The Dogs Most Likely to Show Mental Decline with Age

Our dogs are often the most important part of our lives. We raise them from when they are young, give them a name and identity, and make sure they are fed and bathed. It is almost like raising your own child.

In return, your dog will protect you, if it can, and also be a companion and emotional support. We take as much care as we can of our dogs because we want them to live long, happy, and healthy lives.

However, just like humans, dogs also demonstrate a certain level of mental decline. The symptoms of mental decline in dogs can often be memory loss, reduced social interaction, inability to recognize familiar faces, and an erratic sleep schedule. Alzheimer’s is often considered the most severe form of mental decline that a human being can suffer from. The equivalent in dogs is known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction or CCD.

Let us see what breeds are most likely to show mental decline as they age. Some of these are common companions that millions of households have worldwide.

German Shepherds

The German Shepherd is often considered the most well-rounded breed in the world. It is a great breed if you’re looking for a pet companion, protection, and it has a long lifespan. To make sure a German Shepherd is physically and mentally healthy, you must first ensure that the dog has enough space to run around and stretch its legs.

German shepherds are not bred to be kept sedentary or in a closed space. They need regular exercise, specifically walking. If your German Shepherd is deprived of regular exercise, it will begin to fall into a state of depression. Similar to how humans suffer from depression, dogs also find it hard to do the things they once did effortlessly. If left untreated, this can progressively impair them mentally and in turn, physically.

German Shepherds, as the name suggests, were bred to shepherd cattle and protect farmland. They have a sharp sense of smell, incredible agility, superior intellect, and a constant need to run around. Similar to humans, dogs also have the need to be mentally and physically active. When they don’t get it, there is a detrimental impact on the physical and mental health of the dog.

Border Collies

Border collies are high-energy dogs that thrive when given enough space to stretch their legs and run around (maybe even chase some squirrels). They are also one of the most intelligent breeds out there, known to display superior intellect, and are considered people-dogs.

When a border collie is kept indoors and secluded from people for too long, it starts suffering from severe separation anxiety.

If this is not treated or a remedy is not found for the problem, over time the dog’s mental state will diminish, and they will start suffering bouts of depression. A depressed dog is not as active as it should be, and a dog that isn’t active is a dog that is destined to get sick very fast.

Rarely has anyone ever seen a border collie sitting inside or lounging in a bedroom. You will always see them zooming here and there, making sure they don’t have any stiff or sore muscles from sitting around. As humans, we might not understand the importance of allowing your dog to get the necessary physical exercise. Failure to do so has an almost domino effect on their health, which will lead to one ailment after the other.

Cocker Spaniels

The cocker spaniel has been a staple in the world of game-hunting for decades. This dog breed has been bred and conditioned to live an active lifestyle, retrieving downed game, running in the open, and getting itself wet.

Often, cocker spaniels are kept in groups to maximize the utility that they offer as a breed. Moreover, they are also a breed that is known to be incredibly affectionate and gentle with humans. As a result of this, cocker spaniels are known to develop anxiety and depression when they aren’t given a conducive environment.

Ideally, a cocker spaniel would run around all the time, but if that isn’t possible, they must be kept on a defined regime. This regime would allow them to remain physically active around people and eventually maintain a proper mental balance.

Labrador Retrievers.

The Labrador retriever is one of the friendliest breeds in the entire world. Most people consider the labrador retriever to be the ideal family dog because of how gentle it is with children. They have all the love in the world to give, and if you have a ball to play fetch with them, it’s safe to say you’re going to get a lot of love and affection from them.

Having spent many generations being the playful companion of human beings, labradors are instinctively used to being in an environment where they can run free, play with people, and have an active life. When Labrador retrievers are put in an environment where they are deprived of exercise and people to interact with, they begin suffering from separation anxiety, and eventually, depression.

They need an ample amount of exercise and play to remain healthy, mentally and physically. Both of these work in tandem, so a physically healthy dog is also a mentally healthy dog.

Final Thoughts

Mental illness is a horrible ailment to suffer from regardless of whether you are human or animal. Dogs do not require as much effort to be kept mentally healthy. They need their exercise, love, and playtime. If you give them that, they will surely have little to complain about.