In this week’s issue here’s what we are sniffing out

• Keeping your senior’s brain active

• 10 fun activities you can try to help that brain work

Mental Stimulation for Senior Dogs

A regular routine of movement and mental stimulation is so important to maintaining the health and mobility of your dog as he ages… I cannot stress how important it is to do some kind of daily activity with your older pup, even if it’s not very physically challenging. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise. I keep hearing that 10 minutes of mental stimulation is as tiring for dogs as an hour of exercise. In the midst of winter’s cold temperatures, snow drifts and ice slicks, it’s not always safe to walk your geriatric dog outside. Here are some suggestions for how to tire your dog out on a snow day and maybe even reduce stress for yourself. Many of these call for treats, but if your dog’s waistline can’t take the extra calories, try with his meals at mealtime instead, or with something else motivating to your pup.

10 Mental Enrichment Activities For Your Senior

1. Snuffle mats: These are the best! This is the perfect entry-level puzzle/food game. They tend not to be too frustrating for beginners, but I recommend you be on hand to help your dog figure out the concept, especially if your dog is confused or a complete newbie with food toys and puzzles. They come in all shapes, sizes, and themes, and dogs love them all. Use a stronger-smelling treat with the mats to make it a little more interesting for your dog. You can buy one or DIY.

2. Find it Games. You can play this one inside (and out, if you have mild winters). Canine Nosework is the formal version - that’s a popular sport that’s perfect for dogs who are a little less active.

   Start with a very simple version of Nosework, which is basically a find-the-treat game. Even if you think your dog’s sense of smell is bad, he might surprise you, so don’t dismiss this one until you’ve tried it! Start by scattering a few highly valuable, super-smelly treats around your dog in a close radius within plain view (even if he can’t see). If your dog can find those, practice that a few times, and then over time make the radius wider. Practice this every day if your dog finds it fun. Eventually, start “hiding” treats in easy to reach spots around the room. Practice this in one room at a time at first, with about 3-8 treats, depending on the dog’s motivation. If your dog takes to this game, rotate rooms, rotate hiding places. An important key to Nosework is to keep your dog interested. Leave your dog wanting more, and stop before he fatigues. You can do this with toys if your dog is more toy-motivated than food-motivated.

   If you have a younger senior, look for Nosework classes near you. Fun fact, the photos on the front page are of the class I used to take with our dogs ages ago.

3. Food puzzles. There are so many of these on the market now, of varying difficulties and constructs. Start with an easy level one, and always help your dog get started. Many don’t understand the concept initially but do quite well with food puzzles over time. Nina Ottosson is a leader in this type of toy, and I’m linking you to her tips and tricks here.

   You can stuff treats into a toy like this. As your dog pulls the interior toys out, he also finds treats.

This one is a favorite of my pups. It’s a larger-sized food puzzle, so better for dogs above 20 pounds. It does encourage your dog to move around a bit, so it has that added benefit.

4. Trick training. Think your dog is too old to learn tricks? Think again! Many elderly dogs can still learn simple tricks. I recommend you don’t try things like sit or down unless you know your dog has no joint pain. But you can teach shake, high five, or even touch, where your dog learns to put his nose or paw on a specific target. Once you teach touch, you’ll be surprised what you can use that handy trick for. The most valuable use for “touch” we’ve found at home is teaching our dog Uma to ring a doggie doorbell to let us know when she’s done outside. As a bonus, if your dog is capable and you feel inspired, many tricks double as exercise, such as back up, bow, or spin. Tricks like this also help keep your dog limber and strong as he ages.

5. Hide and seek games. This one is with you! If your dog loves to follow you, work with this by hiding around a corner as he’s trotting along behind. When he gets to you, jump out and praise him highly, offering treats, a toy, or lots of love. If he seems to find this fun, build on it, making it more tricky: hiding a little more or moving more quickly out of his line of site.

6. Shell game. I recommend starting this game with transparent lightweight plastic cups. Hide a smelly treat under one cup while your dog is watching. As soon as he moves toward the cup to investigate, uncover the cup and let him have the treat. If he is interested, gradually wait to uncover the cup until he gets increasingly closer to it. Eventually, you can add a second, and then third cup. As you add a new cup, be sure to reward him as soon as he shows any interest in the cup with the treat underneath. Repeat each step a few times, and stop before your dog fatigues or loses interest.

7. Treat stuffed frozen Kong. You can stuff a Kong with a combo of pumpkin, yogurt, and peanut butter. Poke a treat out of the end and freeze. There are several shapes of kongs, so choose the size that best fits your dog’s weight and mouth size. If your dog has a limited ingredient diet requirement or a weight challenge and he eats kibble or canned food, you can soak a portion of a meal in water, mash it up with a fork, and stuff the kong with it before freezing.

8. Enjoy a new walking route at your dog’s leisure and if the weather is nice enough in your area. An old dog really gets a lot of information out of sniffing along a new path from time to time. If your dog can’t really walk much anymore, go sit on a bench and have a picnic together. Don’t forget picnic food for your dog!

9. Try a massage for your dog. If you’re not comfortable giving a very light massage, just spend some time petting him! He may not tolerate much touch, but it’s really good for his nervous system and his health in general. Massage or petting sessions can really help your dog rest well. Don’t forget to pet more than his back. Start at the back of his head and work your way over as much as his body as he’s comfortable having touched. If that goes well, do the same for his head, face, ears and snout! Spend some time lightly petting or scratching the spot between his eyes with your finger, as that spot is especially calming. If you’re trying to calm your dog, use a slow, light, long stroke where your hand is always in contact with his skin. If you’re trying to invigorate him, use an even lighter, quicker touch with multiple small brush-type strokes like you would if you were brushing dog fur off your clothes.

10. Geriatric play date: Invite another elderly dog over to visit with yours. Take caution in doing introductions to keep all the old souls safe. They may not play together, but just having company is a great activity to tire them both out! If you don’t know another old dog, check your contacts for a friend or family member with a super calm, respectful, vaccinated dog over to hang out with your pup if it’s safe.

🐶 Sniffing Out Senior Dog News 📰

😹 US dog, cat population growth slowed 2018 to 2024; Cats rose, dogs fell

🤝 Senior, geriatric dog care focus of new industry partnership

💸 Newly Funded Studies Aim to Improve Health of Senior Dogs

Senior Dog Humor 🤣 

How did we do with this week’s newsletter?

• High Paws

• Pooped in the House