It is generally accepted that one year of human
life is equal to seven years of a dogs life. I do not know if there is
any scientific evidence for that but comparing my advancing years with
those of the many dogs I have known I believe it to be fairly accurate.
Which
makes me wonder why most veteran classes at shows for dogs are over seven!
Does anyone regard themselves as a veteran at the age of 49? I certainly
did not! The fact is that many dogs are old at seven. The oldest dog in
the Guinness Book of Records was an Australian Cattle Dog which died at
the age of 29 and was reputed to be working cattle well into his 20's.
The oldest dog I knew was a working collie on a farm in Perthshire who
was 21 the last time I saw him and still hale and hearty.
The
important point to remember is that these were working dogs which had plenty
of exercise, both mental and physical. It is also unlikely that they would
have been overfed and they certainly would not have been fed on complete
diets with all sorts of vitamins and mineral additives which are claimed
to be necessary for good health.
Thinking
back to the many dogs we have owned I would say that the best years of
their lives were between 4 and 10. After that they usually began to slow
down a bit - but certainly not always. Tuck - a Border Collie, was spayed
when she was 8 because of pyometra. After that she appeared in 21 episodes
of the BBC series Cluff and at the age of 12 did a 'man work' scene
with great enthusiasm in the film Casino Royale. She lived for another
year after that. Mandy the Pekingese, star of Yellow Rolls Royce, Heavens
Above and many other films and TV dramas, lived to be 15 and a half, ruling
the roost like a dowager duchess right up to the end.
Memories
of Mandy bring back even older memories of a great dog lover I knew who
had a pekingese. He was rather a lazy Peke who didn't care for walking
very far. The kind hearted owner bought a child's push chair and took him
for 'walkies' in that. He attracted much attention and thoroughly enjoyed
it. He was dead by the time he was 6 - killed by the person who loved him
so much.
It
really is important to remember that dogs change as they get older- don't
we all? Your 10 year old dog will be a very different character from the
8 week old puppy you brought home all those years ago. they change in different
ways both physically and mentally. In some ways the older dogs needs will
be similar to those of a puppy. He will need to be kept warm, to have a
cosy bed where he can snooze undisturbed and have less strenuous exercise
than a young healthy adult. You should not let him get too cold or too
hot. In short coated breeds a coat is often a good idea on a cold frosty
day; or if you take the dog out in the car and have to leave him for a
while in the winter. Just as cars can get very, very hot in summer sun
they can become equally cold in the winter. So always be sure he has a
warm blanket in the car to snuggle into.
Even
if he has got a bit stiff and is none too keen on the idea of a walk he
must be exercised. Nothing too strenuous and if he is used to jumping it
would be better to cut out anything except small jumps. So long as the
weather is warm and the dog can have a run afterwards, swimming is excellent
for old dogs just as it is for old people.! But make sure he is thoroughly
dried afterwards. Again, like the young puppy, you will find that he needs
to go out in the garden more often and it is important to remember this.
A dog that is well house trained hates messing in the house and an old
dog can become upset if he has an "accident", so it is up to you to keep
an eye on him and watch for signs that he needs 'out' in a hurry. 
Also,
as for many old people, his days will not be so full as they used to be
and one way of relieving the boredom is food. It is not a good idea for
the older dog to have too much food and you must harden your heart against
his pleading. Two light meals a day are often more suitable than one and
titbits should be kept to a minimum. Choc drops are out but dried liver
makes a good non fattening treat. 
Many
dogs tend to get arthritis with advancing years. If your dog is a bit stiff
and obviously has some aches and pains in his joints then he can probably
be helped with medication. He will still have the odd twinge, though, and
an old dog that has always been fond of children and tolerant of their
rough handling may just decide he doesn't enjoy being climbed all over
by a toddler anymore. If he gives a warning grumble don't shout at the
old chap. He hasn't suddenly turned savage! He's just feeling his age.
If the children are old enough to understand, explain to them why he is
a bit cross with them and that he still loves them but they must be gentle
with him. In the case of very small children it is probably best to keep
them out of his way unless someone is there to control the situation.
Without
so much exercise, his nails will tend to grow more quickly as they will
not be worn down to the same extent as previously. So make sure you keep
them short; long nails make walking very uncomfortable. Teeth too need
watching as tartar collects more quickly in old age. Regular brushing and
occasional scaling will help his mouth keep fresh and healthy. Coat texture
often changes with age. Some coats become scarce and whispy while others
often become softer and thicker. regular grooming is a must.
Dogs
with really long coats are often happier with 'a short back and sides'.
This makes grooming much easier and saves having to keep still for so long
while the tangles are teased out.
As
well as having physical exercise, the dog needs to be kept mentally alert.
Given nothing to do, just left alone to potter about and sleep, he will
decline into a vegetative state all too quickly. Trained dogs still enjoy
doing a few simple exercises. If they have done agility, they can still
do the 'easy bits', such as tunnels and small jumps. Many old show dogs
enjoy the day out when they have the chance to show off in a veteran class,
maybe at the local Exemption Show. A keen retriever can usually be kept
happy by letting him collect the post, carry the newspaper, seek for a
hidden ball in the garden and so on. Anything to make him feel he is still
a useful and important member of the family.
Many
older dogs become rather insecure and dislike being left alone. if so bear
with him and let him stay with you as much as possible. Give him a lot
of assurance and plenty of affection and attention- he deserves it.
A
question I am frequently asked is whether or not to have a new puppy ready
to 'take over' when the older dog goes. The usual concern is whether it
is fair to the older dog. In most cases I have studied it is not only fair
to the older dog, but actually beneficial. I have known many old dogs take
on a new lease of life when a puppy entered the family. However, there
are certain important points to remember. One should not wait until
the old dog is dying rather than living; unfortunately an all too common
state of affairs.
