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Do dogs go slower as they get older?

13 replies

Socre383 · 01/08/2020 18:08

Our pup is 10 months old. He seems to do everything at a million miles an hour. If I opened the front door and he got out he’d be running up and down the drive. I’ve just been to a friends house and her dog (age 2 same breed) just came pottering out-no urgency.

We were down by the river yesterday and he was running around like a loon while other dogs were just mooching about or sitting on the grass.

Is this his age or his personality?

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BiteyShark · 01/08/2020 18:14

Mine is 4 this year and he's slower than he was as a puppy.

However, he's a WCS so his slower is still fast Grin

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GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 01/08/2020 20:25

Yep. I have had three dogs in succession chill out a bit at around 3, and be quite nice after that. Depending on breed, they slow down noticeably somewhere between about 9 and 11 and potter more on walks.

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Socre383 · 01/08/2020 20:41

That’s music to my ears! I was watching the other dogs and thinking that I wish pup would just move slower! He has to run at full speed the second he’s off the lead. He’s lovely at the end of a walk. I often think he needs a walk before his walk!

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Gingerninja4 · 01/08/2020 20:42

Yes I thought my boy always be a loo .chilled out more around 2 .Now at nearly 6 lot more laid back .

Though in new forest other day playing in stream you thought he was about 1 .Typical lab show them water and they turbo charged

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JoeCalFuckingZaghe · 01/08/2020 20:46

Haha this is music to my ears too. I can’t keep up with our 9 month old, he’s absolutely barmy.

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Borderstotheleftofme · 01/08/2020 22:43

Yeah I’m definately noticing my older girl slowing down on walks bless her.
She definitely doesn’t have the same stamina anymore

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Evilwasps · 01/08/2020 22:51

Yes they do. I've just lost one of my terriers. He didn't properly slow down until he was about 13, but he got less manic as he matured

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pigsDOfly · 02/08/2020 00:54

My dog is 9 and sometimes she look really 'ploddy' when out on walks and she can look quite old ladyish. Other times her tail's up and she's trotting along like a pony.

She still does zoomies sometimes when we get home and still likes to run for her ball in the park from time to time but not every day as she did when she was younger.

The lovely thing about an older dog, well mine at least, is that we communicate much better, lots of meaningful eye contact and she understands a lot more words.

She'll tell me when she wants to go home when we're on a walk by sitting down and staring at me in a particular way. As soon as I say, 'shall we go home' she jumps up and heads for home.

She still gets very excited about walks and still does her excited bark when we're about to leave the garden but walks are a lot shorter and saner.

Puppies are cute and fun but an older dog that you've lived with and know well is a joy in an entirely different and special way.

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MaddeningtheUnhelpful · 02/08/2020 01:00

Every dog I've ever owned does slow yes. Spaniels, however, are the exception... my pupper is 6 now and is still bonkers and travels everywhere at 100mph...

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Lonecatwithkitten · 02/08/2020 01:34

10 years old still a loon, often meet people on a walk and they say 'oh still a puppy is he no sadly not'. Fortunately no interest in people or other dogs just running lots and lots of running. First in the queue for running, last for brains - love him to bits.

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 02/08/2020 06:56

4 yo JRT cross. Came to me as an adolescent but he's certainly become less manic and everyone survives even if I don't have time for two hours of walkies

Still does zoomies though (which I love), and he'll still play with other dogs though over time a higher proportion have received a polite sniff and move on and he'll get into fewer games of rough and tumble (which I find a little sad, but that's up to him!)

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Bigsighall · 02/08/2020 08:38

Depends on the breed. I have spaniels so ime, no!

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Clymene · 02/08/2020 08:51

Mine is 5 and he's still a pingy loon. I had very much hoped he'd slow down a bit but he hasn't

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