"Recently, my dog's behavior has been strange." It might not just be aging—What are the early signs of canine dementia?

The behavior of my beloved dog, who has lived with me for many years, has gradually started to change.

He suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night and wanders around the room aimlessly.

Even when I call his name, he doesn't turn around as quickly as he used to.

He suddenly has accidents in places other than the toilet he has always used.

After getting stuck between pieces of furniture, he stands there as if he doesn't know how to get out.

When witnessing such changes, many owners initially think, "It's just because he's getting old."

However, it might not just be simple aging.

In August 2026, the German news media "stern" introduced the theme that dogs, like humans, can experience cognitive decline, and it is important to identify early signs.

In veterinary medicine, this condition is generally referred to as "Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCDS, CCD)."

It's not exactly the same disease as human dementia. However, there are similarities in that changes occur in memory, learning, spatial awareness, sleep, and social behavior with age, affecting daily life.

One of the biggest challenges with this disease is the difficulty in recognizing early symptoms.

The boundary between "aging" and "pathological cognitive decline" is hard to discern

He no longer runs for long periods like he did when he was young.

He takes more naps.

His response when called is slightly slower.

Such changes are not uncommon in senior dogs.

Therefore, even if cognitive decline has begun, families may perceive it as a "natural change due to age" and overlook it for a long time.

On the other hand, behaviors that appear to be cognitive dysfunction may actually be caused by joint pain, decreased vision or hearing, internal diseases, or neurological disorders.

In other words, both "noticing changes" and "not jumping to conclusions about dementia" are important.

Currently, when organizing the typical changes seen in canine cognitive dysfunction, the term "DISHAA" is often used in veterinary medicine.

"Disorientation"

"Interactions"

"Sleep-wake cycle"

"House soiling/Learning and Memory"

"Activity"

"Anxiety"

These are the six aspects.

Canine dementia is not a simple "forgetfulness" disease.

It is easier to understand if you think of it as a disease where the dog's daily life gradually changes.

Sign 1: Getting "lost" in a familiar home

One of the more noticeable changes is in spatial awareness.

Even in a home where he has lived for years, he forgets the location of doors.

He gets stuck between furniture and walls and can't get out.

He tries to go the other way even when the door is open.

He stares at walls or corners of the room for long periods.

To the family, these behaviors may seem strange, but the dog himself may be unable to judge where he is or where to go next.

Even in a familiar home, it suddenly becomes like an "unknown place."

For the owner, this is one of the painful changes to witness.

Sign 2: Reversal of day and night, starting to walk at night

A particularly significant impact on the family in senior dogs with cognitive dysfunction is the change in sleep-wake rhythm.

He sleeps for long periods during the day.

However, when the family goes to bed, he wakes up and paces around the room.

He gets up soon after lying down.

He barks for no reason.

He continues to walk for hours.

This state, where confusion, anxiety, and wandering intensify from evening to night, is sometimes referred to as "sundowning," likening it to human dementia.

This symptom is not just a problem for the dog.

If it continues every night, the family living together also cannot sleep.

In fact, on overseas social media for senior dog owners, there are posts about waking up every two hours due to the dog's nighttime wandering, leading to chronic sleep deprivation.

When it comes to caring for dogs, people tend to think "love will get us through," but a life deprived of sleep for weeks or months is a significant burden for any owner.

It's necessary to consult a veterinarian, considering not only the dog's QOL but also the caregiver's life.

Sign 3: Changes in the relationship with the owner

The dog that used to greet you at the door no longer reacts when you come home.

The dog that always stayed by the family's side now prefers to be alone.

Conversely, he may suddenly not want to leave the owner's side.

He becomes extremely anxious about being left alone.

He dislikes being touched.

Such changes in social interactions are also known signs of cognitive dysfunction.

However, it's important to be aware of other diseases here as well.

For example, if his hearing is impaired, he may not respond to calls.

If he has pain in his joints or back, he may dislike being touched.

If his vision declines, he may be startled when the owner approaches and become more cautious than before.

When you feel that his "personality has changed," it's important to check not only his behavior but also his physical condition.

Sign 4: Suddenly failing at toilet training

One of the representative changes is starting to fail at toilet training, which he had done perfectly for years.

He doesn't eliminate during walks but does so indoors right after returning home.

He mistakes the location of the toilet.

He seems to forget that he has already eliminated.

The habits he had maintained start to crumble.

Owners might feel that "his training has regressed."

