Mom's Kind Gesture to Make Senior Labrador Feel Special and Strong Is Full of Love
Having a senior dog can be a little disheartening, especially if you've had them for a long time. You might remember what they were like when they were just a baby, and then to see their face go grey and their bones start to ache... it just hurts.
Even so, it doesn't have to be a defining moment for them. If you really put your mind to it, you can make your senior dog's life just as fun and exciting as if they were still puppies. On August 26th, one dog mom shared exactly how she's keeping things positive for her old man dog, and it's just so sweet:
Pepper the Black Lab might be who this account is named for, but Rocky totally stole the show here. What a good boy!
Rocky is 11 years old, so he's really getting up there. His brother, Pepper, is considerably younger and living with epilepsy, so gentle play is sometimes best for both of them, especially after one of Pepper's seizures.
Despite being a senior citizen, Rocky is still going strong, and one of his favorite things to do is retrieve things for his mom and play tug-of-war. However, his jaws aren't exactly what they used to be. Where she was able to be pretty rough during these games in the past, he can't take that anymore. Instead, she just pretends to be less strong so he feels like he's winning. You can just see the joy in his eyes when he does!
Gentle Ways to Play With Senior Dogs
The odds that you'll encounter a senior dog in your life are pretty good, even if you don't have a dog yourself. If you're ever in need of a fun way to occupy their time, you can try:
- Games that keep them stationary, like tug-of-war.
- Giving them stimulating toys with different textures.
- Offering them lick-mats covered in a tasty treat.
- Taking them for a swim, since swimming is lower impact than a real run.
- Car rides.
You can still play other games with them, you just might want to keep it limited to shorter bursts, and only when they seem to be feeling it. Fetch, chase, and long walks are not out of the question; you just have to be more conscious of how they're feeling.
Rocky is a very loved boy, and his parents as well as his brother always make sure he still gets plenty of time to be a regular dog. 11 is up there, but he's still got a long way to go, I just know it!
🐶 SIGN UP for Parade’s weekly pet newsletter for more inspiring and entertaining stories about our furry and feathered friends 🐾
