While I’m sure most of you only have interest in puppies, on the forefront of our thoughts lately have been our seniors. Nikita and Zuko especially. Though we have a few others getting up there in age.

“Small breeds are considered senior dogs when they turn 10 to 12 years old. Medium breeds are considered senior dogs when they hit 8 to 9 years old. Large and giant breeds are considered senior dogs at around 6 to 7 years old.”

You can find conflicting info on when a dog is considered a senior. So much depends on breed and breed size. But I think it’s easy to see the signs. From simple symptoms like greying fur to mild hip/joint issues to full on cognitive issues. Nikita is 3 months shy of her 14th birthday. Zuko is 11 and a half. Watching my babies age is tough. Nikita has some tough moments, she is hard of hearing and can get confused at times but for the most part she is happy to nap in my chair, in the chair on the porch or in my son’s room. She still walks the yard but mostly tries to avoid the younger bunch as they annoy her. haha We started a lil bucket list last year thinking we had less time with her, but she is hanging in there. We are thankful for everyday with her. When you acquire a puppy (however you chose to do so) they are forever. Don’t give up on them because they age. They need our love, and patience more than ever. We are keeping an eye on our older bunch and no matter how hard it is, we know that when the time comes that they have more bad days than good days, we will make the difficult decision to help them cross over.