Most shelters have senior dogs and it’s for a good reason: many people have a hard time dealing with their pets dying. For many people it is easier to give away your pet before they get too old rather than have to deal with their end of life. However, if you want to make the end of your pet’s life easier on you and them, then coming up with a bucket list can be the perfect way to do this. Here are some tips on how to organize a bucket list for your dog and a few suggestions to put on it.
Think About the Things You Have Always Wanted to Do With Your Senior Dogs
If you have always had the dream of going kayaking or camping with your dog and this is something you think they would enjoy, then you can put this on their bucket list. The only thing to keep in mind here is that you do not want to put an activity that will be too strenuous on your pet’s body or anything that will cause them a lot of anxiety. It can be a good idea to talk to a vet that specializes in senior dogs to understand if this will be the ideal activity for them. They may just be able to tell you some ways you can modify the activity so it will be better for them.
Go Somewhere New
You don’t have to take your pet on a road trip, though this can be a lot of fun. Just going to a new dog park in a neighboring city can be enough for them. Dogs love to sniff and explore new areas. When you take them somewhere new you will find that even senior dogs will wag their tails and sniff at every new thing they can find.
Try Some New Food
Another way you can add to the bucket list of senior dogs is to try new foods. Now obviously you want to make sure the foods you are feeding them are safe for them to eat. It could be something as simple as giving them ice cream or going to a new dog friendly restaurant in the area.
Get in the Photo Ops
Now is the time to remember that your dog will not be around forever. Even though senior dogs may not look as beautiful as they did in their prime, they are still gorgeous and you will want to have plenty of pictures to remember them by when they are gone. Whether you want to do professional pictures or simply get pictures of them on their adventures (or both!), then find a way to plan for it in the bucket list.
Spend More Time with Your Pet
You may think that you spend plenty of time with your pet now, but the biggest regret of most people who have had pets cross the rainbow bridge is that they did not spend enough time with them while they had the chance. You can go for walks together, play when your pet is in the mood, or even just sit and talk to them while petting them. This is time you definitely won’t regret with your senior dogs.