Daniel Rodger of Good Dog Bad Dog shares tips for older dogs
It’s a fact of life that when our dogs get old they do ‘odd’ things: slow down physically, become saggy in the middle, personal comfort becomes a priority and, like us, they forget things.
It’s a fallacy that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Old dogs love to feel important and useful. Teach them new simple things: collecting the newspaper, carrying mail, holding a spare lead on walks. Invent jobs your dog can help with like carrying light garden tools. Little jobs will be mentally stimulating and encourage your dog to try new things.
Exercise is essential but physical stamina is greatly reduced. It’s sometimes difficult to manage between enough and too much exercise. One way to balance both is to assess the recovery time after exertion and adjust your exercise accordingly.
Sometimes a puppy rejuvenates an old dog, but manage the pup’s energy so your geriatric doesn’t over-tire.
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Puppy’s play can be rough, knocking your old dog over – potentially causing injury. If there are altercations, both get into trouble – the puppy for pushing the limit and the geriatric for being grumpy. Introduce an ‘enough’ command meaning ‘stop play’.
If necessary pop puppy on lead enforcing time out – pup learns self-control and recovery, rest-time is essential for geriatric.
Your dog’s obedience may regress, old ‘solved’ behaviour problems reappear such as shadow or car chasing, inappropriate toileting and potentially dangerous biting, heightened aggression or excessive guarding.
Empathise with changes but keep your established manners. The geriatric may take longer to lay down or get up; allow some flexibility but not total failure to perform a known command.
Your geriatrics eyesight and/or hearing may diminish or distort sounds, normal noises can appear strange, reactions appear disproportionate; suddenly barking in response to a cat’s meow on TV or another normal sound. Don’t laugh – treat your dog with respect. Remember, he thinks he’s doing the right thing.
Watch your geriatric for physical or mental changes. It’s important to maintain weekly body checks. Comfort is important too. Soft, warm, dry bedding out of wind with the opportunity to sleep in the sun is perfect for old bones.
Finally, if you need to make ‘the decision’, have the courage to accompany your dog. He has given you love and loyalty. Don’t abandon him or her in those final moments. Be there to comfort and reassure – you won’t get a second chance.
