DOG LIFE
Enrichment For Senior Dogs
How to keep your senior dog happy and engaged despite advancing years and physical limitations | By Zazie Todd
Zazie Todd, PhD, is an adjunct professor of Psychology at Canisius College, where she teaches a graduate course on Communicating Anthrozoology to the Public. She is also a certified animal behaviour consultant, Psychology Today contributor, and author of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology. Her new book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy is, quite simply, a must read if you're serious about your dog’s happiness. Here Zazie shares her top tips for keeping your senior dog engaged and involved despite advancing years.
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nrichment is especially important for senior dogs. Now that my own dog, Bodger, is a senior, this subject is dear to my heart. Here are my top tips for your golden oldie.
Involvement in Family Life Even with the best of intentions, many people find that their senior dog is no longer as involved in family life as before. Perhaps the dog who once loved long hikes is no
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longer able to keep up, or health issues like incontinence or difficulty walking on slippery floors mean the dog is no longer spending as much time with their humans. Sometimes a puppy is acquired with the hope of providing friendship and fun for the senior dog, but instead takes up all the time. Involving senior dogs in regular activities that they enjoyed when younger is good for them because it provides sociable experiences and cognitive enrichment. According to research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, senior and geriatric dogs that spend more time playing with their owner and engaged in activities with them are more responsive to training, suggesting that these activities are beneficial. While more research is needed, it seems that interventions to increase play, training, and activity are good for older dogs. “Include them in outings and family activities as much as they are physically able,” says Sarah Pennington of Yaletown Dog Training in Vancouver, BC, who has a senior dog of her own—17-year-old Macy. “If off-leash hikes were part of their life, take them for shorter walks in the woods.