Just like people, dogs can decline physically (and sometimes mentally) as they reach their golden years. You may notice your senior dog is having a harder time climbing stairs, standing up after a nap, playing, and even following commands. Don’t let this get you down! In addition to proper medical care, you can do several physical and mental activities to keep your senior dog young at heart and feeling good.
Senior dog exercise is important to help your pet stay strong, flexible, and happy. Before starting any new exercise, check with your veterinarian. They can recommend exercise routines that are safe for your dog's age, health, and mobility level. Every dog is unique, and your vet may want to adjust the exercises to give your pet the best support.
Senior Dog Exercise: Why It Matters
Keeping your senior dog active helps:
- Manage their weight
- Support joint health
- Improve digestion and bathroom habits
- Boost their emotional well-being
- Provide mental stimulation
Regular activity can help your senior dog stay mobile, comfortable, and engaged with their family.
Types of Senior Dog Exercises
Here are four types of exercises that are gentle, effective, and fun for senior dogs:
Walks
Walks are a classic senior dog exercise. They help control weight, keep joints moving, and encourage a regular bathroom schedule. Walks also give your senior dog a chance to use their senses and bond with you.
Try to keep a predictable schedule.
If your dog starts lagging behind or panting, try shorter walks and gradually increase the distance over time.
Balance Exercises
Balance is important to maintain strength. In any movement, stabilizer muscles act to steady one joint so the desired movement can be performed in another joint. Dogs have stabilizing muscles in their trunk and legs that need to be exercised regularly to help with balance.
One type of balance exercise you can do with your dog is the “leg lift and hold”.
- Have your dog stand on a nonslip surface. Tap on the leg you want to be lifted and hold out your hand. You might have to help bring the paw up, but do not force this.
- When lifting a front paw with one hand, use your other hand to support the elbow joint of that lifted leg. When lifting a hind paw, support the knee joint of the lifted leg. The goal is for the dog to shift all their weight onto the three legs that remain on the ground while lifting the fourth leg.
- Start by lifting and holding each leg separately for 5-10 seconds. Do a set of 2-3 holds per leg every day or two. This can be increased gradually over time to 20 seconds per leg.
- Reward with praise and/or a food treat.
Mobility Exercises
Mobility exercises keep your dog flexible and help strengthen their spine and muscles. Try “cookie stretches”:
- With your dog standing, use a treat to guide their nose up, to the side, toward their chest, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and back foot.
- Hold each position for 5-10 seconds, repeating three times.
- Start slow and increase as your dog improves.
Best Dog Exercises by Mobility Level
| Mobility Level | Best Exercises | Avoid/Modify | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully mobile | Walks, gentle fetch, swimming, balance exercises | Long runs, stairs, jumping | Monitor for fatigue |
| Mildly limited | Short walks, swimming, sit-to-stand, puzzle games | Fast-paced fetch, steep hills | Keep sessions short/monitor |
| Severely limited | Assisted walking, indoor scent games, gentle stretching | Unassisted stairs, chasing | Vet guidance recommended |
Strength Exercises
As dogs enter their golden years, they are more susceptible to loss of flexibility and associated pain, joint degeneration, and muscle loss. Stretching promotes flexibility and range of motion, improves circulation and, consequently, oxygenation of the muscles, and alleviates some of the aches and pains of an older body.
An easy strength exercise to do is “two paws up”. This exercise is a great way to strengthen your dog’s hind end, a common site of muscle wasting. It involves your dog standing on a slightly elevated object or surface with their two front feet.
- Use a sturdy, low platform (like a step or wrapped phone book).
- Have your dog step up with their front feet only, then down.
- Start with a few repetitions and hold for 10 seconds.
- Gradually increase to 30 seconds as your dog gets stronger.
What To Watch Out for With Senior Dog Exercises
As dogs age, they typically have less stamina and won’t be able to exercise for as long as they did when they were younger.
If your dog appears sore or overly tired after workouts, pants excessively, is reluctant to participate in the exercise, and/or their legs start to shake, make some changes in the exercise routine. For walks, reduce the length and walk in cool weather. For the other exercises, make the sessions shorter with fewer repetitions. You can build up their endurance over time. Always reach out to your vet if you notice any of these signs worsening as they could recommend a joint pain medication to help your dog.
Your senior dog can enjoy their golden years with the right routine. Try these senior dog exercises and see how much more active and happy your best friend can be.
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