Mozart

[mozart]

 

Our Shitzu is approaching 14 years old. He is losing his hearing and sight in one eye. He is on medication for heart murmur. In the last couple of months he has gotten aggressive with me if I’m near his face or try to pick him up. He no longer goes to a groomer because he would bite them when they trimmed his face.  I don’t know what to do for him. Is the aggressiveness something medication can help. 

[pkcrossley]

i've had several dogs who lived to that age and older, and deafness often causes grumpiness if it results in being constantly surprised by people who approach from behind or the side. i conditioned my dogs when they were young to accept touch and touch signals of recognition, so that when they were older they could feel a bit more secure. i think you can probably work with Mozart to get him used to a touch arriving with no warning. some training facilities use a little hand or a glove on a stick, to prevent being bitten while the dog is getting the idea. try to make sure he sees people before they touch him and try to touch him very gently, old dogs have aches and pains. i would suggest this kind of conditioning before trying to drug him up --make sure he is comfortable (joint supplements etc) and confident (work on conditioning) before resorting to anything like that.