Care
should be taken when introducing a young puppy to an older dog. You must
be very careful not to give the impression that you are afraid the old
dog will attack the puppy. It is very unlikely that will happen anyhow.
It is very rare for a normal, well socialised adult dog to attack a puppy;
the odd one which does usually has a history of aggression towards other
dogs.
If
the older dog has a favourite 'den' such as a favourite sleeping place,
don't introduce the puppy into this vicinity. Much better to make the introduction
in the garden away from the old dogs favourite possessions. Don't make
a fuss about it, just put the puppy down and let them get on with it. the
most likely thing to happen is that the puppy will roll over on its back
and probably piddle, while the older dog stands to attention looking down
its nose at the subordinate small creature. If the puppy runs away (I am
assuming that you are in an enclosed area where he can not go very far)
the older dog will most likely follow him. Don't shout at the old dog to
leave the puppy alone and don't run after the puppy and make a fuss of
it either. Just leave them alone and its surprising how quickly an adult
dog and a puppy can become friends.
Very
soon it may be the older dog who looks like he needs protecting from an
over boisterous pup. Don't be tempted to reprimand the puppy, let the old
dog do that himself. He may do it a bit more severely than you would and
as a result the puppy will probably get the message much more quickly!
Inspite of yells from the puppy, it is very, very unlikely that it will
be hurt.
It
is important that the pup learns it's position is at the bottom of the
pack and that the old dog does not regard it as a threat. There is a risk
of this if you appear to be taking sides with the puppy. The day may come
when the pup has grown up, he will want to challenge the older dog for
supremacy, but that is a long way off and it may never happen. If it does
happen, most older dogs are prepared to let a young dog take over without
any arguments.
Keeping
a number of dogs over many years has enabled us to compare the different
changes in behaviour as each one gets older. Some have become senile sometimes
quite suddenly. We have found that this was more likely to happen with
our best working dogs which had been trained to a very high standard. This
view was confirmed by our very good friend and vet who also bred and worked
GSD's. She also said that very few owners realised what was 'wrong' with
their old dog.
Some
of these dogs go completely 'gaga' but potter about quite happily not understanding
anything but seemingly quite content in a world of their own. Others may
become very confused and stressed unable to understand the commands they
have happily responded to for years. When called they will sometimes run
in the wrong direction and get very upset if they become lost. Often they
stand and bark continually - at nothing - and seem unable to relax. Sadly
the only kind solution is euthanasia.
A
good example of this was Nell, a half Beardie 
who
had a big part in the TV serial Seal Morning when she was 11 years old.
This was an unusually strenuous part with a great deal of rushing around
on the Norfolk marshes combined with long periods of barking on command
- Nell's speciality! The script could have been written for her; she thoroughly
enjoyed every minute of it.
About
a year after the filming had finished Nell suddenly became quite senile.
She had always had an abundance of energy and now she seemed frantic to
use that energy, but didn't know what she wanted to do. When taken for
walks in the forest she would rush around barking at nothing and when called
would more often than not make off in the wrong direction in complete confusion.
Like all dogs, Nell had her faults, most which had always arisen form her
happy-go-lucky, couldn't-care-less attitude to life. Now she was continually
worried and obviously getting no pleasure out of life. We believe it is
wrong to keep a dog which gets no pleasure out of its life so we reluctantly
decided that euthanasia was the only kind solution. Fortunately for us
both, we never disagree when that decision has to be made.
I
handled Nell more than Mary did and we had become very good friends. She
had played many roles, some of them very difficult these included the part
of 'Rough' in the BBC series Breed or Blood (adapted from the W.H.Hudson
A Shepherds Life) where she also helped with the sheep which were my responsibility.
Fortunately
our vet (mentioned previously) had a very good understanding of dogs and
agreed with us that the mind is more important than the body. Physically
Nell, who had never been to the vet in her life except for inoculations,
was in exceptionally good shape for her age. Some vets would have cross
examined me as to why I was having her put to sleep, which is not the sort
of thin gone wants at such a time. So, I gently stroked Nell while she
quietly and peacefully went to sleep. This is something I have always done,
not because I like doing it; but because I regard it as a duty, the last
thing I can do for an animal which has done so much for me.
Although
very often asked for an opinion, a vet is seldom the best person to give
advice as to when is the best time for an old dog to go. Difficult though
it may be, the owner is the best person to make that decision. It is he/she
who knows the individual dog. Modern medicine has made it possible for
older dogs and old people, to live longer than was once possible. We had
a Border Collie with a 'dicky heart' who lived for years with a regular
dose of medication. Unlike Nell, Judy seemed to accept her limitations
and was quite happy to potter about and take life slowly. I have known
dogs who have gone blind and still been able to find their way around no
bother. Indeed, I have seen a blind dog working sheep, and working very
well too. Of course he had been trained to a very high standard before
he went blind. On the other hand I knew one dog which went blind and was
so terrified of bumping into objects he practically refused to move at
all. So it is really up to the owner, who knew the dog when he was a youngster,
and who can see how much he has changed, to decide. It is the owner who
knows or should know, whether an old dog is enjoying the quality of life
he deserves.
One
of the more common mistakes people make is to believe that by buying a
puppy from the same breed they will have one that will grow up just like
the old dog they have lost. I make a point of never saying never, but in
this case I have no hesitation in saying that I have never known 2 dogs
which were exactly alike. Some people become very upset when the new dog
turns out to be entirely different from the old one which was the same
breed and possibly from the same breeder. It is for that reason I often
advise people to change breed which helps to avoid such comparisons.
