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What do you personally consider a Senior Dog?

murph

murph

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As my dog just passed her 5th birthday, (Murphy isn't dead, wow what poor wording)
During Murphy's wellcare visit for her fifth birthday, I was informed that their practice considers any pet over 7 years old senior.

WHAT???

For perspective, Murphy's sire's dam is 12 next year and is so active! I can't imagine in two years that Murphy will be considered senior! (side note: Murphy has a singular white whisker on her face, and when it first showed up, I cried for a week.)

There is another point I have to take into account with my dog specifically, which is her status as a psychiatric service dog. Just like people, dogs have to retire, and I know that Murphy will eventually have to retire, I just don't know when. Some handlers keep their dogs working until 9 or 10, and some dogs just stop working randomly.

So, when would you consider your dog senior? Or what are the criteria that makes a dog a senior dog?
 
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MyDogBitz said:
Man, that's tough to lose a dog so young. Condolences.

IMO 10 years old and over is a senior.

There's a misconception that GSDs aren't long lived and I don't think that's true.

This dog is 13 years old.

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I think one important part about finding a breeder, is asking them the lifespan of the grandsires/dams and great-grandsires/dams. I think 12 is an achievable age for most well-bred shepherds, and I think even 15 is achievable with great care on the owner's part.

My personal emphasis for longevity are dental care and recall. If you can avoid teeth infections and running into the street, I think that goes a long way towards living a long life.

On the flip side, Murphy is my first dog, so I have no experience with this topic, which is why I wanted to ask everyone else about this.
 
MyDogBitz said:
Man, that's tough to lose a dog so young. Condolences.

IMO 10 years old and over is a senior.

There's a misconception that GSDs aren't long lived and I don't think that's true.

This dog is 13 years old.

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That dog completely ripped that sleeve off dude. You changed my mind. Murphy has to work until she can't walk anymore :ROFLMAO:
 
murph said:
As my dog just passed her 5th birthday, (Murphy isn't dead, wow what poor wording)
During Murphy's wellcare visit for her fifth birthday, I was informed that their practice considers any pet over 7 years old senior.

WHAT???

For perspective, Murphy's sire's dam is 12 next year and is so active! I can't imagine in two years that Murphy will be considered senior! (side note: Murphy has a singular white whisker on her face, and when it first showed up, I cried for a week.)

There is another point I have to take into account with my dog specifically, which is her status as a psychiatric service dog. Just like people, dogs have to retire, and I know that Murphy will eventually have to retire, I just don't know when. Some handlers keep their dogs working until 9 or 10, and some dogs just stop working randomly.

So, when would you consider your dog senior? Or what are the criteria that makes a dog a senior dog?
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I’ve never used the vet’s “7 = senior” rule for working shepherds. That’s just a general guideline for all breeds, not dogs bred and conditioned the way Murphy is.

For me, a dog becomes “senior” when their recovery slows, their endurance changes, or their mindset shifts, not when a birthday hits. Some WL dogs are sharp and active well into 10+, others slow earlier. The dog decides, not the calendar.

Murphy at 5? That’s still prime time. One white whisker just means she’s leveling up in wisdom.
 
Malakai The Great said:
I’ve never used the vet’s “7 = senior” rule for working shepherds. That’s just a general guideline for all breeds, not dogs bred and conditioned the way Murphy is.

For me, a dog becomes “senior” when their recovery slows, their endurance changes, or their mindset shifts, not when a birthday hits. Some WL dogs are sharp and active well into 10+, others slow earlier. The dog decides, not the calendar.

Murphy at 5? That’s still prime time. One white whisker just means she’s leveling up in wisdom.
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OMG I'm gonna cry. She started getting that little gray under her chin, and I was like nooooooo how do dogs age because she's been with me literally since that one bedroom apartment all the way to me with two kids and a husband.

That actually makes me feel a lot better, and is a really intelligent answer.
 
murph said:
OMG I'm gonna cry. She started getting that little gray under her chin, and I was like nooooooo how do dogs age because she's been with me literally since that one bedroom apartment all the way to me with two kids and a husband.

That actually makes me feel a lot better, and is a really intelligent answer.
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That little gray sneaks up on you and hits harder than it should, doesn’t it? But honestly, a few silver hairs don’t mean she’s “old”, they’re just reminders of how much life you’ve lived together.

Dogs don’t measure time the way we do. If she’s still moving well, thinking clearly, and showing up with heart, she’s got plenty of good years ahead. I’m glad my answer helped, you’re clearly paying attention, and that’s what really matters as they age.
 
I've been fortunate to have long lived dogs. There's a few things I think go into it:

Weight & Exercise: Fat dogs die young. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion.

Nutrition & Feeding: Dogs can do fine on kibble, as long as it's not total junk. Pay attention to coat, skin, ears, eyes and odor. Dogs shouldn't stink. Doggy odor, yes. Smell bad, no. Their eyes should be bright and clear. Ears should be fresh and clean. Things like this are a glimpse into your dogs overall well-being. Bloodshot eyes, stinky ears, scabby skin, bad odor, are all signs of problems.

Vet Care: My opinion of vets isn't great. I'm never really happy with the vets I use. But that's another topic altogether. Find a vet you trust and have another office that will see you too. My vet closed without warning and I couldn't get meds for my epileptic dog. Two vets is a must. Pay attention to your dog, if something is bothering them, get it looked at ASAP. It could be the difference between small and big problems.

Genetics: Nothing replaces good genetics. Proper care will help you maximize your dogs God given potential.
 
My pups are 11 and 9 years old and still pretty darn active. We get asked on every single walk if our 9yr old female is a puppy. She’s got that permanent puppy face and she’s smaller framed. And very excitable. It’s awkward to be like, nope she’s a senior. My 11 year old is ball obsessed and never stops wanting to play. I do consider them seniors at this point from the perspective of monitoring their health: bloodwork, musculature, joints and we’ve just established a really great relationship with a local vet clinic and have done all their preliminary senior checks. They are both doing fabulous! Based on who and how they are today, I think it’s safe to say that our dogs can be “seniors” for up to half their life!
 
AmberLovesHerDogs said:
My pups are 11 and 9 years old and still pretty darn active. We get asked on every single walk if our 9yr old female is a puppy. She’s got that permanent puppy face and she’s smaller framed. And very excitable. It’s awkward to be like, nope she’s a senior. My 11 year old is ball obsessed and never stops wanting to play. I do consider them seniors at this point from the perspective of monitoring their health: bloodwork, musculature, joints and we’ve just established a really great relationship with a local vet clinic and have done all their preliminary senior checks. They are both doing fabulous! Based on who and how they are today, I think it’s safe to say that our dogs can be “seniors” for up to half their life!
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