If you are thinking of owning a senior dog, the following material may be helpful in making your decision.

Considering Adopting a Senior Dog?
Thoughts on Caring For Senior Dogs
Considering a Puppy?

Considering Adopting A Senior Dog?

 

Companionship. Senior dogs whose lives have been disrupted in their later years have so much love to give and like nothing better than giving it. They tend to rely heavily on their owner for companionship and therefore bond very quickly. The desire to reciprocate the companionship given to them is very strong.

Ease of care. Senior dogs, in most cases, do not have the same exercise requirements as their younger counterparts. They have experienced the chewing/destructive stage long ago, and want nothing more than a warm pair of feet to lie by or a soft lap or couch to snuggle on. Their daily/weekly walks can be therapeutic for *both* dog and owner! Although some senior dogs may require more frequent veterinary visits, the joys of owning a senior dog will greatly outweigh the effort involved, as will the extra years of companionship gained.

Seniors for seniors. An attractive concept used by many animal rescue/humane organizations, an older dog can be successfully matched up with a senior citizen. Lifestyle requirements of an older person often mix well with the lifestyle of an older dog. It's a win/win situation, resulting in quality retirement companionship for both.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? You sure can. While it may take an older dog a bit longer to adjust to new situations, they can; they will; they do. Their only requirement is to be given the opportunity. Generally, older dogs are calmer and therefore will focus much easier on what you are trying to teach them.
Copyright (c) Jude Fine, 1997-2005

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Thoughts on Caring for Senior Dogs

More dogs are living out their natural lives. They are getting much better care and nutrition, and their overall health is better. Because the dog's lifespan is extended, it becomes much more important to be aware of any health concerns, and ensure they are treated by a veterinarian.

Some very simple steps can be taken to help your dog live a longer, healthier life.

Dental Care
Some dogs may go their entire lives without needing their teeth cleaned. Others may require a cleaning every six months. Regular checkups -- along with any necessary cleaning -- can virtually eliminate the need for painful and major dental work later on. Take a few minutes, once a month, to look at your older dog's teeth. The mouth is a frequent source of infection for dogs. Inflamed gums, loose teeth, or very bad breath are symptoms that should be reviewed by a veterinarian. Gentle, home brushing, perhaps with a cotton ball if the dog's gums are very tender, can be a big help towards keeping the teeth healthier *longer*!

Skin Problems
It is a normal function of aging for a dog's coat to become drier than usual; the older dog is also more prone to allergies, rashes etc. It is therefore important to help the dog maintain a healthy coat. This can be accomplished by ensuring a proper diet, regular brushing, and bathing with a good quality, moisturizing shampoo when necessary. Brushing also provides a good opportunity to do a quick check for lumps and bumps, so common in older dogs.

Good Nutrition
Most dog foods available today come in several varieties, making it easier to pick a food that is best suited to your dog's lifestyle and age. It is important to choose a high quality food -- poor quality foods, while costing less, do not provide the required nutrition to the dog and are usually much less digestible. While recent research indicates a relatively high level of protein is safe for your older dog, if advised by your veterinarian, you may wish to feed your dog a diet with a slightly lower protein and phosphorus content.

Thyroid Problems (Hypothyroidism)
Signs of an underactive thyroid can include flaky skin, specifically near the dog's tail, and the dog appearing chilled and needing warmth. A simple test can determine if the dog's thyroid is underactive, and one pill a day will generally provide a quick solution.

Arthritis
It is not uncommon for older dogs to become arthritic in one or more of their joints. Regular, *controlled* exercise is very important, but must be done relative to the condition of the dog. If your dog can handle a one mile walk, great! If you feel the dog's joints can only handle a walk around the block, that's fine too. For many older dogs, a stroll around their own fenced backyard is enough opportunity to get the fresh air and sunshine that does them so much good.

There are many choices for pain remedies to help arthritic dogs, as well as medicines specifically aimed at putting more flexibility back into the joint. Your veterinarian or homeopathic practitioner can advise you on the best choice for your beloved pet.

You will find excellent, detailed health information at The Senior Dogs Project

Prevention
can often be the best cure. Be aware of your dog's personality and habits; watch for subtle changes that can signal an impending problem. When in doubt, see your veterinarian.

Want to Provide Your Dog With Some Extra TLC?

• Old dogs appreciate quiet times and gentle touch more than the younguns. Soft full-body massages can make their tired old bones relax, and have them stretching and wriggling with joy! In addition, massages provide the opportunity to routinely check for lumps and bumps that may need to be investigated.
   
