Sometimes your senior dog gets 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 Shelby Semel about the best things you can do for your senior pup!
Try there 7 things with your senior dog:
1: Teaching new tricks
Keeping your senior dog’s brain stimulated is super important as they get old, particularly since they can’t do as much physically. As walks get shorter, they still have energy left to expend. Teaching your pup tricks can be mentally stimulating and also tire them out in new ways!
2: Keeping them lean
Making sure that your senior dog is not overfed and their diet is healthy is important. As soon as they end up overweight, your pup can get grump and this often ends up resulting in behavioral issues. Being proactive instead of reactive about your pup’s weight as they get older is key. A healthy diet is important because older pups don’t move around as much so it is hard to lose weight and more likely for them to have joint pain that could’ve been otherwise avoided. A fun tip is to use food for training since it’s nutritionally balanced and doesn’t provide extra calories.
3. Be aware of their aging body and new joint paints
While it might have been routine to have your dog sit on cue, this might be more painful now that they’re older. Try and avoid making them sit down or lay down on cue, particularly on harder surfaces. Your dog may be happy laying down, but may not be comfortable on a certain surface. For example, when training or taking your pup out to lunch with you bring them a mat! You can also get them an orthopedic bed to sleep on which they will surely thank you for!
4. Don’t force unwanted socialization
Unless your dog is particularly interested and loves other dogs, don’t bring other dogs into your house as much as you used to. The same can be said for new and unfamiliar children– as your pup gets older, they might not want new company and puppy energy might be overwhelming. Taking in a foster puppy might not be the best option, it can be better to let your dog socialize with other dogs on their own terms. It is important to know your dog; some older dogs love puppies and they can add life to the house and can add spunk to them. But for older dogs who aren’t feeling well, or are territorial / resource guards, this can be detrimental. Or if you do make the decision to get another dog, provide spaces for your older pup to be alone if they want. Crates and baby gates are a great way to provide your dog with the space it deserves.
5. Remember their interests change
Just because your dog loved something when they were young, doesn’t mean they still love it at 15 years old. Similar to how humans change their interests with age, so do dogs. Your older pup will thank you for being aware of that and respect those new boundaries.
6. You can try new toys!
There are so many new fun toys your dog can find joy in that you might not have brought into their lives when they were puppies because they didn’t exist then. Try out a fun toy and make their lives enriched in a different way. Even if your pup has never used a snuffle mat before, you can try something new! Maybe they want to work for their food for a fun mental challenge.
7. Go slower on walks
Your pup might not be able to move as fast on walks as they used to and it is helpful to be patient with them! Allow for more sniffing than they used to do. This is a great–way to tire them out without going as long or as fast as they used to.
