Senior Dogs Blog

Lulu is the world’s oldest dog after reaching the age of 21 – in human years. Now that’s what I call a Senior Dog! You go girl…

Lulu, the 21 year old beagle with owner Travis

A BEAGLE cross has become the oldest dog in the world after racking up an incredible 147 dog years — thanks to her weekly trip to the PUB.

Lulu, who is 21 in human years, is deaf, walks with a limp and is practically blind, which means she often bumps into walls by mistake.

But her owner Travis Buckley reckons the hustle and bustle of their trip to the local has helped keep her mind active and on her toes for so long.

Travis, 60, has been taking Lulu to the Coach and Horses in Longford, Coventry, for her whole life — and he says she loves the attention from regulars.

He said: “She has a habit of wandering off and instead of coming home she comes and sits in the corner of the pub waiting for me.

“People who know her scoop her up and bring her there — she’s a lovely dog, she’s our little baby.”

Travis was given Lulu by his daughter in 1989 when she was a pup of just six-weeks-old.

But the pair have been inseparable ever since and they have become a regular sight for punters popping in to the pub for a quick pint.

….read more

This bomb sniffing senior dog is a true hero!

Treo, an eight-year-old black Labrador from the Military Working Dogs

LONDON – A perky British Labrador whose bomb-sniffing exploits helped save lives in Afghanistan was decorated for canine courage in a ceremony at London’s Imperial War Museum Wednesday.

Eight-year-old Treo joins a menagerie of heroic animals honored over the years with a special award known as the Dickin medal, including 32 pigeons, three horses and a cat.

Sgt. Dave Heyhoe, the black Lab’s handler, said he was “very proud indeed,” adding the award was not just for him and his older dog but “for every dog and handler that’s working out in Afghanistan or Iraq.”

Treo merely flicked out his rosy tongue as he and Heyhoe posed for photographs with the silvery medal. He squirmed as the medal was fitted around his neck.

The military nominated Treo for the prize in recognition of his help uncovering a series of Taliban bombs during his time serving in Helmand Province, an insurgency hot spot, in 2008. The Labrador is the medal’s 63rd recipient since its inception in 1943, according to the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals, the charity that awards the prize….read more

Here is a great article from the folks at Modern Dog Magazine where Victoria Stillwell discusses new tricks for older dogs and provides other great tips.

Victoria Stilwell on taking the leap, reward-based training, and new tricks for old dogs

It is not lost on me that while I am on the phone with Victoria Stilwell, chances are that countless people are simultaneously watching her on their TVs. As the much-adored host of Animal Planet’s hit series It’s Me Or The Dog and judge on CBS’s Greatest American Dog, Victoria Stilwell is fast becoming a household name in over 40 countries. Originally from Wimbledon, England, Stilwell has, in recent years, become one of the world’s most recognized and respected dog trainers. In addition to her on-air work, her highly-acclaimed books It’s Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet (Hyperion; 2007) and Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet (HarperCollins; 2007) strengthen both her positive reinforcement message and her fan base alike.

All told, this one-time actor—who boasts gigs performed on the stages of London’s esteemed West End—is today a mindbogglingly popular dog guru whose star continues to rise. Evidence of this was a recent People’s Choice Award nomination for It’s Me Or The Dog as Best Animal Show.

Any suspicion, however, that fame has gone to her dog-loving head can quickly be quashed. Actively committed to promoting animal welfare issues, she’s been affiliated with a wealth of rescue groups internationally: Paws Atlanta, Stray from the Heart (NYC), Hong Kong Dog Rescue, Greyhound Rescue of West England, the ASPCA, the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project, and Jana Kohl and the Waterside Action Group. Simply put, her passion for all things canine is the real deal…..read more

I found this to be a very interesting article about how sub bases are using dogs to to help sniff out contraband. What’s cool is this story is about Molly who is a Senior Dog who they thought was too old to detect for drugs and explosives but she proved them wrong for all the right reasons.

Jones carries 10 year old Molly, his canine charge, around in his backpack on the base in Groton, CT.

Groton, CT. – Molly smelled the contraband in the building at the Naval Submarine Base. Her tail started to wag.

As Master at Arms Second Class Bryan Jones pointed along the wall, Molly sniffed. She began to zigzag back and forth, closing in on the scent until she had pinpointed it.

The 10-year-old springer spaniel sat down in front of a window ledge where a ballcap hid two metal tins, planted there for this recent training exercise. Jones tossed Molly a red dog toy, her favorite reward.

Molly is one of 10 dogs in Groton who detect drugs and explosives and patrol the grounds at the base as part of the Military Working Dogs program. The Defense Department has about 2,000 working dogs at major installations across the country and overseas.

In Groton, the dogs inspect buildings, submarines and anywhere else needed. They check vehicles entering the base and stand by the gate as a visual deterrent to any would-be troublemaker. They can be called on for Secret Service missions, such as presidential or vice presidential visits to the Northeast. Some deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan.

When Molly arrived at the base in November, some people said she was too old and had lost too many of her detection skills after not being used enough at another base. Molly was often guilty of “false responding,” sitting down to indicate there were drugs or explosives where there were none. She did not follow all the obedience commands….read more

By HealthDay

FRIDAY, Feb. 5 (HealthDay News) — Pacemakers made for humans are giving older dogs a new leash on life.

The medical devices — about the size of a quarter — are often implanted to speed up a slow heart rate in older dogs brought on by disorders such as heart block and sick sinus syndrome that, if left untreated, drastically shortens their lives.

Guiedo, a 12-year-old hound mix, recently received a pacemaker after getting diagnosed with heart block, a condition in which the electrical signal that makes the organ contract and pump blood is disrupted.

…. read more

I stumbled across a pretty cool toy that is designed exclusively for older dogs. Made from a gentler rubber formula than regular kongs the Senior Kong provides great interactive fun for the older dog. Older dogs can some times be difficult to exercise due to conditions such as arthritis the Senior Kong provides a way of both mental and physical stimulation for the older dog. The Senior Kong is recommended for light chewers only. Designed for senior dogs. Made from a gentle rubber forumla. Recommended for light chewers.

Order Here -KONG Senior Kong Dog Toy, Medium, Purple

Look what’s coming soon – Puppy Tweets!

Puppy Tweets is a device is a plastic tag with a built-in motion and sound sensors that hangs on the collar of man’s best friend.

Puppy Tweets capitalizes on two popular trends – the use of social media and real time communication

Once worn, as Fido runs throughout the house, the tag monitors his activities and when certain criteria are met, the tag transmits to a receiver. The receiver, which is attached to a computer, accesses your dog’s Twitter account and sends out pre-recorded messages to his adoring fans.

I’m sure some senior dogs will also enjoy showing off their Twitter skills

Order Puppy Tweets

Check out this new product that is the only water therapy (whirlpool for dogs) product I have found for the home user.

VetSystems Whirlpool For Dogs

The Vetsystems whirlpool has been used successfully for over 12 years in veterinary hospitals and clinics across the nation providing veterinarians with another avenue of approach to treat many of the injuries and disorders suffered by our pets. Now you can take advantage of this technology in your own home and your Senior Dog Family Members can enjoy time in their very own custom whirlpool. This system is engineered to provide the same positive effects enjoyed by “humans” in their whirlpools.