What to Expect as Your Dog Ages?
Yes, You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks!

It breaks our hearts to watch our beloved dogs grow older. What can we expect as our faithful companion grows older?

Every dog owner notices changes in our dog as they age. One of the first signs we notice that our dog is growing older is the grey hairs on the muzzle.

As in humans, as dogs age nerve cell loss occurs and brain function declines. As a result, some of the changes you may notice are a reduced ability to adapt or react to new situations or new routines. Sometimes we mistake this inability to adapt as stubborness - but really it is not.

Sometimes even senile dementia can occur. Your dog may wake up from their nap and not remember where they are.

It is an old wives tale that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Not true. With an understanding of the changes that are occuring for your older dog, you certainly can teach new tricks -- just at a slower pace.

Older dogs find learning new things more difficult since the connections between the nerve cells are not made as easily as they were at a younger age. Yet the good news is, knowledge already aquired, such as obeying commands, can easily be remembered.

So remember, your senior dog CAN adjust to new surroundings and learn new things -- just at a slower pace than they used to in their younger years. Same as us humans!


A tip to improve the quality of life for our dogs is: to always provide a quality supportive dog bed. An orthopedic memory foam dog bed is perfect for senior dogs since just like us humans, dogs can suffer from arthritis, joint issues, and sore muscles.

An estimated 10 million dogs in the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis, and 31 percent of dog owners say that bone and joint problems are an issue for their pets. Choosing a memory foam dog bed can help relieve the pain and tenderness.


Don't forget our younger Buddys too, a quality memory foam dog bed provides excellent preventative care. A supportive orthopedic dog bed can assist in the aging process of the joints. Buddy Beds strives to construct the premier quality dog bed on the market.