Have you ever heard the story about the child who had a theory on why dogs don’t live long? Basically, the child told an adult, “People are born to learn how to live a good life — dogs already do that, so that is why they don’t live long”.
It is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
It is true, that dogs already live a good life. They bring strength to us when we are weak, comfort to us when we are lonely, and joy to us when we are sad. But we still, selfishly, want them to be with us longer.
So, what can we do to care for our aging champions. Our senior pets. Here are a few suggestions:
- Start a New Low-Impact Activity. If you have a Border Collie (like I do) or another herding breed, you can start herding. Stick to ducks or sheep, not cattle. Herding is a great way to keep a senior herding dog active mentally and physically with low-impact. Don’t have a herding breed? That’s okay! There are plenty of other low-impact activities your senior dog can enjoy such as hiking (choose simple trails), swimming, walking, and more!
- Teach Your Old Dog New Tricks. A big part of keeping a dog happy is mental activity…especially if physical activity has been reduced due to age or injury. There are so many wonderful dog-tricks out there! Grab a book like Kyra Sundance’s 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog
, and get started!
- Give Dietary Supplements. Even if you feed the best food, having a senior pet means needing to add in some extra supplementation for optimal nutrition. Glucosamine, chondrotin, and omegas (oils) are some of my favorites. Check out Glyco-Flex III Soft-Chews for Dogs, 120-Count
for a great source of joint supplementation for senior pets.
- Spoil Them. Don’t worry about a few extra pounds (that’s a good “safety” for any unexpected senior illness). Take them with you if you’re running a dog-friendly errand. Stop by Dairy Queen every now and then for a Pup Cup. Time is precious…don’t put it off until tomorrow.
There are many other ways to care for an aging dog. These are just a few of my favorites. How do you care for your senior pets?
For more posts on aging, check out Dog Agility Blog Events – Aging.
Nice post, with good ideas. Our Jake is 14 and slowing down greatly. We’ve only had him for 2 years. Before that, he spent his entire 12 years living in a wire cage outside, rain or shine. Sleet or hail. He was never allowed in the house of his owner. Then one day his owner died, but wasn’t discovered for 8 days. Meanwhile, Jake was outside with no food and frozen water. It was March.
The police found the owner dead in the kitchen. The policeman knows us and called to ask if we would come over and get Jake, who was still in the cage. We did, of course, and the rest is history. But all those years on the wire, and in the cold, contributed to Jake’s aching joints. (And paws.) 🙁
Jake won’t go for walks anymore, not even across the road to get the mail. So we don’t push him. But he’s not lacking for love at all. Or treats. Jon takes him to MacDonalds for cheeseburgers from time to time. 🙂
Jake’s idea of a good time? Going for rides in the car, and hanging with Jon. They do everything together. Eat, sleep, watch movies.
Life is good. Now.
What a sweet post. Senior dogs are so precious, and deserve the very best. My previous dogs were with me until they were both 14, and I took for granted how easy life can be with such seasoned pals. They ask so little of us and give their whole hearts in return. It was quite an adjustment to adopt a nine month old puppy!
This is great advice, especially the “spoil them.” When I took in my parents 13 year old Chihuahua he was a skinny minny and then when he got sick he didn’t have much meat on his bones to carry him for very long. Great tips.
i so agree with teaching new tricks! I like to teach mine to differentiate between stuffed animals!
Great tips! My girls are still young, but I will keep these in mind 🙂 Thanks!
These are great tips! It is so easy to get caught up in sadness as your dog succumbs to age, but by engaging in these activities and by spoiling them can help both you AND your dog cope. Great post!
It is very difficult to see your pup getting older. Joint supplements have made a big difference in my dogs mobility.
We had a Yorkie that lived to be 17. I treasured every moment I had with her, but it was still so sad when she passed away. My sister’s senior lab suffered from arthritis, but acupuncture seemed to really help her.
What wonderful thoughts and tips. Our N.A.S.H.A. is approaching the big 1-0, and though she’s still active in bursts, she’s not the ankle-biter she used to be. Why can’t they live forever?
I remember when my 10-year old westie became prematurely old when he developed a fatal brain tumor – he didn’t look old, and normally he could have lived another few years. He had some joint stiffness, and we gave him glucosamine-chrondrotin – I’ve actually heard that they aren’t proven to help much, but he truly did seem to walk better with them. No matter what we do, though… god, it’s tough to watch, and feel so helpless as a dog deteriorates. You’re right, the most important thing is: time is precious!
Very good tips! I like the idea of teaching some new tricks to keep a senior dog’s mind sharp and provide some fun. I also really Jeanne’s suggestion of going for car rides; that’s a great activity as well. My little one Phoebe is only just starting to slow down a bit at approx. 8 yrs old so we only take her along on easier hikes, not so much the strenuous ones anymore.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Aww my last rescue Isabelle lived to 16, but my lab only 13. They were very active until the end. When we got Kilo the Rescue Pug aged 2 last year, 16 years seemed so long. Now, after nearly a year, 13 years more (if we are very lucky) do not seem enough. I teach tricks to Kilo every day and hopefully will not lose steam
I love this post. I say 10 is the new 5 and my last dog lived to be one week shy of 15. I hope to increase my Dexter’s life span and use many of these tips. Thanks and love the quote!
I love that one of your tips is ways to keep your senior dog active. People (even our vet) always seem so surprised that Felix is in such great shape at 10. He’s lean, well muscled and he can still handle a whole lot of activity. Maybe that’s because we also use GlycoFlex or maybe it’s because he’s a spitfire, either way? I love it!
Love the quote you shared, white face heart of gold, it is so true and fitting to these great dogs!!! 🙂
These are wonderful tips. I think it is especially important to teach old dogs new tricks. Keep their mind young! Luna’s chin is starting to turn a bit grey. It is both adorable and sad!
Great post! I will definitely share!
Mom always tries to make the most of our lives every day, but with my senior sister Katie she gives extra attention. Senior dogs deserve to be treated as special.
Such great tips; even though my dog Laika isn’t a senior quite yet (she’s 3) she’s been diagnosed with arthritis so we’re all about those low impact activities. I love teaching her new tricks as well – it’s an easy way to keep her thinking & on her toes so to speak. And of course I love the tip to spoil them 🙂 They deserve it.
This article made me cry, it just reminded me so much of my precious boy. He’s still with me but I sometimes can’t help but get caught up in the fact he’s older and has heart problems. I have him on a heart supplement and omega 3 liquid and plan to take him to a holistic vet to see a more natural approach to care for his precious heart. Thanks so much for sharing these tips, senior dogs really are the best and they are capable of giving so much love and joy. Pinning.
Lovely post! My dog is turning 13 this year and she’s still amazing although she has slowed down loads and has bad arthritis. Gorgeous pics too!
Have a great weekend x