However, scolding an elderly dog can be counterproductive.

It's possible that he is not doing it intentionally but is having difficulty recalling the rules or locations he learned.

However, frequent urination or incontinence can have various causes, such as urinary tract diseases, kidney diseases, or endocrine disorders.

It's essential to get an examination before concluding "it's dementia."

Sign 5: Walking in circles in the same place

Sometimes he continues to walk without any apparent purpose.

He repeatedly walks the same route in the room.

He walks in circles.

He repeatedly stands up and sits down.

Even though he no longer shows interest in toys he used to like, he seems restless and keeps walking.

At first glance, it might seem like he's "walking energetically."

However, he may be unable to rest calmly and continues moving due to anxiety or confusion.

Particularly if repetitive behaviors that were rarely seen before suddenly increase, it's important to pay attention.

Sign 6: Increased anxiety or fear

In dogs with declining cognitive function, anxiety can increase.

He continues to bark when left alone.

He becomes anxious when the family goes to another room.

He gets startled by sounds he wasn't afraid of before.

He dislikes dark places.

He becomes afraid of his usual walking route.

If vision and hearing loss are added, the world around the dog becomes much less predictable than when he was young.

The state of "not knowing what's happening" can lead to anxiety.

The higher the age, the higher the risk

There is a strong relationship between canine cognitive dysfunction and age.

In a study involving over 15,000 dogs participating in the large-scale U.S. study "Dog Aging Project," the probability of cognitive dysfunction increased with each additional year of age, even after adjusting for other conditions.

Additionally, dogs with very low activity levels were found to have a stronger association with cognitive dysfunction compared to more active dogs.

However, this does not simply conclude that "lack of exercise causes dementia."

It's possible that the dog has become inactive as a result of cognitive decline.

Nevertheless, the idea that appropriate exercise, interaction with people and the environment, and mental stimulation tailored to the condition of senior dogs are important is emphasized in current veterinary medicine.

In 2026, the first international guidelines on canine cognitive dysfunction

There was a significant development regarding canine cognitive dysfunction in 2026.

An international working group of experts published guidelines on diagnosis and monitoring.

They organized cognitive dysfunction as a syndrome of chronic neurodegeneration progressing with age and presented a staged approach to the severity of symptoms as mild, moderate, and severe.

Equally important is the idea of regularly checking cognitive function from an early stage, rather than investigating after symptoms become severe.

The guidelines suggest evaluating behavior every 6 to 12 months from around the age of 7 and recording what is "normal" for that dog.

This is not just about diagnosing dementia earlier.

"What he could do six months ago, he can't do now."

"The number of times he wakes up at night has increased."

"His response to the owner is gradually changing."

It is also to make it easier to capture such long-term changes.

"At first, I didn't think it was dementia"—Posts on social media

Many experiences from owners about canine cognitive dysfunction are posted on social media.

Particularly noticeable are the voices saying, "At first, I didn't think it was dementia."

In the senior dog community on the overseas forum Reddit, an owner consulted about their dog suddenly starting to wander around the living room at around 4:30 in the morning.

During the day, the dog behaves relatively normally, but at night, he walks around the house alone, sometimes coming to the bedroom and then returning to another room.

Since this was behavior that had rarely been seen before, the owner first considered the possibility of "canine dementia."

Another post describes a dog bumping into furniture he has lived with for years, walking in circles, and repeatedly standing up and lying down.

These experiences indicate that some owners notice abnormalities from changes in nighttime behavior before "forgetfulness."

"The dog can't sleep. I can't sleep either."—The reality for caregiving families

What is further conveyed strongly on social media is the fatigue of caregivers.

One poster, who is caring for a dog over 15 years old, shares their life of the dog getting lost and wandering around the house, waking up multiple times at night when the medication wears off.

The dog has an appetite and can go for walks.

That's why the owner is torn between the feeling of "maybe he's still healthy" and the question of "is he truly happy?"

In addition, the owner is experiencing extreme sleep deprivation.

This conflict symbolizes the difficulty of living with a dog with cognitive dysfunction.

He's eating.

He can walk.

There are no major diseases in his body.

It's difficult to judge the quality of life based on just that.

Is he sleeping without anxiety?

Is he enjoying interactions with the family?

Does he show interest in things he used to like?

Is there more calm time or confused time in a day?

When considering QOL, multiple perspectives like these are necessary.

Shared ideas on social media. However, "effective experiences" are not treatments

##HTML