Sometimes senior dogs get the short end of the stick when it comes to access to information out there, everyone always wants to talk about the new puppies! This is why the What the Pup team is bringing you anything and everything Senior! We spoke with Mark Bennett from Brooklyn’s Finest Dog Training to discuss great ways to keep your senior dog’s mind active.
Keep your pup healthy!
One of the most important things for keeping your senior pup sharp is to make sure they feel healthy. If they are physically not well, they don’t have a way to communicate the way that they are feeling. Regular or increased visits to the vet, as well as an ongoing logbook of your dog’s health that you bring to the vet, this helps with knowing what is going on with your dog. Diet and clean water also play a big role in their health. Older dogs need fresh water out all the time, the water also needs to be in a clean bowl, this will help maintain a clear mind.
“Talk” to your pup
When you’re out with your dog on a walk or spending time with them, having an ongoing conversation, singing to them, talking with them, even making jokes are all great ways to sharpen their mind. If your senior pup’s mind is constantly thinking, and they feel that they’re having a back-and-forth conversation they have to actively engage. This is a great way for them to engage and keep their mind active.
Teach your old dog new tricks
I’ve worked with old dogs and am continuously amazed by the things dogs can learn at any age as long as you have a positive reinforcement approach. Learning new things is a great way to keep their mind active and tire them out without traditional exercise.
Create daily rituals around meals
Instead of having your pup’s food sitting out all day, go through the ritual of training and make them work for their meal. Have your pup sit down while you prepare their food, then let them then go eat when it’s ready to eat. Not only can this create order around mealtimes if you have multiple pups, it’s a fun way to engage with your pup.
Engage all your dog’s senses in positive ways
Beyond keeping up a conversation with them, there are other ways you can engage their hearing: whistling with them, playing the music they like—dogs respond to different kinds of music (I find they particularly like classical and reggae), or tv shows. This can be great if you are leaving the house since you don’t want your dog listening for someone in the hallway etc.
To engage their sense of smell, when you go for a walk let your dog sniff around and use their nose to happily sniff for 20-30 mins. For their sense of taste, introduce your older dog to different dog-friendly foods like blueberries, bananas, or carrots. You’ll often find that they perk up with this new sensation. For engaging their sense of sight, when training use hand signals as well as your voice. Not only will you be able to give the command without the auditory cue, but it is a great way to check their vision given their response to visual cues once they’re comfortable with them.
What are your favorite ways to give your old pup some love? Let us know at whatthepup@spotandtango.com
