There comes a time when every working dog starts to show their age. It might be a slight limp in the morning or a reluctance to jump into the back of the Land Rover after a long shift. Realising that your best worker needs to retire can be difficult, yet it is a necessary part of responsible dog ownership.
Identifying the Signs of Ageing
The first signs of slowing down are often subtle. You might notice your dog takes longer to recover after a hard day of running around or struggles to keep up when gathering from the far end of the farm.
Joint stiffness is a very common issue for dogs, especially for medium to large dogs, such as Labradors and Spaniels, that have spent years working on hard farmland in the summer, muddy, slippery fields in the autumn or simply uneven ground. When these signs start to appear, it is time to start reducing their workload. While your dog may want to continue to work, continuing to push your old dog can lead to chronic pain and can lead them to feel frustrated as they struggle to perform the work they once loved.
Adapting their Daily Routine
A retired dog can still live a very fulfilling life on the farm without being pushed beyond their physical limits. Similarly, you can even help manage their arthritis by providing a warm, draught-free bed in a utility room or a heated kennel.
Because cold, damp nights are the enemy of old joints, providing a bit of extra warmth can go a long way in reducing their joint stiffness. Additionally, providing a joint supplement to their daily food routine can do wonders. Oils rich in omega-3 and omega-6 are great for improving joint mobility. You can use specific joint-care treats, or pour a liquid supplement like Fish4Dogs directly onto their morning or evening meals
Also, keeping them involved in smaller, less strenuous tasks can help maintain their mental health. Especially for Border Collies, who love to drive herds all day long, even if they can no longer gather the main flock, they can still help move a few ewes into a pen.
Quality of Life in the Twilight Years
Your closest work colleague has given you years of hard labour, so they deserve a comfortable spot by the fire and a slower pace of life.
If you decide to retire your dog to a life of comfort, it is best to switch them to a lower-calorie maintenance food and monitor their weight closely. A retired dog needs far fewer calories than a working one, and excess weight will only put unnecessary strain on their ageing joints
By providing the right care and a bit of extra attention, you ensure that your old partner enjoys a peaceful and dignified retirement on the land they have worked so hard on.