How To Keep Your Senior Dog Active

Kate Naito
by Kate Naito
Published:  August 14th, 2018
Senior dogs can benefit from training and exercise, too. Before you resign your aging pup to a sedentary retirement, consider these options to keep him physically active and mentally stimulated.


Sure, your dog’s Agility days might be behind him, and the gravity-defying tricks he used to perform are no longer in his repertoire. Still, there is a long list of activities perfectly suited to older dogs, to ensure his golden years are his best years.


Sports for Seniors


There are several sports that don’t demand much of your senior dog’s body. Even if you don’t live near a training facility that offers sport classes, there are online schools that allow you to learn and practice at home.


Rally Obedience (also called Rally-O or simply Rally) is a lighter version of competition obedience, and a great way for you and your dog to spend time training together. Rally involves you and your pooch performing a series of obedience-type tasks, laid out on a course. The tasks include lots of heelwork, sits, stays, and so on. Rally is perfect for older dogs because it provides lots of mental stimulation, but at a slow pace. Even at Rally trials, there is a division just for seniors, and exceptions can be made for dogs with disabilities.


Scent Work is another sport with no age limit. Even blind or disabled dogs can effectively sniff out a scent. Unlike Rally, which relies on frequent cues from the handler, Scent Work is an activity that dogs do largely on their own. The handler is there to help and observe but should not interfere with the dog’s search. As such, dogs with an independent streak may find this sport irresistible.


While not a competitive sport in itself, swimming is a safe way to keep many older dogs fit. As with humans, dogs can get a great workout swimming without the negative impact (literally) from running. Get the green light from your vet and ensure your dog actually enjoys water before embarking on a swimming adventure.


Training


Senior-friendly training can take many forms. In all cases, keep it positive and fun.


Free-shaping is an excellent activity for a dog with either full or limited physical abilities. With free shaping, you place a novel object, such as a cardboard box or empty plastic container, a few feet away from your dog. Any time your dog interacts with it, you will click with a clicker and give a treat. After some time, your dog will get the hang of it, intentionally approaching the item to see if it earns him a click (which it will). You’ll then see your dog start to offer more deliberate behaviors: touching the item with his nose, pushing it with his paw, stepping inside it, and so on. What makes this activity good for seniors is the dog’s ability to choose his interaction. If he has trouble with mobility, he can touch or pick up the object with his mouth. Or if he’s only got one tooth left, he can use his paws to push with it. The game is whatever you and our dog make it.


At the first sign of vision or hearing loss, revisit some modified basic training with your senior. For example, recall (“come”) is an essential skill, but hard for deaf or blind dogs to respond to. Consider a loud auditory cue, such as a whistle, in addition to a more noticeable visual cue, such as blinking a small flashlight on and off.


Beat boredom


As their senses dull and mobility becomes limited, seniors can become bored and depressed. Help them make the most of their plentiful free time by feeding in a food-dispensing toy, or by turning mealtime into training time. This will break up the monotony of the day, get his mind and body engaged, and even create more motivation to eat.


Consider learning fitness exercises to help your dog retain his muscle, balance, and mobility. You can either find a professional in your area who specializes in canine fitness, or follow instructions from print or online sources, with the permission of your vet.


While the senior years aren’t without their challenges, it’s a time full of opportunities to bond, play, and learn with your dog in new ways.

WOW
Kate Naito
Kate Naito

Kate Naito, CPDT-KA, is a dog trainer at Doggie Academy in Brooklyn, NY, and author of the training book, "BKLN Manners." She draws upon her experience as an educator and dog trainer to apply positive training techniques to a challenging urban environment. Kate is a rescue advocate drawn to special-needs dogs and currently has two Chihuahua mixes, Batman and Beans.

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Staffordshire Terrier and Australian Magpie turn fans into fanatics when separation looms.

Can You Prevent Joint Pain in Dogs?

