I wish more people knew that this commonly held belief is causing suffering for our dogs.
Dogs don't need less exercise and training when they get older.
They just need DIFFERENT versions of these things that fit their needs.
Research is showing that making sure to provide our dogs with appropriate physical exercise and mental stimulation not only improves their quality of life, but can't even prolong their life.
And I don't know about you all, but I want my dogs to live happy lives for as long as possible.
Want to know more? ✨Take my free quiz to learn steps to take to meet your specific dog's needs. Link here:
https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/669e98003555e90015a0b851
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#seniordogs
#seniordogsrule
#Seniordogadventures
#Seniordogsofig
#olddogsnewtricks
#dogmomsofig
#seniordogmoms
Fall enrichment hack for busy dog moms!!🍂🍂
Use nature to your advantage to create a unique scatter feeding experience!👃
Some reasons why I love scatter feeding and sniff games:
- Dogs LOVE to use their nose. It is a healthy mental exercise and also provides stress relief. (Remember that if your dog is new to sniffing games, they may take a little bit more encouragement and easy wins to get the hang of it!)
- Doing scatter feeding outdoors and utilizing leaves adds more novel smells to your dogs experience,
makes it more enriching
- This is an excellent activity to do when you have little time or cannot take your dog for a walk or outing
Take your dog outside with some snacks and get this activity a try!
Follow for more enrichment and behavior tips!
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#dogmomtips #dogsandbabies #dogenrichment #dogsniffing #sniffari #scatterfeeding #doggames #doghack #protip
Something people don't consider enough...
...Are all the benefits of adopting or fostering an older dog.
If you don't know me, I really love older dogs. And they just get looked over and passed by every day in shelters.
If you're thinking about adopting or fostering a dog, consider a senior! There are so many in need and they can make wonderful additions to many homes!
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#seniordogs #adoptseniordogs #adoptolddogs #olddogsrule #seniordogsrock #lovemysenior #seniordogrescue #adoptadog #seniordoglove
I wish everyone could remember...
❌Having a "calm" dog should not be our goal in life.
✅ Our goal should be to have a happy, satisfied, enriched dog who therefore fits well into our daily lives and schedules.
Honestly I get so tired of people asking me how to help their dog be more calm. Our culture seems to have this mindset that you can just instruct dogs to "be calm." Which is stupid. Calmness is a mood and state of mind, not a cue, command, or something we can just tell dogs to do.
The best way to get a "calm dog" is to satisfy their needs on a daily basis AND then teach coping skills for things that might worry them.
Don't get me wrong- I'm NOT saying we need to just run dogs into the ground until they're exhausted. I am saying that all dogs could use more opportunities for physical and mental exercise.
So here's here your reminder:
If you wish your dog was calmer right now, take a moment to think about what "dog" activities and outlets they have been given in the last few days.
Any?
What do they enjoy doing? What seems to satisfy them in a healthy way? Start there.
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#dogbehavior #dogdigging #dogreel #dogenrichment #dogadvocate #advocateforyourdog #letdogsbedogs #dogstuff #seniordogs
I'm just a dog behavior professional who cares about your senior dog.
I care about their quality of life as they age.
I want you and your dog to have the best last few years together, without pain, suffering, or cognitive decline.
I'm here to educate you on how to help your dog age gracefully and peacefully, and how focusing on behavioral health and well-being can even prolong their life and time with you.
Follow for more information and tips about senior dog behavior.
Check out my FREE resources:
- Senior Dog Retirement Personality Quiz:
https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/669e98003555e90015a0b851
- Senior Dog Enrichment Guide:
https://www.perkedears.com/senior-enrichment-guide
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#seniordogs #loveseniordogs #loveolddogs #olddogsrule #happyolddogs #seniordogmom #seniordoglover #olddogsnewtricks #olddogjoy #seniordogbehavior #seniordogtraining
Listen up pregnant people with older dogs! 🎤
No matter how much prep you have done or not already, it is never too late to do things to help prepare your dog for your new baby's arrival.
These 5 steps are things that you can implement at any point in your preparation journey, but are especially important to ensure towards the end!
Want a customized plan to help prepare your dog for your new baby's arrival? Book a consultation: permedears.com/private-training-sessions
Save this post to refer back to! 📎
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#seniordogs #dogbabyprep #childdogsafety #dogandbaby #pregnantdogmom #familypaws #dogchildsafety #kidsandogs
Can we please get rid of the "grumpy old dog" label?
Old dogs don't just get grumpy. Old dogs don't just become stubborn.
Old dogs DO get new aches and pains.
Old dogs DO have changing social preferences and needs.
Old dogs DO need more sleep and rest.
Old dogs DO suffer from cognitive decline.
Old dogs DO struggle more with anxiety and stress.
These things aren't just regular "par for the course" things that we should accept and make them suffer through.
Our senior dogs need our support.
Remember that your senior dog was once that puppy that you were obsessed with. The same puppy that you poured hours of training and other investments into.
Follow for free tips and support about senior dog behavioral wellness!
