How to care for an adopted senior dog when you've only had farm dogs
Transitioning from independent outdoor farm dogs to an affectionate older indoor dog creates challenges in meeting new daily needs, such as managing an unfamiliar diet or addressing hygiene like a greasy coat without stressful baths. These gaps in experience leave new owners guessing how to properly support a senior dog's health and comfort.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 42.3× more often in r/dogs than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Cutting back food portionsDid this help you?
- 2Taking short, easy walksDid this help you?
- 3Using unscented gentle pet wipesDid this help you?
- 4Brushing the cat as frequently as toleratedDid this help you?
- 5Using a damp microfiber cloth wipe downDid this help you?
- 6Keeping eyes on the dog at all timesDid this help you?
- 7Tethering the dog to the owner's belt loopDid this help you?
- 8Using a crate when direct supervision is impossibleDid this help you?
- 9Throwing a celebratory party with praise and treats immediately outsideDid this help you?
- 10Taking the dog outside every two hours and directly after meals with a specific commandDid this help you?
- 11Veterinary checkupsDid this help you?
- 12Administering pain medicationDid this help you?
- 13Observing and attributing changes to old age habitsDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“She goes to the bathroom in the house most of the time.”source ↗
“I've tried everything on Google that I can find.”source ↗
“She will still go in the house 30 minutes later.”source ↗
“My Belgium Sheppard cross Black Labrador is now a few months off being 14 years old. In the last few months, his vision has definitely started to leave him, to the point he doesnt recognise his own shadow and barks at it.”source ↗
“Today he spent all day in the kennel we bought for him as a puppy. He hasnt so much as acknowledged its existence in maybe 5 years.”source ↗
“Has anyone else had something like this?”source ↗
“Hello all, i adopted my first dog today.”source ↗
“Anyadvice for caring for an older pup is welcome, had dogs as a kid and teen but they were farm dogs and kinda roamed and did their own thing.”source ↗
“Any advice caring for a sweet old girl who is all loving and sweet and kind is welcome.”source ↗
“I've tried that one, and she doesn't care. She may pee, but then she'll poop in the house.”source ↗