List of Simple Things That Make Senior Labrador Happy Has People in Tears

As we grow older, we all learn to appreciate the simple things in life and look forward to them. Things like a perfect cup of coffee, flipping through old pictures, curling up and reading a book on a rainy day, or even having a butterfly land on you and stay for a visit (that happened to me yesterday). Dogs are the same way, and Good Boy Ollie, a senior Labrador Retriever, appreciates the little things as you'll see in this video his paw-rents shared on Thursday, August 15th.

Ollie loves the wind in his ears, his favorite stuffed cow, and sun puddles (who doesn't?!) He loves ear rubs and snuggling up with mom. He can't get enough of bananas. Rainy days make him happy too. He deserves all of these things, and I hope he gets them as often as he likes!

Ollie proves that it really is the simple things that make life wonderful! He's such a good boy and I love seeing him so happy. Ollie's fans left more than 700 comments about the sweet video. @adelegaraghety swooned, "Aw, Ollie! Your good soul makes my day!" @Kara Marie agreed, "The goodest boy and a true worldwide treasure. Thank you for sharing him with us!" @clementine shared, "I could look at the video of the wind in his ears all day what a gentle soul is your Ollie."

Related: Senior Labrador Retriever Has the Sweetest Way of Greeting Mom at the Front Door

At What Age Do Dogs Become 'Senior' Dogs?

If you have had your dog since it was a puppy, you know how quickly time flies. As dogs age, they slow down and mellow out, much like us humans do. There's something so special about a senior dog. They have an air of wisdom about them and they're so gentle. You realize that they are getting older and won't be around forever, and you want to cherish the time that you know you have left with them.

The term 'senior dog' gets thrown around a lot. At what age does a dog become a 'senior'? Believe it or not, it actually depends on your pooch's weight. Dogs weighing 15 pounds or less become seniors at 11 years of age. Dogs weighing between 16 and 50 pounds are seniors at 9 years of age. Dogs weighing between 51 and 80 pounds are seniors at 8 years of age, and dogs weighing more than 80 pounds become seniors at 6 years of age. In short, the more they weigh the shorter their lifespans.

Dogs age slowly, just as we do. As your dog ages you may notice your dog's muzzle will start turning grey. There may be some sensory decline as well as noticeable cognitive changes. These changes usually occur gradually, and many dogs are good at hiding signs of pain or vulnerability. You know your dog best and can spot behavior changes so pay attention. Once your dog hits their senior years, routine wellness checks and bloodwork become important so that you can monitor for health-related issues that may be treatable.  Keep an eye on them, they'll need you even more the older that they get!

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