Senior Dogs

"Here’s the bottom line. If you have a happy, lively, interactive, and agile senior dog or cat on your hands, throw those age-related numbers and averages out the window.  Rather, I encourage you to observe your pet’s overall quality of life, share some nose-to-nose time with your best buddy, look deep into those beautiful eyes, and make important medical decisions based on what’s truly important rather than simply a number." 

-Dr Nancy Kay, author of Speaking for Spot, from her blog post Age is Just a Number

 
My family's beloved dog Riley is 9 years old and thus, by definition, a senior.  But he has no problem keeping up with my young dogs and they love to play, play, play.  Also, Riley earned his APDT Rally Level 1 title this year just a month shy of his 9th birthday.  He placed 3rd and got an award for Highest Scoring First Qualifying Run.  The only formal class Riley ever took was beginning puppy...around 8 years before earning his first rally title.  Rally is a great activity for senior dogs, for more information visit APDT Rally Obedience.  


I highly encourage owners of senior dogs to find an activity that their senior dog can do and enjoys.  There are more and more opportunities for ways to have fun with your aging dog, the following events in the SF Bay Area are especially for senior dogs:

• The SF SPCA is offering a 4 week long training class especially for seniors called Senior Scholars that starts this Saturday, October 29th.  Enter Muttville's Facebook Photo Contest to WIN A FREE PASS--contest runs until Thursday, October 27th.

• The Rex Center is hosting drop-in senior socials on Saturdays 1 pm to 2 pm through November 12. Dogs friendly with other dogs are welcome and tea and dog cookies will be provided.  They have some great guest speakers coming up:
• Oct 29 - Natalie Bayless presents clicker training for maintaining cognitive ability
• Nov-5 - Heather Sanders talks about Acupressure for Arthitis
• Nov-12 - Dr Ilana Strubel, DVM visits and talks about Chiropractic & Holistic health

Another great activity for senior dogs (and all dogs) is Nose Work.  Hayley and Walker's nose work instructor is Michele Garlick, CNW1 of Whole K9, who teaches classes in various locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

Other Resources for Senior Dogs:

SF SPCA's Senior Dog Seminar "How to Care for Your Aging Pet" 

Good Old Dog by Dr. Nicolas Dodman
Speaking for Spot by Dr Nancy Kay (purchase online and select American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue Trust as the donation recipient to help Cavaliers in need)