My Lacy is 16½ now. ’Tis a good age!
And, she’s very well.
She still loves her walks
She still loves her bed
And she definitely still loves her grub!
I want to share with you some of the things I have learned about keeping my old dogs fit and happy for as long as possible.
Walks for the older dog
You play this completely by ear - there’s no hard and fast rule. But I know that if we walk for more than about 45 minutes, Lacy is lagging behind on the way home.
Accordingly, most of our walks are shorter than that. Half an hour’s happy snuffling off-lead on a path she’s familiar with works wonders. And when she’s paused to inspect a particularly interesting scent, she’ll happily trot - or even run - to catch up with me.
And as you can see here, her BARKING is untroubled by 16½ years of heavy use, and she still enjoys racing about!
Sleep for the older dog
Older dogs sleep a lot. So all I need to do here is ensure she has a choice of comfy beds, and hard floors when that’s what she wants. She usually starts the night crashing onto the hard floor. But she’s almost always on her comfy bed when I wake in the morning.
Stimulation for the older dog
This is super-important! They can’t do crossword puzzles or all the things they tell old people to do to keep sane. But as long as you’re feeding a natural diet - processed foods and ready meals are as bad for dogs as they are for us! And in the case of humans have positively been connected to brain ageing - then that will give them a puzzle to solve daily.
Mine get a lot of raw chicken carcases, and chomping through those takes application.
Yannick frequently presses his PUZZLE button, so I make puzzles for them all.
🐶 Sometimes these are lickimats with paté spread on them.
🐶 Sometimes they’re feeders like kongs.
🐶 And more often I wrap treats in screws of paper, and stuff them into cardboard boxes or packets for them to rip and shred and munch. They love these “puzzles”!
Yes, there are a lot of cardboard and paper shreds to clear up before bed, but - so what? It keeps them very happy for quarter of an hour.
Old dog health
Like my previous old dogs, Lacy’s hearing has almost gone. I stamp on the floor to rouse her in the evening before bedtime, rather than spook her by touching her. Sometimes she can hear a high-pitched whistle, but banging on a door or cupboard will often penetrate her silent world.
I’m so sorry that she can no longer hear me chattering to her. I wonder if she thinks I’ve given up on that? So I make a point to talk animatedly to her when she’s right in front of me. The connection is strong, and must be maintained!
She doesn’t wear the “Deaf Dog” vest I had for Rollo. She tends to walk just behind me, while Rollo was always out front. So Lacy doesn’t need it.
Old dog grooming
Just because she’s old with failing hearing and eyesight, doesn’t mean that her coat stops growing! It has changed a bit, becoming longer and wispier, so it needs careful brushing. Lacy’s always had a dense coat, looking like a black bear, and it’s still just as dense. Trousers need attention for mats or very occasional stains.
She has various small lumps and bumps here and there on her head and body, but nothing that needs veterinary intervention. It would have to be deadly serious for me to risk an anaesthetic for her! But to me she is still just as beautiful as ever.
I’ve always kept claws well-trimmed, and I clip the hair between the pads. I also have mats at strategic corners in the house, to prevent slipping.
But I’ve found one great addition - sticky socks for dogs! I put these on Lacy’s back feet and since I’ve been using them (about four months now) she hasn’t once slid her back feet apart and flumped to the floor (distressing for both of us). So I reckon they’re a great success.
You do need to keep the middle two claws well-trimmed and filed though, or you’ll spend a lot of time darning your dog’s socks! I use a grinder for best, quickest - and most pain-free - results.
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A peaceful old age for my dog
Lacy was a bit quiet the other day. I began to be concerned. But three things worked splendidly well to reassure me:
1. I opened the fridge door. (She may be deaf, but some things she just knows ..)
2. I tossed her a mini pork pie (caught, chomped, and swallowed in one).
3. I took the frisbees to the garden to play with the younger two. (Much woofing and dancing about.)
She was fine!
The old dog can still learn
Lacy still enjoys going through her repertoire of tricks, though I’m careful which ones I ask of her. When she’d had a stroke (she’s had three now, over the last five years) I wouldn’t ask her to spin, as she’d simply have fallen over!
When the others are racing for frisbees, I toss her one right in front of her nose. Sometimes she can catch it, and is very happy.
Perhaps what I’m saying is that you can keep including your old dog in everything you’ve always done together, though some things will have to be adapted. An agility dog, for instance, may be happy just to be asked to go round a pole. And sniffer dogs can always sniff. That sense seems to stay strong for ever …
RESOURCES:
The Old Dog: 5 secrets for keeping him young
Celebrate your Dog while you still have her
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To learn more about how I manage my multi-dog household, old and young alike, go to https://my.brilliantfamilydog.com
