11 year old German Shepherd

[woodhamgirl]

Has anyone got any serious help or suggestions please.
My son has an 11 German Shepherd who until last year never did any damage.
Late last year when my daughter in law was pregnant she started going upstairs via the spindles in the bannisters as she couldnt get past the stairgate. She was also going in the bath.

I thought it just because of my daughter in laws pregancy but today she has again gone through 3 spindles both downstairs and on the landing.

Can anyone suggest why she should be doing this as obvliously i am concerned she may hurt herself - my son on the other hand feels like killng her at the moment as he is trying to repair the spindles!

[tamborine]

Do you mean shes doing her woopsies in the bath, if so, its because its too cold and wet outside. You wouldn't want to squat outside ?

[ladybirder]

Don't understand the question.

[woodhamgirl]

no she just seems to want to go upstairs and the only way she can get up is by going through the spindles on the stairs.

I just wondered if anyone had any idea why she should suddenly be doing this when she has never done damage before.

[shaneystar2]

Eleven is a good age for a GS .She could have what they call doggie Alzheimers ?
Get her checked with a vet .

[tinkerbell23]

So shes chewing through them yeah?? Xx

[daffy654]

Do you mean that she is chewing through the spindles?

[jomifl]

I don't understand the question either

[Hettster]

I am unclear about the question also just for clarity who is "she" the daughter-in-law or the German Shepherd?

[tamborine]

does she want to be upstairs with the family rather than be on her own ?

[shaneystar2]

Is she weaving through them or chewing them ?

[woodhamgirl]

it seems shes pushing through them and breaking them just to get upstairs. I did wonder about dog alzeimers but in all other ways she behaves normally.

Hettster - she is the german shephard!! Id have my daughter in law locked up if it was her going through the spindles!!!!

[ladybirder]

Couldn't you just open the stairgate when you see her heading towards the stairs? Presumably she used to be able to go up and down the stairs at will. She won't understand why she can't do so now. If she's been a good dog all her life then it's probably dementia. Tell your son to be kind and understanding towards her - she's an old lady and has been a loyal friend and isn't doing it deliberately to wind him up.

[woodhamgirl]

unfortunately the stairgate is always up when no-ones in the house.

what age does that breed normally live to?

Im going to pass on shaneystars suggestions that he takes skye to the vets for a check over and also ladybirder your comments.

oh i so hate it when dogs get old - they are so dependant on us and loyal and loving

[shaneystar2]

I would still take her to vet woodhamgirl .
My old GS cross Shaney (my avatar) used to do silly things .He would sit and look at the wall or take himself up the garden and just sit there in the middle of the night for no reason . In his last year or so he had all sorts of daft behaviour that there was no explanation for .
It was just a sign of old age really thinking on it in retrospect .He died from something toally unrelated .

She could be a bit jealous if there's a new baby and needs to get to her master whatever it takes . .

[woodhamgirl]

thank you shaneystar. Im going to read him out your comments. And well see what the vet says as well.

[shaneystar2]

I wish you all the best for your pooch .They give us so much pleasure .I miss my old boy so much .
I hope she will be OK xxx

[ladybirder]

Shaney my cat does that. She's 18 this year and she sometimes sits a couple of inches away from a wall and sits for maybe an hour or more just staring at it. If I call her its as if she can't hear me and there's nothing wrong with her hearing. So sad when they get old. You just have to give them extra love and care.