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The problem now is some odd behavior: She has been vigorously digging in her pillows, sometimes for an hour at a time, about three times a day. She's too weak and small to damage the pillows; but it's surprisingly noisy, esp at night. I have told her to stop, and for a second or two, she does. Then starts up again. She also walks in tight circles for 10-15 minutes at a time. Plus, she has totally stopped barking, which is uncharacteristic for her.

.....Is it time? Any suggestions? I'm willing to keep her with me until she goes, but I do not want to make her suffer...

This is just my experience. When my dog was 16 years old, outside he would walk in circles, they would get tighter and tighter. At times I'd interrupt him so he would change directions or I would walk inside his circle in such a way that would force him to walk in a better straighter line. There were times when in the house he'd go into the bathroom and get stuck beside the toilet and wall. I'm not sure why he'd do this but someone else with an older dog told me that her dog did this too, kinda walk into a corner and just stay there.

As to the stopping barking, maybe there's something wrong with her throat. I was always convinced that there was something wrong with my dog's throat. The vet ignored that no matter how many times I begged her to check it. Vet said that maybe he just didn't have the need, or want to bark. One night he got stuck on some boxes in a back room. A strange sound woke me up. I don't know how I could possibly have heard that sound considering the distance the was from me and the sound was not loud. Turns out that that sound was him barking. I gathered he had lost his vocal chords.

Maybe your dog is in a stage of life where she feels she no longer needs to bark. That she's on retirement and the other dog should take up the barking... like passing the baton.

As to the digging at pillows, I'd say let her do it. I'd consider that as her getting exercise. Older people develop strange habits, no reason a dog shouldn't also. Also, as older people go back to their childhood, she may be thinking she's back at being a puppy and is digging for voles in the garden. Just make sure she has no chance of hurting herself while she's doing it. I'm not sure how digging at pillows can be loud, maybe give her towels to dig at?

Indoor accidents happen. For my dog who weak as he was refused to wear a diaper, I made him a bathroom section in the living room. Thick plastic placed on the floor, covered that with cardboard and topped that with wee wee pads. I bought wee wee pads by the case and changed the ones that were soiled. When my dog was no longer to get up by himself, I'd help him up every four hours and lead him to this spot. I didn't want him to suffer from UTI.

Is it time? Only you will know. Your dog will let you know. You'll just know. I don't know how to explain this. It's a gut feeling. My dog passed away in my arms, at home.

Love your dog, talk to her, remind her of the fun times and other pets and people she knew. Watch her reactions, you'll be quite surprised. Ask her what she wants, explain things to her. I did this with my dog. I received most of the answers through my dreams or had "gut" feeling answers. I felt I got to know my dog best through the last six months of his life.

I did play with her for a good while this evening, our game of me hiding hamburger in my hand, and her going after it until she “wins.” In the crate, I do have puppy pads, but she usually pees on the pillow, so I have several I rotate through the laundry.

I like your ideas. She quit barking when she went blind last weekend. I didn’t notice right away that she was silent...she seems to feel safe in the crate (it’s really large) and gets around okay in there, knows where everything is. The mastiff almost never barks, he’ll growl if there’s a strange car in the drive, but only barks for the grandkids or a stray dog outside. He does “talk,” though.