Doggone Etiquette —

Senior Solutions

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

Maybe you’ve been called an “old man” (or “old lady”) but how old are you really? Do you still look forward to your daily walk? Do you still love chasing toys that are thrown for you? If so, the chances are you are more “middle-aged” than “old.” If, however, you dread the walk because you can’t hear the school bus coming, or your legs hurt, or chasing toys is no longer the fun it used to be because you can’t see where the toy lands, face it: you are now a senior citizen.                 

Not to worry! Seniors have lots of privileges and are even given special consideration youngsters never get.  Instead of being kept off the sofa, you may now be helped to get up there! You might even get a cushy new bed of your own. You’ll be given nice new smelly toys that are much easier to locate. Once your people know (with your help, of course) exactly what they can do for you, you’re all set. You can also still be very smart and play up your “Senior” status for all it’s worth. When asked to go out for that last time at night in the dead of winter, a sad, tired look may get you a few more minutes to snooze by the fire. Don’t count on it – but it’s worth a try.     

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:                            

Because Rufus doesn’t complain, does as he’s told and has become the good friend you always wanted, it’s often a shock when faced with the reality that the old boy is facing a 10th or 12th birthday. Not every dog is “old” at a given age. Generally speaking the larger the dog, the shorter its lifespan, so the giant breeds like Great Danes or Irish Wolfhounds are getting up there by five or six years of age. The tiny Toy breeds live longest. Most dogs, including mixed-breeds, today have an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years, so senior citizenship doesn’t kick in until the dog is eight to ten. Not only do dogs live longer than they used to, they are in far better health due to our improved canine health care, nutrition and better community safety laws. Also and perhaps this should come first – dogs’ owners are more aware of and better educated in all matters concerning the care of their pets.                 

Take dog food for example.  There used to be just one shelf in the supermarket with dog food and what was bought for an eight-week-old pup was fed to the dog for its life. Today we have aisles full of specially formulated foods for puppies of all sizes and growth rates, for adults that are active or inactive and overweight, and for those very special seniors. Dog food ingredient listings are complicated and often misleading, so if you’re unsure, check with your vet. Relatively inactive house dogs need less food as adults, and even less in their final couple of years. Giving in to angelic begging is up to you – but keep an eye on the old guy’s waistline!              

Daily dog walks are not only for exercise. Meeting people, other dogs, sniffing familiar (and unfamiliar) smells all provide mental stimulus for the older dog, especially one who spends much of his time asleep on the couch.         

For a dog that has become totally deaf, bear in mind that his sense of smell is still acute and you may be able to get his attention with bacon or liver treats. Vibration by stamping your foot on the floor is another way to get around deafness. Here’s a great trick a friend with a deaf dog told me about. Using the beam of a tiny flashlight, he was able to re-train the dog to respond to normal obedience commands using different “light” signals. It’s a fun idea for both the owner and the dog.              

Loss of sight is another old-age problem. Again, lean on the dog’s good sense of smell, this time by leaving all furniture where it has always been. If you have to go out and leave the dog at home, he will be safer left as you would a puppy – either crated, or in one familiar small room with his bed. But here again, just because he can’t see, he can still enjoy the sounds and smells on a daily walk.

Until next time – Be Good!