Is your dog really slowing down because of age?

I often hear owners say, ‘I think they’re just getting old.’ And sometimes that’s true. But last week on one of our adventure walks, I was reminded that age isn’t always the whole story when I found myself watching the dogs tackle a steep bank on a bush track.

My own Border Collie, Ember, who is now 10½ years old, scrambled down the bank and back up again without a second thought.

My 7-year-old and 6-year-old Border Collies did exactly the same.

Then there was another dog.

He made it down the bank, but when it came time to climb back up, he really struggled. We ended up having to help him.

On another walk recently, I noticed a different dog, who isn't even five yet, struggle just to jump into the van.

It got me thinking…

Many people would simply put this down to age.

But was it really age?

Or was it fitness?

Or was it weight?

Age isn’t always the problem

As dogs get older, they naturally slow down a little. Just like us, they might not recover quite as quickly after a big day out.

But growing older doesn’t automatically mean they should struggle with everyday activities like:

• Jumping into the car.
• Climbing a small bank.
• Going for a walk.
• Enjoying an adventure with other dogs.

If they’re finding these things difficult, it’s worth asking whether something else is contributing.

Weight makes a huge difference

Carrying extra weight places more stress on joints, muscles, the heart and lungs.

Over time, dogs lose fitness because moving becomes harder… and the less they move, the less fit they become.

It becomes a vicious cycle.

The good news?

Even a relatively small amount of weight loss can make a big difference.

In fact, when I took one of our regular dogs to the vet last week for his vaccinations, the vet shared with me that losing just 10% of a dog’s body weight can significantly reduce inflammation and improve mobility.

She also said something that really stuck with me:

“Lean dogs live longer.”

Is your dog a healthy weight?

One of the easiest checks you can do at home is to feel your dog’s ribs.

A simple guide I was taught years ago is:

👊 Make a fist and run your fingers over your knuckles.
If your dog’s ribs feel like this, they may be too lean.

✋ Now open your hand and feel the knuckles on the palm side.
If your dog’s ribs feel like this, they may be carrying too much body fat.

Ideally, your dog’s ribs should feel somewhere in between — easy to feel with light pressure, but not sticking out a lot.

You should also be able to see a waist when looking down from above.

If you’re unsure, ask your vet to body condition score your dog at their next check-up.

Fitness matters too

Just like people, dogs need to use their muscles to keep them.

Adventure walks, bush tracks, hills, swimming, longer walks and even playing with other dogs all help maintain strength, fitness, balance and mobility.

Ember is now 10½ years old.

Is she exactly the same as she was at three years old?

Of course not.

But she’s still climbing banks, jumping into the van, running bush tracks and happily keeping up with (or actually being out in front of!) much younger dogs.

I don’t believe that’s luck.

I believe it’s because she’s stayed lean, active and strong throughout her life.

A question worth asking

The next time you notice your dog slowing down, don’t just assume it’s because they’re getting older.

Ask yourself:

• Are they a healthy weight?
• Are they still getting regular exercise?
• Have they gradually lost muscle and fitness?
• Or could there be an underlying medical issue that needs checking?

Sometimes it is age.

Sometimes it’s arthritis.

But sometimes, it’s simply that our dogs have become overweight and unfit.

And that’s something we can often help.

Because we can’t stop our dogs getting older…

But we can help them age well.