Appropriate exercise for older dogs requires balancing the benefits of physical activity and mental stimulation against the risks of exacerbating painful musculoskeletal conditions.
Senior dogs deserve thoughtful, individualised exercise plans that acknowledge their changing physical capacity. Forcing arthritic or compromised dogs through long walks causes unnecessary pain, while denying all exercise leads to muscle wasting, weight gain and mental deterioration. The welfare-centred approach recognises that exercise type and duration should be guided by the dog's individual condition - varying daily based on apparent comfort, providing pain management when needed to allow comfortable activity, and using low-impact alternatives like swimming when joint pain is significant. Mental stimulation becomes increasingly important as physical capacity declines.