[Penedono]

Our 14 year old mutt Jessie - great dog, loves people, sternly dislikes being alone or caged (he ahd to have a bit of surgery when we got him from the pound - he'd torn his dew claws trying to get out of his kennel while there.)

Happy fella, plays like a pup, good weight, all his shots, annual checkups say he's in good health, though the last one was 5 months ago or so.

Moderately well trained, for what we require of our dogs (come when called, no begging at the table, house trained, stay away from cars, the usual.) Haven't had an issue with him in the 6 years or so we've had him.

Topday though, he simply will not come into the house (we live on a farm, and he's allowed outside off leash during the day as he pleases.) Won't come near me when I go outside, just starts jumping and spinning - the usual play stuff. But I noticed when he was playing with one of our other dogs, that he was being a bit more aggressive than usual - though he IS the one who usually initiates play.

He's also been blowing his coat all week, even the the temperature outside has stayed below minus 5 C for a good month. (We're in central Canada.)
His new coat seems to be coming in darker than it ever has, too...

Not sure what to make of it: none of our other dogs are behaving strangely, he's not moving like he's hurt, and usually, when he's agitated or frightened, he sticks to us like tar.

Any thoughts?

[reeskujo]

Anytime a dog starts to exhibit a new behavior that there doesn't seem to be a cause for the first thing to do is to get them to the vet to rule out anything medical..Especially with a senior dog..As for his coat if blowing it in the winter time is something new that could be a medical issue as well..Some breeds Akita's being one of them blow twice a year..My Akita blows his towards the middle of summer and then again in the winter which is pretty standard for his breed..I wouldn't be to concerned about his new coat coming in darker...My Seigi's does that from time to time to..

[Penedono]

Yeah, I'd usually be happy to chalk the major shedding up to the fact that we keep our house quite warm, so the constant transition from cold to warm could be confusing his body. This isn't the first winter he's shed.

Adding it to his behaviour, makes me wonder if it might be medical. I sort of hope it is, being honest - because I can't figure out what might have changed in the house or with any of the people in it that would make him so edgy, you know? Getting right down to details, the only 2 things I can think of are that a couple of feedings in the past week or two have been delayed by a couple of hours when we've been out for xmas dinners or whatot; and that since we've been sleeping in a bit while on holidays, (and this is still all at home - we haven't travelled,) that their morning routines have been pushed back an hour or two on a few occassions.
Lol, I know dogs need routine, but we're a quintessential lazy farm - the dogs have it pretty sweet here!

[CorkyMax]

I have read all your 3 posts but since I am answering this one---Will say hi here!

I agree about seeing a vet if a strange behavior develops and being 14 and a large breed--He is definitely a senior. It sounds like you do regular check-ups and most vets say every 6 months for seniors so being as it has been 5 months (or more)--It wouldn't hurt to take him for a check-up now.

I have to say that the 1st thing that entered my mind--Your dogs are free to roam and living in the country especially--are going to meet up with wild animals. Doesn't sound like rabies but I know there is one bite from raccoons that can affect dogs and I don't know if there are similar things with other animals and how their bite might affect dogs. You have been busy with holiday things and may not of noticed a bite, etc that may have happened then.

I am giving a link here about the raccoons. Even if it is not this--This is a good thing for dog owners to know about---so this is an example of a bite possibility: Dog Lessons

I hope you see a vet if this behavior is still going on. And I hope you get your answer and it is a good 'doable' fix.

I am going to do a little more searching on bites so I may be back with more if I find something so keep tuned to this post a bit!

This is interesting--from a forum/members replies: Dog Fights with Raccoons (shepherd, lab, terrier, bite) - City-Data Forum

Maybe I spoke too soon on not worrying about rabies--- http://pelotes.jea.com/rabies.htm

Please read especially the clinical signs from this site: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/rabies.html

[Penedono]

Excellent links and info, CorkyMax - thanks!

Rabies shouldn't be an issue, we have our dogs vaccinnated for it, along with anything else the vet deems appropriate. But I hadn't considered other possible infections.

In any case, Jessie gets himself a car ride later today so we can get him checked out. In the meantime he's seperated from our other dogs, and spending outside time on a leash.

[CorkyMax]

You are welcome! Glad you are taking him to the vet---Be sure to put animal bites in his thinking. Please keep us posted so we are not worrying. Hoping for some good answers from your vet visit.

[Penedono]

Well, it turns out the old boy is still healthy, so we're down to behaviour... Vet agreed Jessie appears stressed.

Maybe the holidays were a bit more hectic around here than I thougt they were, from his perspective? So we'll do the basics - attention, exercise, tighter schedule, etc. and see if he sorts out.
My sister has a friend she went to vet tech school with who does obedience and tracking training, but she'll be away until the end of January, or I'd have her out to the farm to get her thoughts.

All in, doesn't seem too bad, eh?

[piratekitty]

Thanks for posting all the information on racoons and the damage the can do to your dogs. I always thought my dogs were fine because of the vacinations. I didnt think of about the saliva and bite that could also be a killer. My mixed Terrier isnt afraid of anything, and I know would give chase it one was in our back yard. I see them all the time driving my truck at night in the drainage ditches foraging for food around our neighborhood. We have a pond behind our fenced yard that I know they forage for frogs. I dont leave any food out or bird seed out. I only feed suet when I have nesting moms in my bird houses in the spring, summer. But I think I will keep a closer eye out at night, when my Terrier Nina barks at something.

[CorkyMax]

Good to hear, Penedono, that it isn't something serious. Hope he 'straightens out' soon. It sounds like you take good care of your 'bunch' .

piratekitty---Glad the info was of use to you. Hope many others found it informative too, I know I learned from it also. I live in a small rural community with woods and cornfields (raccoons like that corn!) around and I have seen them around occasionally too. One was in my front yard one time and the village 'caretaker' said it was because I had sweet corn in my garden.