Total Dog Magazine

Tag: older dogs

  • If You’re Over 55 & Lonely, A Dog Could Help

    If You’re Over 55 & Lonely, A Dog Could Help

    New charity aims to tackle isolation and loneliness in over 55s with help of dogs.

    A NEW charity has launched this month in Croydon with the aim of reducing social isolation and loneliness for the over-55s.

    CareDogs is a newly-registered charity which pairs people aged 55 and over with suitable canine companions.

    The goal is to tackle the growing problem of social isolation within society, while increasing the adoption rate of older dogs from rescue centres and shelters around the capital.

    The South London-based charity was originally founded in late 2018 by Delphine Chui, and has since been developing its offer to communities in and around Croydon.

    This month marks the official launch of their service, and with it an invitation for potential adopters to register their interest via the charity’s website.

    Delphine, who now holds the position of Chair of Trustees, created CareDogs after becoming increasingly aware of the growing problem of loneliness within society, especially among the over 55s.

    Take A Look: The many benefits of adopting an older dog

    According to Age UK, the number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025; a 49% increase in 10 years.

    Having owned a number of rescue dogs throughout her life, Delphine felt there was a role for them in tackling the issue, something backed up by Blue Cross Charity research, which found that a pet is a great source of comfort, companionship and motivation for their owners, helping us live mentally healthier lives.

    Delphine explains: “I’ve experienced first-hand the many ways a canine companion can improve your mental and emotional wellbeing. It’s our goal to bring those benefits to the people in society who need it most.

    “CareDogs aims to contribute to a healthier and happier society by working to increase the number of older rescue dog adoptions, and by reducing loneliness and social isolation in older people through companionship and an all-important community support network.”

    The volunteer-run charity works in partnership with rescues to facilitate dog adoptions.

    CareDogs are now inviting people to either register themselves or someone they know who they think could benefit from the addition of a rescue dog into their life.

    For more information, please visit the CareDogs website: www.caredogs.org.uk

    Further reading:

    CareDogs Vision & Mission

    Our vision: Communities where no older person or senior dog is overlooked or left behind. Let’s end loneliness and social isolation together – with the help of dogs!

    The main challenges we seek to solve include the fact that by 2025, the number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach 2 million, as well as half a million older people going 5-6 days without seeing or speaking to anyone at all. Considering that currently only 36% of over-55s are in the dog adopter demographic, we want to encourage more people to socialise more and exercise more, with their provided volunteer and their new canine companion. (Age UK 2014, Beaumont, Age UK 2015)

    Our mission: Solving loneliness and social isolation in older people through dog adoption, a befriending network and local community support by:

    1. Facilitating dog adoption.
    2. Offering weekly interaction and exercise with one of our dog walking volunteers.
    3. Integrating our clients into local community events and a friendly support network.

    In short, we aim to encourage intergenerational connections to tackle social isolation among older people, whilst also creating a new demographic of dog owners.

    The benefits of dog ownership for older people

    • Loneliness and social isolation are issues that many older people experience on a regular basis. According to Age UK, the number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025, which is a 49% increase in 10 years.
    • 17% of older people are in contact with family/friends/neighbours less than once a week, and 11% less than once a month.
    • A Blue Cross Charity Research: Tackling mental health, poverty and loneliness through pet ownership (2020) found that a pet is a great source of comfort, companionship and motivation for their owners, helping us live mentally healthier lives.
    • According to Age UK, 13% of people aged 55+ only speak to someone 3-4 days a week. CareDogs’ befriending services aim to improve and increase social interactions in the over-55 population in Croydon as a preventative measure to social isolation.
    • CareDogs will be giving over-55s volunteering opportunities within our charity, whether they want to be dog walking volunteers or operational volunteers.
    • According to Ageing Better, people over 50 who volunteer or help out in their community tend to be happier and are able to develop deeper relationships as a result.
  • Tips for Training an Older Dog

    Tips for Training an Older Dog

    What can you expect from your older dog as he enters his senior years?

    Your dog has finally reached his adulthood and this means that the period of training, adjusting, socializing, and more training have come to a stopping point (for the most part, that is).

    This is the period where you can really appreciate his companionship, his friendship, and even his help around the house (depending on his level of training). The point is, is you don’t have to babysit him anymore. It is the stage in your dog’s life where he can walk alongside you off leash, sit and watch you wash your car, maybe even hold the hose for you, or just sit quietly with you in in the backyard while you read a book.

    However, training should not stop just because your dog has reached adulthood. A good formula for keeping your dog’s body healthy and his mind sharp throughout his adult years is to have 3 training sessions a week. The training does not have to be laborious, nor does it have to take long.  All it takes is about 10 to 15 minutes per session, and training can be about practicing and/or improving skills that he has already learned.

    Requirements When Teaching an Older Dog

    There are several benefits to continue training your adult dog on a regular basis.

    1. Regular training keeps his mind alert and active.
    2. It keeps his body strong and in shape.
    3. It serves as refresher courses to different commands and tricks that he had already acquired.
    4. It keeps him aware of the rules that you have enforced for him.
    5. It prevents boredom.
    6. It develops great team work between you and him.
    7. And best of all, it will deepen the bond that the two of you have together. If he remains active throughout the whole aspect of his life (physical, mental, social), then he will continue to play an active role in your life, be a team player, and be able to share wonderful times together.

    Physical Aspects of Training an Older Dog

    The physical needs of your dog peaks during his developmental adolescent stage. But once he passes the adolescent stage and reaches adulthood, his physical needs will arrive at a period where there will be no significant change to the amount of exercise that his body needs to stay healthy.

    As an adult dog, the amount of exercise that his body requires will depend on his size, breed, and personality type. Continue with the regular walks and occasional runs. A game of ball should also be on your list, as well as swimming if your dog likes being in the water. If you have a large and/or energetic dog, you may have to do more than those listed above. If you have a small and/or less active dog, you will still need to give him exercise. You just have to tame it down, depending on his level of endurance.

    Useful resources:

    Senior Dog Food
    Waterproof Dog Beds
    Dog Diet and Weight