Hi , i'm really hoping someone can possibly help me.

I have a 12yr old Welsh Terrier that over the past week has started acting very out of character when in the kitchen. She always sleeps in the kitchen and always has done since a puppy. There is a stair gate separating her from the rest of house.

Recently though she has started whining , excessive panting , pacing and scratching at the gate as if to get out. We initially thought she was needing to go out for wee's but once let in the garden she stops all the behaviour and wanders around happily. The minute she's back in the kitchen she starts again. The kitchen is the coolest room in house so she can't be hot , nothing has happened in there to spook her either ( that we know about anyway ). She doesn't do this in any other room in the house and in every other way is her usual self.

Does anyone have any ideas why she might be doing this , or had a dog that has shown similar behaviour?

Thanks , Kate

Maybe she just wants to be with you and the family?

We had this recently with our Bernese (she is 5). She was simply too hot it seems because since we opened the kitchen window to let air in she was fine. Given how muggy it has been even at night it might be worthwhile leaving a window open or a fan on for her?

I have found that my old boy (who is 14) now doesn't cope so well with having me out of sight. He was always an independent boy and would lie at the bottom of the stairs (periodically doing his "rounds" to make sure the younger dogs weren't misbehaving lol). However, as he has aged, he needs to be in the same room as me. Whether watching TV, having a shower, going to bed....he's there! I think it's down to his senses not being as sharp as they were which must lead to a sense of insecurity. If I have to close him in a room (whilst I hoover or such) he will whine and bark and be generally miserable until he can find his way to my feet! I think we need to adapt routines as a dog grows old. What once worked may not be ideal anymore.

I have this issue with my dog quite regularly especially when there are visitors or too much noise outside. For anxiety it is usually have some sort of reassuring vibes to the dog from family members. Dogs usually view the family as their pack just like their wolf/fox ancestors. For unsettled behaviour I usually go for  dap collar if it appears that hormones are the cause.

Maybe she just wants to be with you and the family?

agreed

its quite common for older dogs to start behaving in this way, ive come across this many times.

in this sense, they are the same as humans.
their faculties start to fail, the old age related hormonal change of life sets in, and they get distressed.

i would take her to vets for a check up

It does sound as though she simply needs to be able to get to you easier.

any news or feedback kate?

I agree with what others are saying about changes when dogs get to this age - it just seems to come out of nowhere but thinking back the signs can be seen creeping in... 
I also wonder if you have any animal visitors in your garden.  I'm thinking from your post that she onlly behavaes like this when she's put to bed at night [you said she sleeps in the kitchen yes?] so possibly you have some visitors [hedgehogs perhaps] that are disturbing her.

i think sugar has vanished

Hi thank you all for replies. Although i forgot to look at my original post till today!! Perhaps it's not just Rosie who's losing her marbles :)

I took her to vet for a check up , just in case , but he couldn't find anything wrong with her.

She's still getting what i'd call panicked when in the kitchen at night. Don't think there's anything in the garden ( not that she usually notices even when she's out there with birds / cats etc ) as if she heard something she'd be scratching at the back door. And her behaviour starts just a couple of minutes after we leave her.

I've also noticed that she is pacing around more during the daytime. I think it's worrying me more because it seems to have happened all of a sudden , with no build up to it. But perhaps like someone said , I just haven't noticed all the little changes beforehand.

We have now been leaving her the whole of downstairs at night time which has stopped the stressed behaviour , although can still occasionally hear her plodding about. So I dont fully understand that if she's doing it to be with us , why is she happy in another room , without us?

Many thanks to all for your help and suggestions

does sound like just normal old age seniltiy type behaviour setting in.
i've come across this many times in dogs.

glad to hear she is less stressed now, but if you think she is still pacing downstairs, id say she probably does want to be with you.
just like old people, if faculties get weak and senses play tricks, they get worried, and feel better with people around.