Our Ayla is getting up there in age, and will be 10 this coming February. Although she’s still as wily as ever and she’ll still steal a plate of a food right out from under your nose. But she doesn’t seem to hear or see as well as she did a year ago now. And she’s not as interested in taking long walks or socializing with puppies – so we can certainly tell she’s entered her senior years.

If you have a senior dog who is entering her golden years, you may need to try a few new strategies to keep her comfortable and carefree. Here are four tips to keep her happy so you can enjoy every remaining year with  your furry friends.

Keep Your House Organized

Many dogs start to lose their vision as they enter their golden years. This can make it difficult for them to get around the house. Depending on how bad their vision gets, they may even have difficulty finding their food and water bowls.

Keeping your house organized will make life easier for your dog. She might not be able to see very well, but she has a kind of mental floor plan in her mind. If you make any big changes to your house, like moving furniture, she may feel lost and insecure.

Put a Sweater on That Pooch

Dogs are naturally warmer than humans. Most of them have body temperatures between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. This usually means that adult dogs can withstand cold temperatures without feeling uncomfortable.

Older dogs, however, get colder more easily than those in their prime. They may start to shiver even when you don’t feel cold. Help your dog stay warm with one of the following options:

• Sweaters
• Extra blankets
• Hot water bottles

If your dog spends most of her time outside, then you may want to start bringing her indoors on chilly nights.

Take Her for Walks

Your dog’s joints may start to ache as she gets older. Like a lot of people, your dog may respond to the pain by becoming inactive. Sitting around the couch all day, however, is not going to solve the problem. In fact, it could make the problem much worse.

It may seem counterintuitive, but taking your elderly dog for walks could actually make her joints feel better. You should take some precautions before starting a new exercise program for your dog. It’s always a good idea to consult your dog’s veterinarian to make sure she doesn’t have any health problems that could make exercise dangerous. A service like Kuddly can give you low-cost, 24-hour access to vets who can help you shape an exercise program.

You should also:

• Give your dog enough time to sniff during walks.
• Limit vigorous exercise to 15 to 30 minutes.
• Watch for panting and other signs that she’s overexerting herself.
• Add a cooldown period to the end of exercise.

If your dog can’t participate in long walks, consider other low-impact exercises. You may even want to introduce your dog to swimming or hydrotherapy.

Teach Her New Tricks

The saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” has been proven wrong time and time again. You can and should continue training your dog throughout her life.

Training is more than just behavior modification. Learning commands will help keep your dog’s brain active so her mind remains nimble as she ages. Training is also a good way for you and your dog to bond. She will love getting treats, pets, and rewards for following commands, especially if you have been training her for years. Many dogs find this very satisfying.

If these tips don’t make your dog more comfortable, then you may want to contact a vet for advice that’s specific to her needs or medical condition.