A slower walk, a moment’s hesitation or a grumpy response does not necessarily mean an older dog is badly behaved. Model and entrepreneur David Gandy is backing a campaign encouraging people to give senior dogs a little more time, space and patience when they are out and about.
Working with pet insurance brand Petgevity, Gandy helped create a special bow tie for older dogs, designed to act rather like a ‘baby on board’ badge: a simple visual signal that its wearer may need a little extra consideration.
His own model for the campaign is Dora, his nine-year-old mixed terrier rescue dog, whom he adopted as a puppy in 2017.
The idea has a serious purpose. More than a third (36%) of owners avoid taking their senior dogs on public transport because they fear it will be too difficult or stressful for them, according to a Petgevity survey.
Crowding was the biggest concern, cited by 56%, followed by noise (34%) and a lack of somewhere for their dog to sit comfortably (25%).
And as dogs grow older, their horizons can gradually become smaller. Almost one in five owners (19%) said a slower walking pace was the first sign they noticed of their pet ageing.
Gandy said:
“Dora acts like a young dog but it’s on my mind what support she may need as the years go on. I know there’ll be owners of senior dogs across the UK who are thinking the same.
“As dogs get older, they can suffer from worsening eyesight or hearing and need a little more time, support and space.
“By having the bow ties out and about, I hope it will encourage people to be just as understanding of age-related health changes in dogs as they are with humans.”
That understanding may be particularly important because ageing is not always obvious from the outside.
Around one in five (18%) senior dog owners surveyed said they felt judged while out with their pet, while 22% worried that other people thought their dog was badly behaved when it was actually showing signs of ageing.
Petgevity vet Dr Emma Chandley says several age-related conditions can influence how dogs behave and respond to the world around them.
“Vision loss can be hard to spot because dogs compensate with hearing and smell. It can make it difficult for dogs to judge step height and distances, so they tend to hesitate and be generally more cautious. Short-sighted dogs need space and it’s best to avoid approaching or touching them unexpectedly.”
Arthritis can make something as ordinary as a bus journey unexpectedly difficult.
“Arthritis is extremely common in senior dogs. Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) estimates it affects around 35% of dogs overall, rising to approximately 80% of dogs over 8 years of age. Getting up, balancing as a bus or train moves, for example, and negotiating steps can all be difficult, so please allow a dog more time no matter how much of a rush you’re in.”
Cognitive decline can also change the way an older dog experiences busy surroundings.
“Canine dementia can begin from around 6 to 8 years. Public transport exposes dogs to all different sounds, smells and movement. Dogs may struggle to process these changes and become restless – don’t dismiss this as being fussy or annoying. Avoid speaking loudly on the phone as this can distress them.”
Yet distinguishing ageing from ‘bad behaviour’ is not always easy. Nearly two in five owners surveyed (37%) admitted having mistaken signs of ageing for behavioural problems, most commonly grumpiness, which Dr Chandley warns is “worth seeing a vet for”.
Petgevity data also suggests that half (51%) of UK dogs develop a lifelong health issue by the age of four.
What the survey makes particularly clear, however, is how far owners will go to look after their dogs as they age.
One in five (20%) said they love their dog more in later life than when they were younger. Almost a third (30%) have used money earmarked for something else to pay for their senior dog’s care, while 21% have adapted their homes with ramps or orthopaedic beds. Another 18% have cancelled or postponed a holiday to stay with their dog.
The limited-edition bow tie, complete with matching collar, was designed to give those dogs a little voice of their own. Rather than labelling older dogs as ‘doddery’, the campaign deliberately presents them as distinguished members of canine society who might simply appreciate the rest of us slowing down for a moment.
Bus company Arriva has also backed the initiative, with its drivers having “committed to supporting owners and their senior dogs on routes in whichever way they can.”
Kerry Willecome, Head of Marketing at Petgevity, said:
“We’re really pleased to have worked with David on this limited-edition bow tie and to raise awareness of senior dogs’ needs. They give so much to us, often subtly adapting amid age-related health challenges. This bow tie, with its distinct pattern, does the talking for them, earning the respect they deserve wherever they go.”
The bow ties may have been limited edition, but the message behind them deserves a rather longer life: an older dog walking slowly, stopping unexpectedly or asking for a little more room is not necessarily being difficult.
Sometimes, they are simply getting older. And a little patience costs nothing.
