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“A dog is man’s best friend” couldn’t be a more accurate saying. The special bond we form with our dogs makes them feel as if they essentially become a part of the family. Unfortunately, we also know the time will come when our beloved dogs will age and eventually leave us and with their passing, will leave a large vacancy in our hearts. 

As our dogs grow older, their health may begin to decline and it can be incredibly emotionally difficult to watch them suffer. Most dog owners agree with the concept of pet euthanasia, seeing it as a blessing they can offer their canine who is ill or frail from old age as a humane way to end their suffering. 

However, accepting that the time will come when your dog will one day pass away is one thing; knowing when to use euthanasia as a means of ending your dog’s suffering is another. While it is always emotionally challenging to choose to euthanize your dog, understanding the signs your dog is ready and planning accordingly may help make the process somewhat easier and a little less stressful.  

As our beloved canine friends get older and the vibrant energy they used to showcase becomes but a beautiful memory of the past, our senior dogs can become at risk of developing life-threatening conditions and putting on an unhealthy amount of weight. It’s not unusual for older dogs to become sedentary and engage in very little to no movement throughout the day. Nevertheless, even if they lack the same energy they once did, they still require movement and physical activity to keep them healthy for as long as possible and prevent premature death.

Without any exercise or physical activity of some level, our senior dogs can easily lose muscle and bone strength and become progressively weaker. It’s not always easy to find the right ways to encourage your old pup to engage in some movement and burn some calories. They may not appreciate the idea of being bothered or forced to move around and even worse, you may be concerned about the possibility of the activity even hurting them. Understand, however, that a certain level of movement and activity is necessary to continue to foster the health and wellbeing of your senior dog and you must therefore, find the right exercises that will offer an effective level of mental and physical stimulation, while remaining safe. We have compiled this guide to offer you inspiration and ideas for fun and safe exercises, so you can rest assured your beloved older canine friend will stay out of harm’s way, while still helping to promote their physical strength and wellbeing. 

Walking 

Regardless of your dog’s age and physical limitations, doing some walking is usually necessary to promote a healthy weight and body shape. Walking typically requires minimal effort or body strength from our pets, while promoting an array of health benefits as well as serving as a form of entertainment for them. Walking is not only a form of mental and physical stimulation for your dog, it can also help support a strong and healthy cardiovascular and pulmonary system as well as lower blood pressure and increase stamina, amongst many other benefits.