A gentle guide to helping your senior pup thrive. There’s something profoundly special about loving a dog in their golden years. The grey around their muzzle. The slower stretch when they rise. The way they look at you with a deeper love. The golden years aren’t about decline. They’re about devotion. They’re about supporting them beautifully so they can stay comfortable, content, and completely themselves.

Here’s what truly matters.

☐ A Soft Landing Spot
As dogs age, their joints work harder, and their sleep becomes more important. A supportive, cushioned bed, when placed away from cold drafts and busy foot traffic, this can make a remarkable difference. Orthopaedic-style support helps relieve pressure on hips and elbows, especially for larger breeds. Comfort isn’t indulgent at this stage. It’s essential.☐ Slow & Sniffy Walks
Senior dogs don’t need distance. They need experience. Shorter walks with plenty of time to sniff allow them to stay mentally engaged without overexerting their bodies. Sniffing is enrichment. It lowers stress and gives them a sense of agency.

Let them pause. Let them explore. Let them lead sometimes and allow them to read the world, at their own pace.

☐ Consistent Routine
Predictability builds confidence, especially as dogs age. Keeping mealtimes, walks, and bedtime consistent really helps reduce anxiety and supports cognitive health. Even small changes in environment or timing can feel bigger to an older dog. Routine isn’t boring for them; it’s very reassuring. ☐ Joint Love
Stiffness can creep in slowly. You may notice it first after naps or on colder mornings. Gentle daily movement helps maintain mobility. So does thoughtful nutrition with high-quality ingredients and, when appropriate, joint-support supplements recommended by your vet. Movement keeps them feeling like themselves.

☐ Happy Tummy Care
Digestive systems can become more sensitive over time. Easily digestible meals with simple, clean ingredients are often kinder on ageing bodies. Watch for subtle changes in appetite or energy; these small signals can tell you a lot. Comfort starts from within.☐ Calm Moments
Senior dogs often crave closeness more than ever. Quiet evenings, familiar spaces, and your steady presence beside them provide deep reassurance. Sometimes it’s not about doing more, it’s about being there by their side. Their world has always revolved around you. Now, they just want to stay near.

☐ Mental Sparkle
Curiosity doesn’t retire. Short training refreshers, gentle puzzle toys, scent games, or even learning a new simple trick can keep their minds engaged and spirits lifted. Mental stimulation supports cognitive health and gives them that spark you still see in their eyes.☐ Extra Affection (This is a Non-Negotiable)
If there is one rule for the golden years, it’s this: more cuddles, using a softer voice, and saying “good dog” more than ever before. They may move slower now, but their capacity to love hasn’t changed; if anything, it has deepened.

The Real Gift of the Golden Years

Age doesn’t reduce their worth; it refines it. And if we’re lucky, these slower years teach us something too: How to love more gently. How to notice more. How to savour the here and now.

Love & Fiendship, x