November celebrates senior pets with two different recognition events: Adopt a Senior Pet Month and National Senior Pet Month. We love all this attention to senior pets. Here are the reasons why senior dogs are great and why you need a senior dog in your home. Plus, we have tips on how to keep them happy and healthy with our NEW DOWNLOADABLE Tip Sheet!
How old is senior dog status?
At what age is a pet considered senior? The answer is not as simple as you think. For dogs, senior age status is different depending on the dog’s breed. For example, a small dog like a Chihuahua would enter old age at the age of 8 as they can live up to 12 to 14 years. But for larger dogs like the Great Dane, their senior life begins around age 4, as they only live maybe 8 to 10 years.
Do you know how old your dog really is? There is a recent study to illustrate this, and we talked about it. Consult the article: “How old is your dog?
FACT: A dog is considered senior when it reaches the age of 5 or 6 years for large breed dogs; and 6 or 7 for medium breed dogs. Small dogs and toy dogs have a longer lifespan, so age 8 for a small or toy breed is considered senior. Although many dogs live into adolescence, the average lifespan of a dog is between 10 and 13 years. Do you have a dog older than that? Consider these years a bonus!
One thing is certain: no matter how old your dog is, it’s never long enough. So make sure they enjoy these last few years!
Do you have an elderly dog? If so, you may want to get this FREE downloadable tip sheet on “Caring for Your Senior Dog!” »
Now that you know what a senior dog is and when they will become one. Here are some reasons why we love our senior dogs:
8 reasons why senior dogs are awesome!
- With age comes wisdom. Senior dogs are already house trained. This is by far the best benefit. No worries about home training because they already know the exercise.
- Understanding good dog behavior. Older dogs will most likely understand basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “down.” They will not jump on your friends or children, because they know how to be “good dogs”.
- Ideal for active lifestyles. Older dogs know how to walk on a leash. This is not the same as puppies needing to be trained to walk on a leash. Leash training puppies is a lot of work, especially exhausting as they pull you around. Your senior dog walks with you, not against you.
- The activity level is lower than that of young dogs. As said previously, these ssenior dogs are active and can walk or run with you. Often with older dogs, a short walk is just fine for them. Puppies are full of energy and can run for miles, while your older dog is probably content to walk outside for a few blocks.
- They also like to sleep. Older dogs know when it’s time to go to bed AND they know when it’s time to wake up. In fact, they may continue to sleep when you have to get up. This means that if you like to sleep through the night, an older dog is for you. Puppies, on the other hand, wake up a lot because their bladders are smaller.
- Older dogs are adorable. Senior dogs love attention too! And the best part is that they sit still while you give them the attention they need. Puppies often squirm, making it more difficult to snuggle.
- Leave your shoes at the door. Yes! Keep your best shoes intact! If you have a puppy, you know that they love to chew on things, especially shoes. Older dogs know the difference between your stuff and theirs.
- You could save their lives. Often, puppies and young dogs are adopted more quickly than older dogs from shelters. The reality is that you are giving older dogs the last few years of happiness and extending their lifespan.
4 Tips to Keep Your Senior Dog Young
We are all looking for the fountain of youth. Unfortunately, there isn’t one for us, or our fur babies. However, there are things you can do to keep them as healthy as possible. The goal is to allow them to live longer, remain more active and pain-free. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Don’t assume that your dog is “just getting old.” If you notice something different about them, don’t ignore it. A visit to the veterinary clinic will determine if this is a problem that requires treatment. It is better to go and see what it is, then delay action and the situation becomes even worse.
- Keep your pets mentally and physically active. Regular walks, play time, and loving time are all good for physical and mental well-being. Make sure you keep them active as much as you can throughout the year.
- Keep these regular veterinary checkups in rotation. Early detection and prevention helps your pet live longer and the key to this is working with your veterinarian to stay on top of any health issues they may have before it becomes a problem.
- Add a common supplement like Glyde™ Mobility Chew to your pet’s diet. There are a variety of joint supplements available. Don’t know what to look for? Find out what ingredients you should have in your joint supplement.
ADOPT A SENIOR DOG
Often people think that an older dog means a less healthy dog or that there might be a problem with the dog. This is an inaccurate assumption. Sometimes situations change, leading to dogs being put up for adoption. A family’s lifestyle can change, the addition of a baby, the loss of a family member, the need to move or a whole other list of things can mean that unfortunately the dog cannot accompany them. Then they land at the adoption center. They are still excellent dogs with lots of love to give. Consider adopting a senior pet the next time you consider rejoining your family. And celebrate the oldest pets in your life.
THANK A SENIOR DOG
If you have an older dog, make sure you take this time to analyze his health and keep him healthy. Sometimes we get used to our dogs and miss certain telltale signs. If you notice that your dog isn’t moving as much as before, you may want to check it out. Because we love our senior dogs and always want to thank them for the joy they bring into our lives! We all know that the best thing about dogs is the impact they have on their lives. The worst thing about dogs is that they don’t live long enough. Let’s make sure they are happy and healthy for as long as they can be in our lives. Keep Them Active and Happy Glyde Mobility chewable!
Glyde is the best joint supplement to combat the signs of arthritis in dogs, one of the main reasons dogs slow down. Glyde uses all-natural ingredients to promote healthy joints so your dog can do whatever they want. With these three powerful ingredients, the proven formula is what sets us apart:
Most joint supplements contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, so be sure to check the levels of anything you buy. You often have to feed twice the amount to equal what is in a Glyde chew. This is what sets us apart.
Remember, there is still a puppy inside your beloved senior dog. Age is just a number, with the help of Glyde™ Mobility chew.
Do you have an elderly dog? If so, you might want to get it FREE downloadable tip sheet on “Caring for Your Senior Dog!” »
Learn more from the AAHA about caring for senior dogs with this resource: “2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.“