When Walks Become Hard: Alternatives to Keep Your Older Dog Active and Happy

If you’ve got a senior dog, you’ll know that mix of love and helplessness - remembering the days they could walk for miles, chase their toys, and zoom around the garden without a care in the world. When your best mate starts to slow down it can feel like the beginning of the end, but I’m here to tell you it’s not. Just because your older dog can’t go on long walks anymore, doesn’t mean they are now destined to lay around sleeping forever getting stiffer and slower. There are many things you can do with them to keep them happy and engaged, and in fact it’s good for them. 

80% of all dogs over the age of 8 have arthritis, in fact it’s one of the main causes of elective euthanasia. When arthritis sets in, you might notice your dog slowing down, hesitating to move, or even limping. It’s natural to want to let them rest, but studies show that inactivity can actually worsen the condition. Regular, gentle movement keeps their joints lubricated, improves circulation, eases inflammation, and strengthens the muscles that support those painful joints.

So how can we use simple ideas to get your senior dog moving without the strain of long walks? Scent-based games are the perfect solution. A dog’s sense of smell is their most powerful tool - they have over 100 million scent receptors, compared to around 5 million in humans. Since smell is how dogs explore and understand the world, engaging their nose provides both gentle physical activity and valuable mental stimulation. Here are 5 scent games you can start playing with your senior dog today:

1. Scatter Feeding - Instead of serving your dog’s dinner in a bowl, try scattering it instead. You can spread the food across the floor, hide it in a towel or bath mat, or even scatter it on the lawn. This encourages your dog to use their nose to sniff out every bite, keeping both their brain and body active. It also slows down mealtime, giving them a chance to get up and move around rather than wolfing down dinner and heading straight back to bed.

   
   

2. Cardboard Chaos - Use all those boxes you’ve got laying around and make a game for your dog! Fill a big box up with smaller cardboard boxes, egg cartons, toilet roll tubes, or scrunched up newspaper. Sprinkle your dog’s dinner or treats throughout the box. Shut it all up and let them at it! This is a fab game for seniors as it slows eating, requires problem solving, and builds confidence, all whilst getting them up and moving. You might find your dog rips the boxes apart, pushes it around until the treats fall out, or even gently remove one part at a time until they get the goods.

   
   

3. Treasure Hunt - Pop small treats or bits of dinner into boxes, egg cartons, cardboard tubes, or even rolled-up paper, and hide them around the house or garden. Let your dog go on a treasure hunt to sniff them out! This game keeps them moving, challenges their brain to help slow cognitive decline, and provides gentle exercise that’s easy on their aging body.

   
   

4. Towel Roll - Grab a towel, lay it out, and sprinkle dinner or treats along it. Roll or fold the towel and let your dog problem-solve their way to a tasty reward! For extra fun, get the whole family involved and create towel “animals” like the ones you see on hotel beds, tuck in some treats, and let your dog figure out how to unwrap them. The best towel creation wins… judged by your dog, of course!

Simple activities like these help keep your dog moving, which can reduce arthritis and ease the discomfort of achy joints that make long walks more challenging. Encouraging movement at mealtimes,  instead of letting them inhale their food, also helps your dog stay lean, which is crucial for joint health, as excess weight puts extra strain on sore joints and can speed up the development of arthritis. On top of that, games and activities that engage your dog’s brain are essential for keeping cognitive decline (also called doggy dementia) at bay. 

Don’t let age stop your dog from living their best life. The best piece of health advice for any senior dog is to make sure they’re moving in some way, big or small, every single day. Even gentle activities, short games, or scent-based challenges can keep their joints lubricated, muscles strong, and mind sharp. Remember, it’s not about long walks or high-energy exercise anymore; it’s about finding creative, fun ways to keep your dog active, engaged, and happy.

By incorporating these simple alternatives into your dog’s routine, you’re not only supporting their physical health but also enriching their world and strengthening the bond you share. So get sniffing, rolling, hiding, and hunting, because a happy, active senior dog is a healthy one, no matter their age! 

Join our free Facebook community of senior dog owners