As dogs near their golden years, different health issues tend to pop up – sometimes completely out of the blue, and sometimes a little less unexpectedly. One of the more common health problems dogs experience as they age that can be predicted fairly easily and as such prevented on time are joint issues. Providing proper support for your dog while they are still young and agile can dramatically improve their quality of life later on, so it pays to start thinking ahead when it comes to joint health, especially if your pet is in a high-risk group for developing this type of problem (large breed dogs, working breeds, highly active dogs, etc). Here’s what you need to know to make sure your pet doesn’t suffer from joint pain in their senior years.5 Crucial Steps to Prevent Joint Pain in DogsWhile some factors contributing to joint pain are beyond our control, there are different proactive steps we can take to support our pet's joint health:#1 Maintain a Healthy WeightJust as in humans, obesity in dogs exacerbates joint strain and can accelerate the onset of joint problems. A balanced diet will go a long way in helping your pet maintain a healthy weight, so strive to ensure they are getting only quality food that is based mostly on protein and doesn’t contain unhealthy fats and too many fillers such as soy or corn.#2 Provide Regular ExerciseModerate, low-impact exercise helps keep joints limber and muscles strong. However, be mindful of your dog's limitations, as pushing them too far can end up being counterproductive. Activities like swimming and walks are excellent choices, just make sure to tailor the pace to your pet’s capabilities.#3 Quality Supplementation Providing a diet rich in essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin, supports joint health. However, even when feeding a good quality kibble, it’s not always feasible to rely on your pet’s diet alone to be enough to provide all of these joint-nurturing ingredients in the right ratio. This is where dog joint supplements come in to enrich your pet’s diet with specific nutrients. 

How to Introduce Your Cat to Your Baby

Are you preparing to welcome a new baby, and you want to be sure that your fur baby will be ready for such a big change? Cats are creatures of habit, so major shifts in their daily life, which happens when a child is born, can cause them to feel stressed. But if you take the right steps in advance and after you bring your baby home, you can ensure everyone in your family will adjust to the changes without anxiety.Check out the tips below on how to introduce your cat to your newborn.

12-Year-Old Rescue Cat’s Reaction to First Toy Melts Hearts

It’s a heartwarming tale of second chances that will tug at the heartstrings of cat lovers everywhere. From sharing the story of a senior cat finding the love he deserves to revealing his “inner kitten” in an adorable video – The story of “Loaf” will surely bring a smile to your face. As a golden oldie, Loaf appears to have had a rough start to life. The 12-year-old cat was discovered recently by Maria Torres, from Miami, during a mother/daughter beach trip. The two spotted the black cat peaking out from the mangroves, and it was clear that he needed help. A rescue owner herself (Torres runs Love N Light Furever Rescue in South Florida), she knew she couldn’t leave the sweet senior behind to fend for himself. The two took Loaf home to better assess his condition and help him live out the rest of his senior years with the love and care every cat should receive. After addressing his immediate needs, they decided to give the senior cat a little something special to call his own – a catnip-filled rainbow toy, recording his first reaction. But they never could have imagined how it was going to go. “To give him his first toy was pretty extraordinary and kind of scary because I didn’t know how he was going to feel about it,” Torres explained. “The truth is, a cat who lived on the streets for 12 years sometimes doesn’t even recognize toys, so I was actually pretty shocked that he took a liking to it right away.” Torres shared the video on TikTok, and it wasn’t long before the heartwarming comments started to roll in.

More And More Pets Are Having Allergies, Trupanion Reports

The time when spring blooms and summer comes to the doorstep is an idyllic period for most, but a lot of people dread this time of the year because of seasonal allergies that cause s lot of sneezing, headaches, and all-around discomfort. Now, it seems, it’s not just us humans that can experience nasty spring allergies – data indicates that our four-legged best friends are also affected by them. Dogs, in particular, are very susceptible to  spring allergies and are increasingly treated for their symptoms, such as itchy skin.Are All Dogs At Risk for Spring Allergies?It is important to be aware that the trees and flowers that bloom in spring can be a source of allergies for your pet. Not only are spring allergies very uncomfortable for dogs, but they can potentially lead to many secondary issues, the most dangerous of which is a skin infection.And if you think that chances for a spring allergy affecting your dog are low, consider a recent report issued by the pet insurance company Trupanion. They claim that there was a 45% increase in allergy claims for insured pets over the course of four years since 2019. This means that allergies are on the rise, both for pets and their owners. In fact, as  Axios reports, according to the insurer Nationwide, spring allergies are at the top of the list of health conditions that end in vet visits. Another key fact is related to allergy drugs. Since two of the major allergy drugs were released in 2013 and 2018, more than 20 million dogs have been treated by them, in an effort to battle spring allergy effects. Of course, if you suspect that your pet is suffering from a spring allergy, it is key to visit your vet as soon as possible. Depending on the effects, your vet can prescribe topical, injectable, or chewable treatments that help reduce  itchiness and other issues. And, considering that such allergies are seasonal, be ready for them with the arrival of spring and the blooming of trees. Learn to spot the symptoms such as itchiness, and to react quickly!

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