Odd Behaviour In Poodles

[juice]

Hi, this is for a friend of mine who just called asking for advice.

She has 2 poodles, male 11, female 4, both desexed , female is in charge,house dogs, very active walked daily.

Over the last couple of months the old male boy has started to lick the girl constantly, all over, tum, face, back ,bottom, female generally lets him but will growl when she has had enough.

Any idea's? I told her health check for both maybe the way to go first, could old dog be picking something up in the female? Or is it a behavior thing?

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Juice - ask Denise, one of her dogs does that to one of the other ones. It would be really annoying - I could only suggest putting a touch of bittering agent onto the girl's coat - it tastes very unpleasant and perhaps that would put him off.

It could cause scraps should the female tire of the behaviour, as it's so persistent. I'm interested to see what other people say, I'm wondering if it could be dementia related as I've had some dogs do persistent licking of different things when they are getting dementia.

[Leah82]

Collie does this to Sarah, usually at night time if they are curled up together away from the hoomans and sometimes first thing in the morning.

It's one of the reasons we now crate them separately at night otherwise I'd have to resort to washing Sarah weekly

and yes Sarah will also growl when she's had enough, although she spends plenty of time licking collie's muzzle so he gets his own back

not sure why they do it, I did actually post on the forum about it awhile ago but there weren't any conclusive responses.

[*kirty*]

Might be a senile behaviour. Time for a thorough vet check for both, but I'd be more concerned about the old boy.

[persephone]

Sounds much like some sort of senile or neurological thing ....

[Christina]

Only the dog knows why he is doing this. Vet check for sure.

It may be his eyesight is going & he is licking her for reassurance & orientation but that's just a stab in the dark.

May be senility but 11 is not old for a poodle & dementia is a vague answer for I have no idea. My 12 year old had a funny little episode last year, lost a few minutes lost in space & I thought spider bite or small stroke however vet said dementia.

He is sharp as a tack & has not had anything like that again. Sight & hearing good & acting normal as ever

As long as vet can't find anything definite the reason may never be found & he may just stop doing it. I would let them go if the girl puts him in his place & they don't fight.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Christina

[leec]

My darling old Eddie use to do this too and Maggie would growl or just move away when she had had enough. Sometimes she would nearly be dripping in wet kisses, especially her ears :laugh: We'd just dry her off if it got that bad. They were both staffies, so no long coats to bother about.

He most certainly had dementia and his eyesight and hearing were also going. He was a dottering ole fella by this time.

I can't say why your friends dog is doing this, but it was a normal thing in our household until Eddie went over the Rainbow Bridge.

[juice]

i think its causing sore patch's on the girl, which is the concern, especially around her bottom.

I did suggest vet and possible dementia, he is very fit and active.

would a bitter spray help?