• Older dogs are like old people and sometimes lose their body heat even when everybody else is warm enough, so they may need warmer places to sleep, sweaters to enjoy walks, etc.

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Considering A Puppy?

**Reprinted with permission from Charlene Vickers, author**

For the newbies who want a dog "without much hassle", here's a likely scenario for you and your brand new puppy. Note that this is not out of the ordinary!

Very early morning (about three): Take puppy out of crate and let it out to pee. Pup goes out, plays, comes in, pees on living room carpet. Say "No, puppy!" and rush dog outside on leash this time. He pees, you praise. Get out carpet cleaning machine and clean carpet. Dig puppy out of couch cushions, where he hid when you switched on loud carpet cleaner. Put puppy back in crate. Go to bed. Get up and put carpet cleaner where puppy can't see it to stop loud, incessant barking.

Early morning: Take puppy out for pee. Feed breakfast and give water. Conduct short training session - attempt to teach puppy to Sit while puppy is trying to lick your ears.

During your breakfast: Clean up puppy vomit and urine. Change your clothes.

Before going to work: Take puppy out to pee again. Put in crate with blankie and soothing toy.

Noon: Come home. Learn that a baby puppy can't always hold it for three hours straight. Clean out crate, throw blankie in wash. Take puppy out for pee. Feed puppy. Take short training break - attempt to teach puppy to Sit at the same time you teach him not to nip your hands. Before you leave, take puppy out to pee again. Eat your lunch in car.

Afternoon: Come home. Puppy was again not physically able to hold it for so many hours. (Resist urge to punish puppy, wring his neck, etc.) Take puppy out to pee. Play with puppy for half an hour. Carry puppy back inside after he falls asleep during playing. Clean up crate. Put sleeping puppy in crate. Put blankie in dryer.

When puppy wakes up, you're in the bathroom or something - you miss his waking up. Clean up pee in crate, because he needs to go RIGHT AWAY after he wakes up. Rinse puppy off, because he pooped too, and rolled in it. Rinse off floor, because when you opened the crate he ran out and tracked poo and pee all over the kitchen. Take puppy out to pee and poo. Notice that he tracked poo into the living room, too; get carpet cleaner out. Stop puppy from attacking carpet cleaner; put puppy in crate and put crate in another room while you clean up mess.

Let puppy out of crate to run around. Clean up pee in corner, and find stain to match scratches puppy made in antique mahogany armoire when he tried to chew it when you weren't looking. To prevent future adventures of the same ilk, attach one end of rope to puppy and the other end to your belt loop while you do chores indoors. Chores take twice as long to do because you now have a little helper.

Move all noxious chemicals from bottom shelves to top shelves immediately after puppy tries to carry around bleach bottle but instead punctures bottle with sharp puppy teeth and tries to drink contents.

Take puppy out to pee every hour. When puppy nips, teach the puppy that this is WRONG. Repeat over and over again until you have a splitting headache. Puppy still nips.

When puppy gets overactive, take puppy out to pee and then unleash it and put it in its crate. Sleep might follow - what are the odds? When puppy wakes up, rush it outside to pee.

Mid-evening: as puppy is tethered to you and while you are playing with it, it takes hold of a table leg and starts to chew. You correct it while it's in the act of chewing and give it a proper chew toy, and praise it when it chews the toy. Repeat a dozen times before the puppy finally turns around and pees. Rush puppy outside, then come back in and clean up pee. Clean up puppy, who fell asleep in the middle of peeing. Continue taking puppy out every hour or so. Discontinue puppy's access to water for the evening.

Late evening: Try to stop puppy from climbing in the toilet as you are sitting on the toilet in question. Find out that carpet cleaning fluid doesn't clean up puppy pee very well, when puppy finds (supposedly clean) spot on carpet and pees on it. Make note to buy proper puppy urine neutralizer.

Bedtime: Take puppy for last pee break, play with him a little, give him a BIG cuddle and put him in his crate. Kneel by your bed and pray that someday, soon, this puppy will grow up. Look over at crate beside your bed and see sweet, precious, little puppy boy, cuddled up with his freshly washed blankie and his dolly, and remember why you're doing this - you're doing it for your best friend, your dog.

Before retiring, set your alarm clock for three, so you can take the puppy out and start this wonderful day all over again.

Moral of this story is: CONSIDER ADOPTING AN OLDER DOG!

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