Grumpy Old Dogs

Understanding behavior from a different perspective

Angela Dinsmoor
August 23, 2025

In this week’s issue, here’s what we are sniffing out

Understanding what’s normal and what could be a problem

Each week, I talk with many people about changes in their senior dog’s behavior. Often, the perception is that changes in behavior are a normal part of aging…

Here are just a few of the issues I hear mentioned most:

He’s just old and grumpy now, that’s why he has become snappy at the groomer, or us, or the doctor
He’s stubborn, he doesn’t come when called (or sit when told to)
He just doesn’t want to eat… but he will if he gets hungry enough
He doesn’t want to go on walks or play anymore
He just stands there and doesn’t do anything when I put him outside, but pees inside as soon as he comes back in, or he suddenly pees/poops in the house in general
He doesn’t want to snuggle with us anymore when we all sit together

100% for effect; Bella was never ONCE grumpy in her life, despite this marvelous picture of her looking it.

The reality is that these changes in behavior are NOT a normal part of the aging process. There are many, many health issues that can cause them, so before you dismiss them as nothing serious, at least talk with your veterinarian to be sure.

Let’s look at each of these things in a little more depth to see what other things might cause the symptom:

NEW ONSET OF BITING OR SNAPPING

Pain in the mouth, joints, spine, belly, or anywhere can lead to fear of being handled, picked up, approached by people or other dogs, or (for grooming specifically) inability to tolerate standing in one place for long.
Confusion or lack of understanding about the process of what is happening - even when it’s a task that has always been a part of the dog’s life, such as grooming.
Hearing or vision loss when approached from an angle where the dog can’t hear or see you coming. One of the only two times I have ever been bitten was by our dog Ally, who bit me when I tried to pick her up quickly, while she was sleeping, after she’d lost her hearing, AND she was already a fear biter. Any of those errors alone was enough to win me a bite, but all at once was a huge mistake on my part… she was the first dog we’d ever dealt with having multiple aging challenges, and I only made that mistake once.

NOT FOLLOWING COMMANDS

Joint pain can make sitting very uncomfortable for some older dogs. If your dog used to sit but won’t anymore, consider if you ever see them sitting at all? If that has changed, pain could be the culprit.
Confusion means your dog no longer understands commands.
Hearing loss is a pretty straightforward thing - if they can’t hear you, they won’t come when called.

APPETITE LOSS

Mouth pain makes it really miserable to eat food, as many of us know. Your veterinarian can check your dog’s mouth for trouble. Most senior dogs, if not all, have dental or periodontal disease, so mouth pain is a very real possibility. You may not be able to have your dog’s teeth cleaned but there may be some things your dog’s doctor can do to reduce pain in the mouth.
New disease onset or worsening of a current diagnosis can cause changes in appetite so this is definitely one that should be run past your dog’s vet. Some lifelong picky eaters will eat eventually, if that’s all that’s wrong with them. But a dog with cancer or some other undiagnosed medical issue will not necessarily eat eventually. They may not GET hungry, and they may be nauseated, even if they don’t vomit. And don’t dismiss those lifelong picky eaters; significant medical issues can be overlooked if we just assume a dog who was always picky isn’t sick.
End stage dementia can cause trouble finding the food bowl, remembering to eat, wanting to eat, or even remembering how to eat. Our old dog Esther would hold food in her mouth without chewing/swallowing at the end of her life.
Decline in sense of smell or taste can cause your dog to be uninterested in the food they’re eating. Warm food up to enhance smell, add water to his current diet, add a tasty topper, or switch up the diet (slowly!) and see if that helps.

UNINTERESTED IN WALKS OR PLAY

Joint pain, again, can make a dog less interested in play or walks than they used to be.
Confusion, again, (are you sensing a pattern?) can make a dog unwilling to walk like usual, or cause the dog to just stand still on walks vs continuing to move.
Over-walking can really tire your elderly dog out… for days. It’s best to keep walks shorter and more frequent for your senior dog, with lots of sniffing opportunities allowed along the way.

HOUSE SOILING OR GOING INSIDE AFTER JUST BEING OUT

Medical issues of different types can cause a dog to suddenly start peeing inside: urinary tract infections, kidney issues, and blood sugar problems are among a few of those; there are others.
Pain or neurological issues can cause a dog to poop inside when he’s not done that before.
Confusion can be the cause of a dog who goes outside for a potty break, does nothing, and then pees as soon as they come back in.

LESS INTEREST IN SNUGGLING OR SITTING WITH FAMILY AS USUAL

Pain can leave a dog unable to get on furniture without help any longer. They may choose to sit on their own elsewhere. This is also true if they fear someone touching a sore joint, another dog stepping on, or hurting them in some way when they’re a part of the group.
Confusion If family time includes loud or startling noises on TV, chaotic movements around the couch, or a lot of hubbub, a confused dog may prefer a quiet spot away from all the noise and movement. In this case, create a nest a safe distance away that the dog can rest in when they choose.
Vision Loss if the dog can’t visually locate everyone, how will they know it’s family time?

You can see that there are definitely some patterns here in behavior changes for an old dog… these are not all a normal part of the aging process. In general, you should always keep the line open between your dog’s doctor and you. You may not have to go in for a visit, and you certainly always have the option not to treat what is found, BUT a fair number can be easily managed, giving your senior dog a better quality of life.