Blossom the Labradoodle has always flown out of the back door every morning to check out which wildlife has dared to use her garden, and to see them off before coming back in for breakfast feeling very pleased with herself. Last year, as she was approaching 10 years old, I noticed she was stiff getting out of bed each morning, and would wander onto the patio to view the garden before trotting off to check out the wildlife situation. I’ve found a few ways to help with her stiffness, and her enthusiasm to dash out of the door each morning has returned.

1. Living arrangements

• Night-time bed needs to be large enough and flat enough for arthritic limbs to be stretched out and easily moved. Bloss’s bed of choice has always been a plastic bed with a blanket (luxurious beds were rejected , weirdo!). Although she looked comfortable curled up, she couldn’t stretch out, so the plastic bed has been relegated to the garage and I’ve found a replacement bed she loves; a large fleece pillow mattress
• Flooring. The dining room has laminate flooring, not easy for Bloss to walk on. I’ve added a runner so she can get from the kitchen to the lounge avoiding the flooring; it’s apparently perfect for snoozing on during the day too. 

2. Diet

• Bloss has always enjoyed high quality dried food, but I now ensure it’s suitable for senior dogs. Three times a week I add 1/3 tin of sardines in tomato sauce to her meal; Bloss loves it, and licks her bowl beyond clean! (A relief; when I tried to supplement her meal with chopped carrot and celery every last bit was picked out and spat on the floor in disgust, not a success!)
• Bloss loves her night-time ‘treat’, she gets excited when I tell her it’s bedtime! The treat is a Yumove Jointcare plus, and it’s a bonus that she loves it; it doesn’t matter how I disguise a worming tablet she finds it and spits it out!

3. Playtime

• Shorter but more frequent games works well with Bloss. She’s always loved racing after a ball I’ve lobbed with all my might,  and trotting back very proudly with it. I noticed that when small children throw the ball a short distance she’s chases it just as enthusiastically, so I now do shorter throws, and shorter but more frequent sessions. 

It’s lovely seeing Bloss more mobile again, and we can still both enjoy playing together. 

She still loves her garden, although the rabbits don’t run away until the last minute now, and the Muntjac just stare her out!