02/16/2026
Do you have a senior dog? This article offers great advice regarding keeping them safe from getting lost.
The question we get asked the most is undoubtedly “what lost dogs do you get called out to the most, is it dogs falling over the cliff edge?”
Cornwall does sadly lose hundreds of dogs over the cliff edge, however we don’t often get called to these jobs. The dogs often aren’t lost, they can either be rescued by Coastguard teams or they sadly can’t.
After analysing nearly 300 callouts one demographic really stands out: Elderly, blind, dementia suffering dogs. Getting lost from their own rural garden/farm.
We’ve been called to a large number of missing dog cases where the dog was one minute wandering around their garden or farm and then after some time it was noticed that the dog had not been seen for a bit. Then there is panic, because at that point it hits, my dog is incredibly vulnerable and anything could have happened.
Age can creep up over time to the extent that we don’t really notice the change in our dogs behaviour or their slow deterioration of senses and mobility immediately. However we do notice the subtle changes, no longer doing the big walk, bumping into things, stumbling about, barking at nothing in particular.
Take a few minutes to assess your aging dog.
🐾 Key Signs of Canine Blindness
Physical Eye Changes: Cloudiness, a white or blue haze, redness, swelling, or bulging.
Pupil Behavior: Pupils may appear large (dilated) and not respond to light
Navigational Difficulty: Bumping into walls, furniture, or doorframes.
Hesitance and Anxiety: Fear of navigating stairs, jumping off furniture, or exploring new, unfamiliar environments.
Reduced Activity/Confidence: No longer catching toys, finding food bowls, or playing.
Increased Startle Response: Being easily scared when approached or touched.
Facial Discomfort: Pawing at the eyes or rubbing their face on the floor/furniture.
Increased Dependency: Becoming more clingy, hesitant, or anxious
🐾 Key Signs of Canine Dementia (DISHA):
Disorientation: Getting lost in the house or garden, walking into walls, staring at walls, or standing in corners. Staring into space.
Interaction Changes: Becoming less interested in playing or being petted, or becoming unexpectedly aggressive or clingy
Sleep-Wake Cycles: Sleeping more during the day and being restless, pacing, or vocalizing (whining, howling) at night.
House-Soiling: Forgetting toilet training and going to the bathroom inside, often shortly after being outside.
Activity Levels: A decrease in energy, or conversely, aimless, repetitive pacing.
🐾 Additional Behavioral Indicators:
Anxiety: Increased fearfulness, separation anxiety, or irritability.
Memory Loss: Forgetting commands, or not recognizing familiar people or pets.
Appetite Changes: Suddenly eating less or, conversely, forgetting they have already eaten and constantly begging for food.
Speak to your vet about your own dog and your own concerns. But here is our advice with regards to managing a rural dogs activities to help keep them safe:
1) Think back to when they were a tiny puppy and how many dangers you saw.
2) Consider making changes to their outside access area, fence off a smaller safe area, supervise toilet trips at night.
3) Reduce the free access areas they can go into unsupervised and risk assess their environment.
4) Pay particular attention to water hazards and farm yards.
5) Consider removing collars at home to avoid snags.
6) Whilst on a walk consider keeping them on a lead now or walking in front of you. Regularly check on them if off-lead on a walk. Check they are getting over obstacles or water crossings ok.
7) If they can access a farm lane leading to a road consider fencing this off or removing the dogs access whilst unsupervised.
Just some of the places we have found elderly dogs includes:
🐾 Garden pond
🐾 Nearby river/ stream
🐾 Stuck in farm hay bales having fallen through
🐾 Wedged under outbuildings and vehicles
🐾 Hidden farm pit
🐾 Relatively small holes and ditches
🐾 Wandering aimlessly about lost a long way from home
Let's help keep them safe in their twilight years.
