.

So help me, I don't know what all of a sudden changed in her mind with regard to the water. The good thing is that she lets me know when she's thirsty so I can make sure she gets plenty to drink. I just wish I could figure out what happened...

I wonder if it would help if I went and bought a big steel bowl for her water? At this point, I'll try anything!

[Cúréaltach]

Originally Posted by DanaDP1

I have an eleven-year-old borzoi who has just started to refuse to go OUT through the dog door.....

Is there a chance something could have frightened him as he went out the door one day? Even dropping say a pot while a dog is doing something can condition a dog to associate negatively with an action that its performing. If there isn't anything medically wrong with the dog then lying down outside the dog door with some bits of chicken,(or his favorite treat) slowly and gradually encouraging him out then leaving stuff out so its not just because your there that he uses it. that might do the trick. Good luck!! PS I just remembered, many years ago a friend had a dog that got a whack of a dog door once as another dog tried to run in from the other direction, it took a lot of treats to persuade him to get used to using the door again but he did.