On the other hand, if you notice subtle or significant personality changes, your senior Havanese may be experiencing something considerably more involved than the simple passage of time. If your dog seems unfocused, confused or distant, or appears forgetful and getting lost, he may be showing signs of a condition known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction or Canine Cognitive Disorder (CCD) often referred to as Doggie Alzheimers. This is not a condition that Havanese are prone to any more than any other breed; any dog of any breed may experience some symptoms as they age.

Cognitive Dysfunction is a physical disorder very similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans with gradually progressing confusion and disorientation. It is not a normal part of aging and not all old dogs develop it. Physical and chemical changes in the brain result in deterioration of thought processes, affecting how your dog learns, remembers, and thinks, which in turn can lead to behavioral changes, significantly disrupting the daily lives of you and your dog as the disease progresses. Frequently noted personality and behavior changes include disorientation, changes in interactions with people and other animals, loss of housebreaking and other training, and changes in activity level and sleep patterns. If your senior dog doesn't seem to be acting quite like they used to, or appears to be getting "dotty" or "weird", or displays unexplained or disturbing personality changes, it's worth a trip to the Vet to check things out. Many people do not mention their dog's changed behaviors and personality, thinking its just "old age", however many of the behaviors below are not a normal part of the aging process and need to be looked into and diagnosed by a Veterinarian. Your dog "may" have CCD if he displays a number of the behaviors below:

Signs of disorientation
- Wandering or pacing aimlessly or walking in circles
- Appearing lost or confused in familiar places around the house or yard
- Becoming stuck behind furniture or in corners not knowing how to turn around and get out
- Difficulty finding and using doors or reluctance in negotiating stairways
- Exhibiting repetitious, obsessive or compulsive behaviors
- Staring into space or fixating on objects or furniture

Changes in Interactions - Less excited about greeting family members
- Less responsive to name
- Withdrawn or uninterested in play, walks, car rides and other previously enjoyed activities
- Does not recognize familiar people or animals.
- Less interested in receiving attention (walks away during petting or cuddling)
- Slower to obey familiar commands - difficulty learning new ones
- Less tolerant, aggressive, grouchy or shy with people or other pets

Inappropriate Elimination
- Loss of housebreaking
- Soiling in the house regardless of the frequency of potty breaks
- Asking to go outside more or less often
- Going outside then appearing confused as to what to do next
- Going to the wrong door

Changes in Activity Level or Sleep Patterns
- Sleeping noticeably more during the day
- Sleeping less at night or nighttime restlessness
- Decrease in normal activity
- Increase in abnormal activity

Other Behaviors
- Easily startled by family members, household sounds, moving or stationary objects, etc.
- Increased barking, whining or howling
- Barking at nothing - change in sound of the bark
- Destructive behavior
- Increased anxiety or fearfulness
- Trembling or shaking
- Easily stressed

These can also be symptoms of other problems which is why a Veterinary examination is so important. Reluctance in using the stairs or to go for walks could be a sign of arthritis, inattentiveness could be due to a loss of vision or hearing, and incontinence could result from an infection. Once a physical and behavioral assessment has been done and other conditions eliminated, your Vet may make a diagnosis of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Unfortunately, there is no cure, however treatments are available that can potentially slow the progression of the disorder and alleviate some of the symptoms.

Careful thought, patience and consideration on your part can help family members and your dog cope with cognitive decline. You will have to consider your dog's needs by keeping his environment familiar and stable. 1) Minimize changes in lifestyle and daily activities 2) minimize changing or rearranging furniture in the dogs most frequented areas 3) develop and stick to a routine of pottying, feeding and watering 4) maintain regular moderate activity and exercise 5) maintain mental stimulation by encouraging gentle, short and interactive play sessions 6) keep commands short and simple 7) Be mindful of your dog's personality changes and limitations when introducing new people or other animals or even new food or toys 8) Be patient, be gentle and have realistic expectations. These coping skills come from personal experience. Two of my Havanese are seniors; a 12 year old that is aging normally and an 11 year old with CCD. Even when coping with Canine Cognitive disorder, your devoted companions' golden years can be enjoyable and fulfilling, though perhaps in a different way than you envisioned. Enjoy every moment of every day. No matter how long they live, it's never long enough.