Nosework: Teach Your Senior Dog Step by Step
This is an easy nosework game that senior dogs can learn, even those who have mild dementia. Finding food is pretty hard-wired into dogs and most animals. Dogs with moderate to severe dementia can’t learn much, if anything, but some may still enjoy using their noses in a simpler version. See the last photo of […]
Share this:
Six Fun Enrichment Activities for a Dog with Dementia
My rat terrier Cricket lived to be about 17 and had dementia since she was 14 or 15. As her cognitive abilities decreased, I was still able to find things she enjoyed. Enrichment activities are important at any age. Our activities just got simpler and simpler as we went along. I had taken Cricket on a […]
Share this:
Eevon and April: Best Friends from Day One Until the Last
Guest post by April Franklin This is my own tale about my beautiful girl Eevon Rose Franklin. Eevon came to me from a pet store at two months old, my aunts bought her for me for my 16th birthday and the funny part is we were all told I was getting a small dog like […]
Share this:
Poop in My Pocket: Life With an Old, Old Dog
This story is from 2012 when Cricket was still with me, previously published on eileenanddogs.com. The very first thing I do every morning when I wake up is turn over and take a careful look at my very old dog Cricket. She has a special place on the bed surrounded by pillows on three sides […]
Share this:
Euthanizing My Dog With Dementia: The Dreaded Choice
Cricket was my familiar, my baby, my little soulmate. We chose each other and stuck together like glue. Adopting a Middle-Aged Dog When I got Cricket from rat terrier rescue, she was already about six to eight years old. I thought I was in for heartbreak by adopting a middle-aged dog. Well, I was, but not […]
Share this:
Snuffle Mats: Great Enrichment for Senior Dogs
Snuffle mats are one of the easiest food toys for dogs to learn how to interact with. And if my dogs are typical, snuffle mats are among the most fun ways to eat as well. A snuffle mat is a mat with multiple fabric strips protruding from a base. Homemade ones are usually created by […]
Share this:
Suus: The Rescued Dachshund Who Found Her True Home
Guest post by Nadia Hermans from Belgium in which she tells the story of her dachshund Suus, a former mill dog who is doing great at the age of 17. When I saw Nadia’s photo of Suus in her custom stroller, I had to know more! Nadia kindly shared Suus’ story–Eileen Anderson How Suzanne […]
