Seven things your dog hopes you'll do, and everything else a senior dog needs from you.
"For twelve years I walked a Labrador named Biscuit past the same fence. Behind it ran an open field he could smell every morning, and I never once turned in at the gate. I thought of those walks as a chore to get done before coffee.
This book is for people who'd rather not learn it the way I did. Most of what an old dog hopes for is cheap and quick. You just have to know what it is, and start tonight."
Each one gets its own chapter: a short story from Gus, why it matters, exactly how to do it, and a checklist you can tick off this week.
Their route, their pace, loose leash. Why ten minutes of sniffing beats an hour of marching.
Twelve small, safe ways to give an aging brain something new, without overwhelming it.
Ten minutes on the floor, phone in another room. The simplest thing on the list, and the most skipped.
The slow, flat-palm touch they love, and the monthly body check that catches lumps early.
A place their breed was made for, under an hour away, planned around an old body.
Favorite food, place, activity and people, all on one date. A planner to make it happen.
What it means to stay, on the floor, with a hand where they can feel it. Gently, and honestly.
When a dog becomes "senior" by size, what changes in an aging body and mind, getting the most from vet visits (with 10 questions to ask), and a clear red-flag guide: go now, call today, or book this week.
The 20-minute home check, keeping them moving without overdoing it, food and weight, the foods to keep away, and a 10-minute weekly grooming routine.
The heart of the book. Seven chapters, each with a story, the how-to and a checklist.
A quality-of-life scale many vets use, the good-day calendar, planning the goodbye calmly ahead of time, talking to children, and getting through the grief afterward.
Trackers, logs and memory pages to print and keep on the fridge, plus every source used in the book.
Gus Holloway is the narrator of our YouTube channel, Old Dogs with Gus. His stories in this book are illustrative: composites drawn from experiences many dog owners share. The practical guidance comes from published veterinary sources, listed at the back of the book.
This handbook is general education for dog owners. It doesn't diagnose or replace your veterinarian.
A 39-page PDF, US Letter size, that you can read on your phone, tablet or computer, or print at home. You get the download link right after checkout, and by email.
Yes. Print the worksheets as often as you like for your own household.
No. It's a practical guide for owners built on published veterinary sources, and it tells you clearly when to call your vet. Your veterinarian always comes first.
It's the perfect time. Many dogs are considered senior around 7, and larger breeds sooner. Starting the baseline log now makes every future change easier to spot.
It takes ten minutes. Your dog has been waiting for it longer than that.