08/13/2025
🐾 Tuesday Training Tip 🐾
Tips for puppies, adolescents and cats that pace but this post is mostly for us precious seniors:
When a dog ages, everything starts to change; just like humans - we just do it at a much faster 'pace' - no pun intended.
Our mobility, hearing, eyesight, and ability to smell starts to diminish. In some dogs, you can start to see these changes at only 1-2 years old. Imagine what 10+ years can feel like for some.
Dental disease and arthritis are among the top health concerns for dogs over the age of 2. Yikes is right!!
Dogs showcase pain, fear, anxiety and stress through behaviour; through actions not words; (Well I am sure a few talkative breeds will have a lot to say!!) and the most common behaviour in aging pets is pacing.
Signs to look for in change of behaviour that could be related to pain, fear, stress, anxiety (that is related to aging) or health changes.
Increased isolation from their normal hang out spots (hiding)
Increased/ Decreased vocals
Increased/ Decreased change in elimination routines & output
Increased/ Decreased thirst / hunger
Increased vomiting or diarrhea
Increased/ Decreased sleeping patterns
Increased/ Decreased in weight
Nausea (declines food)
Pacing (training tip of the day)
Confusion
Pale gums
Non responsive to verbals or hand motions
Suddenly fears/ phobias/ nervousness
Swollen or sore mouth
Observe your pets every day and note any obvious changes.
Observing notes can show you if there are any patterns that you wouldn’t otherwise notice. (For examples Pacing at 6pm every day, Increased barking at 10pm)
Knowing these patterns can help you set up the future days with behaviour modification protocols that can reduce and/or change the patterns from reoccurring.
Dogs imprint on three (most of the time). When something is practiced good or bad; the dog will likely see this new ‘system’ as the reinforcer; meaning we can create new behaviours quickly. However, behaviours that serve to be super self rewarding (such as barking, counter surfing) can take longer because they give the dog a ‘high’ that feels incredible. Self rewarding behaviours can be hard to chance if the reinforcer doesn’t offer the same internal ‘high’ that the other behaviour provided.
Pacing is such a HUGE behaviour in aging animals; and can become very frustrating for humans to watch. Frustration is a common and very normal human response, so don’t feel overly guilty for feeling defeated. Pacing is hard to offer ‘help’ in the moment because the root cause could be so many aging factors (pain, confusion, temperature, comfort and irritation). Once the dog or cat is in pacing mode, it can be difficult to change their behaviour in the moment.
The goal is to observe the pacing behaviour and look for patterns.
For example, Ma noticed that I started pacing directly after my supper meal. I would eat and then start pacing around the house. Our house is pretty small, so I would start in the office, head to the bedroom, circle back to the living room, go into the kitchen and stare at my water dish, and then repeat the route. Sometimes I would lay in a bed in the different rooms but only for a short time and continue the pacing pattern again. Sometimes I would whine at my Dad at his computer, but he didn’t know what I needed.
Ma noticed increased panting and disorientation while observing me.
So now my new protocol is to eat supper in something that I have to chew (stuffed trachea is my fav), and rest in the living room with some calming music, and Adaptil plugged in.
Once my rest is complete (no less than 1 hour), I go for a short little walk around the block (3 houses) for some fresh air and to stretch my legs.
I practice simple brain games that are non physical, plus complete my evening physio therapy exercises.
I take Zylkene every night, and I just recently added CBD oil to my day/night routine too.
This has significantly reduced my night time pacing, and encouraged more nights sleeping through the night. I have been experiencing some diarrhea; so that has been getting me up some nights, but I head straight back to bed easily. Thankfully I have had 3 days of solid BM again, so we have had 3 solid nights of sleep in this house!!
Throughout the day, before supper; Ma and I practice bed games in the living room. This prepares me for the supper time frame, and generalization that this is the place where I rest. This protocol seems to be eliminating most of the pacing behaviours. If she starts to see me pace, she guides me back to the bed and rests with me to offer me reassurance, comfort and consistency. I do have a bed in every room of the house, because Ma wants me to have access to these areas during the day. But my night time rest, has always been in the room with Ma and Dad. Some dogs may enjoy a crate (I LOVE my crate - open door system but we don’t have very much room for it). This can create a little more of a denning space your dog might enjoy. I
have three fluffy anxiety beds and they are so cozy! If Ma thinks I am struggling she will definitely pull out the collapsable crate for me, and you will be sure to find me all curled up, happy and content.
If your dog’s behaviour is from a place of fear, anxiety or stress … understand that you can never ‘cause’ it from offering comfort. If you coddle them perhaps, but giving them comfort when they need it does NOT reinforce the behaviour.
In fact, offering comfort and reassurance to your pets will do the opposite.
You will teach them that they can trust you, rely on you and become calm from your calmness.
If your dog seems to pace in the middle of the night, create a safe space that promotes rest vs pacing.
This may be using a gate to prevent leaving a room or space to practice pacing around the house.
I was waking my Dad up at 4am, so Ma prevented me access to his side of the bed to break the circadian rhythm I created. Ma knew it wasn’t cause I needed to go out for an elimination (and started because my Dad actually woke me up making noises in his sleep). I have since stopped waking him up without the barrier. It took about 4 days to break this cycle (but your dog may take longer).
There is no one size fits all protocol. This is where Behaviour Modification differs from one animal to another. Each dog processes information differently, sees their environment differently and problem solves differently.
Find the place your cat or dog naturally finds comfort, and sleeps deeply. Use this space as your nighttime reinforcer and you are sure to have success reducing the pacing behaviour.
If this protocol doesn’t work, a vet appt is highly recommended to discuss holistic or western medicines to help work alongside training protocols.
Phew … that was a lot wasn’t it!
Hopefully you found some value in it to try with your own pets, if so please share in the comments what you might try.
If after trying some of these different changes, and you are still struggling with your senior, send Ma a message. She will certainly help you out!
Enjoy some photos of my favourite places to rest throughout the day :)
Cheers to less night time pacing and more rest for everyone!
🐾 Mya, the wisest senior around
Summary:
New Evening protocol:
Supper - stuffed trachea to encourage chewing and calming effects
Calming music playing in the background
Adaptil plugged in close to my eating area
1 hr rest
A short little walk around the block (3 houses) for some fresh air and to stretch my legs.
Simple brain games that are non physical, plus I complete my evening physio therapy exercises.
Zylkene capsule and CBD oil before bed
Daytime exercises to enhance the night time protocols:
Bed games in each room, so I can remember where to find comfort throughout the home (generalizing behaviours).
Physical exercise that encourages rest and not restlessness from ‘doing too much’.
Brain games all through the day.
Rest after all meals. Essential for gut and cognitive health