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#seniordogs #olddogsrule #loveseniordogs #seniordogbehavior #happyolddogs #olddogsrock #seniordogreel #dogbehaviorreel #seniordogmom #seniordogparent
🚧 Stop being worried about vet visits and start taking action! 🚧
I can't tell you how often I hear from clients that vet visits are such a big source of stress for them.
Every visit seems to get worse, leading to more stress over the years if we do nothing about it.
But the thing is, there's so much we can do about this issue to make things better!👏
The time is now to help your dog (and yourself). You both deserve to be able to have less stressful vet visits.
And as our dogs age, the importance of being able to get vet care for them becomes even larger 🥹
Do right by your dog. Take the first step on the road to stress-free vet care!
It will be educational, contain actionable steps, and is not intimidating or overwhelming. 😌
Sign up for my Masterclass which goes live next week on 8/28!
Register here: https://www.perkedears.com/successful-vet-visits-masterclass
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#dogvetvisit #seniordogtraining #loveseniors #seniordogsrule #olddogsrule #cooperativecare #stressfreevetvisits #dogtrainingmasterclass #dogbusiness #dogbehavior #anxiousdogmom
3 easy things you SHOULD do to make vet visits better for your dog (and you!)
1️⃣Advocate for your dog.
You should know your dog better than the vet staff. You know what scares them, what makes them uncomfortable, and what their triggers might be. If there are certain things that make your dog less stressed in new situations, talk to the vet's office ahead of time to see if they can accommodate you! One common ask might be waiting in your car until they have an exam room ready for you. This cuts out the stress of waiting in the lobby.
2️⃣ Bring comfort items!
So many dogs are anxious while waiting in the exam room or lobby. They are anticipating the uncomfortable vet visit. And can you blame them?? I do the same thing when I go to the doctor.
Bring treats, a comfy bed, or a favorite toy and offer it to them to help relieve stress!
If your dog won't eat or play (this is very common!) this just means we need to go back a few steps and do some back end work to build their confidence.
3️⃣Stop by for happy visits.
Ask your vet's office if they allow happy visits. These are short visits to the vet office where no scary procedures or exams happen! If dogs have enjoyable visits to the vet clinic location, it helps to build their comfort in that place and prevents a lot of the anticipatory anxiety that comes with vet visits.
Want a detailed and complete step by step plan for making vet visits stress-free for you and your dog?
Sign up for my masterclass on 8/28. We will be diving into these topics and you will receive training plans with action steps!
Register here: perkedears.com/vet-visit-success-masterclass
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#vetvisitsuccess #dogvetvisit #anxiousdogmom #forcefree #seniordogsrule #olddogtraining #masterclass #cooperativecare
I interrupt your midday feed...
To BUST SOME MYTHS.
1. Can we please stop telling everyone that comforting our dog is making it worse? This is absolutely not true!!! Dogs do not learn to be more afraid of things if they are comforted. How does that make ANY sense?
2. Anxious dogs do not need more obedience, especially not in the traditional sense. Anxious dogs need to learn coping skills and how to build confidence in a stress-free and GRADUAL way.
3. Aggressive dogs don't need a heavy hand. In fact many dogs who display aggression are actually the most sensitive dogs. Just like other behavior issues, these dogs need an incremental and humane plan to help change their emotions to their triggers.
Do me a favor and share this with someone in your life who could use it.
Let's stop abusing and scaring dogs in the name of training. It's unnecessary and harmful.
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#dogtrainingmyths #fearfuldogmoms #anxiousdogmoms #dogfearandaggression#aggressivedog #dogreel #dogcreek #dogswimmimg
A huge mistake everyone makes...
Is thinking an issue will go away on its own or just hoping for the best with something their dog struggles with.
Is your dog afraid of something?
Did your dogs get into a fight?
Are you bringing home a new pet or human family member?
Are you moving in with another dog?
Did your dog recently display aggression towards something?
Seek. Guidance. Now!
Everyday I see dogs that would have benefited so very much if their owners had reached out for help months ago, or even years.
My FAVORITE and most productive client consults are the ones where the client is being proactive about their concerns.
Follow for more real-talk dog training tips!
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#dogbehavior #dogbehaviormod #dogbehaviorreel #dogtrainingreel #positivereinforcementdogs
You might be thinking...
You might be thinking...
But Kristen, my dog seems to want to just lay around and lounge these days. They don't need exercise. They don't seem to want to go on adventures.
And I challenge that way of thinking.
If your dog suddenly doesn't want to get up and do things, then they need a medical assessment by a veterinarian.
Or if you just FEEL like your dog doesn't need outings anymore because they aren't hyper anymore, then you're actually doing your dog a disservice. 😢
Aging dogs need opportunities for appropriate mental and physical exercise JUST AS MUCH as they needed it when they were younger.
Here are a few easy ideas:
- Get in the car and drive to a open grassy field. Let your dog take you on a sniffari
- Play hide and seek with your dog in your backyard or home
- If your dog can't walk as far as they used to, get a wagon or stroller so they can still go on outings and sniff on your walkie
Download my free guide (link in bio) for more ideas!
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#seniordogs #seniordogsrule #Seniordogadventures #Seniordogsofig #olddogsnewtricks #dogmomsofig
#seniordogmoms #olddogadventures #seniordogsofinstagram
