A Day at Our Senior Dog Home

Today, I'd like to introduce a typical day at our senior dog home.
Our day begins before sunrise. Although our schedule varies depending on the season, we usually start around 5 a.m. While it's still dark outside, I hear the senior dogs barking from the kennel.
I go to the kennel, and when I take off the diaper, it is often full of urine and feces from overnight. I take it off, saying, "That must have been uncomfortable," and then take the dogs to the yard.
For the dogs who need wheelchairs, I put them in their wheelchairs and give them plenty of water.
Sometimes, the diaper slips off while they are walking around the kennel because of dementia. Their feces leak out, and they step on it, making the kennel dirty. On mornings like that, I can't help sighing. My day starts by cleaning everything—the kennel, the blankets, and the senior dogs themselves.
After everything is clean, they enjoy the fresh air outside. They feel the breeze, sniff the grass and the soil, walk slowly, and spend the morning at their own pace.

Some of them can eat by themselves, while others need help. When they can't eat on their own, I gently support their chin and bring a soft spoon to their mouth little by little.For senior dogs, eating is what keeps them alive.
I feel relieved when they swallow their food well.
But when they spit it out, I worry all day and wonder if they aren't feeling well today.
After breakfast, most senior dogs fall asleep as if they feel relieved. When they wake up, they start barking again.

On nice days, they spend as much time as possible in the yard. It is very important for them to relax in the sunshine with other dogs. Even though they lose their eyesight or hearing, they can still sense the presence of other dogs.I feel that being with other dogs gives them both physical and emotional stimulation.

Senior dogs usually eat three meals a day and take another nap after lunch. When they wake up, we give them water or snacks, change the body position of bedridden dogs, or let them rest outside in the shade. This is how they spend the afternoon. After dinner, we continue to watch over them until bedtime at 9 p.m.

I adjust the temperature and humidity in the kennel according to the season. In winter, I use an air purifier and a humidifier. I keep their hindquarters clean every day, wipe their whole body every other day, and shampoo their hindquarters once a month. Even so, when I open the kennel door in the morning, I can still smell the unique scent of senior dogs. That's why keeping the kennel clean is one of my most important daily jobs.

Dogs with dementia sometimes keep barking. I often wonder when they sleep. They may want to walk. They may be thirsty. They may be hungry. They may be in pain. Often, I simply don't know why they're barking. so it's not easy to stop their barkin However, I have noticed something interesting.When they spend time in the yard with other dogs, they tend to bark less. I believe dogs feel more at ease when they are in nature with their friends. That's why I want to give them as much time as possible to enjoy the fresh air with their friends and spend their days in a peaceful, calm environment.

I believe that this is one of the most important roles of our senior dog home.