Australian Shepherd Does Happy Tail Wags After Realizing Senior Brother Is Coming on Walk
Raising a senior dog is hard work. But for every hard day, there's a good day. And one dog mama recently had a good day with her senior Golden Retriever and his fur-brother, an Australian Shepherd, and shared it online.
Raffi is 13 and no longer can go on long walks like he used to. So when his mama @makenziecann does want to try and get him fresh air, they have to switch things up.
You know who really loves it when Raffi comes along for a walk? Makenzie's Australian Shepherd, Benny. In the video she shared, it shows her pulling out a wagon she uses for senior Golden Retriever Raffi. And right away it was clear that Benny knew what was about to happen.
Related: Senior Golden Retriever Returns Home After Being Lost in Alaskan Woods for 65 Days
"POV: my younger dog getting excited when I get the wagon out because it means his older brother gets to come with us," she wrote in the video's text overlay. Just look at that tail! Benny couldn't be more excited.
"He’s never known a life without him," Makenzie wrote of her younger pup.
The wagon did more than cheer up just Benny, lots of people were warmed by Raffi's big trip out. "OMG the older dog just perked up and smiled. How precious," wrote one person in the comments section. "The tail just went faster and faster," someone else joked. "This is so sweet! Dogs love hard," a third person added.
Caring for Senior Dogs
It happens to every dog. At one point their mobility will dip and things that were once were easy slowly become harder. It can be so hard to watch your fur-child's health decline,. But it's something that every dog owner faces and there are many ways to keep your senior dog in tip top shape.
If your dog is starting to head into senior territory, you'll need to pay attention to what they eat, the veterinary care they receive, how much exercise they get, and up their mental stimulation. You may notice that your dog's joints might ache, they might have have trouble lifting themselves up, or may have difficulty walking for long periods of time.
The best offense is a good defense. Senior dogs need to visit the vet for check ups at least twice a year to catch things early. Keep your dog's weight in control, keep their vaccinations current, and possibly even change where their bed is placed if they can no longer use the stairs.
The key is staying on top of things — and some TLC. Love can really do wonders for your senior pup.
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