Category: Caring for a senior dog

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 […]

Six Fun Enrichment Activities for a Dog with Dementia

Sniffing as enrichment activity. Senior rat terrier sniffing a tire.

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 […]

Poop in My Pocket: Life With an Old, Old Dog

tri-color rat terrier sleeping surrounded by pillows to keep her from rolling off bed

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 […]

Euthanizing My Dog With Dementia: The Dreaded Choice

small, elderly rat terrier with her head on a pillow

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 […]

Snuffle Mats: Great Enrichment for Senior Dogs

elderly dachshund in a colorful vest sniffing treats out of a snuffle mat

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 […]

Suus: The Rescued Dachshund Who Found Her True Home

Suus, a wirehaired dachshund, standing on tree roots

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 […]