Ever hear of a mid-life crisis? As humans, during our mid-life (typically 40-60), many people experience emotional turmoil that leads them to question their identity, life choices and morality. This turmoil can cause people to have a drastic shift in their behavior and decision making. But, how different are dog’s brains and does aging impact their decision making and behavior? If you’re noticing some changes in your middle-aged dog, you might wonder: Can dogs have a midlife crisis?
The answer may surprise you!
Dogs CAN Experience a Midlife Crisis: A New Study Reveals
According to an Austrian study from 2020, dogs (or at least Border Collies) can have a midlife crisis. However, it looks a bit different than what we see in humans. Our pups can’t move cross-country or splurge on an expensive car, but they do seem to get bored and lose some of that puppy excitement when it comes to exploring new things.
The study followed over 200 Border Collies from the ages of six months to 15 years to find out at what age their personalities changed the most. They found that novelty-seeking remained the same until around middle age, or three to six years old. After which, it continued to decrease steadily.
The study also tested each dog’s problem orientation, or their approach to problem-solving. Problem orientation increased in the dogs until around middle age, when their progress became stagnant. While the study didn’t observe a trend of cognitive decline in senior dogs, the researchers also acknowledged that their tests may not have been difficult enough to showcase this.
Lastly, the study found that beyond six years old, a dog’s personality is mostly constant. Earlier in life, especially during puppyhood, we tend to see larger shifts in behavior.
Can All Breeds Have a Midlife Crisis?
While the findings of the study may be true for all breeds, we don’t know for sure. There simply isn’t enough data. We would need repeat studies focusing on not just Border Collies, but a wide range of dog breeds.
For instance, smaller dogs tend to live longer lives, and this may affect the timing of their “midlife crisis.” The same goes for giant breeds, who are much slower to develop during puppyhood.
Science is constantly helping us to learn new things about our pets, but just as exciting as what we do know are all the things yet to be answered.
How to Make Mid-Life More Exciting for Your Pup
There are several ways that we can make the middle of our dog’s lives more exciting so that they’re less likely to get into a slump or a midlife crisis.
Re-Evaluate Your Routines
When you adopt a new puppy, everything feels fresh and new. You’re excited to walk and play with them every day. Often, this age is when we spend the most time with our dogs.
By the middle of our dogs’ lives, we may be going through their daily routine on auto-pilot. Maybe you’ve even stopped some of the things that your dog needs or wants to do each day, such as their daily walk or regular training sessions.
Before looking to add extras, make sure you have a good foundation including all of the basics: a balanced diet, daily exercise and mental enrichment, and plenty of attention in whatever form your dog prefers (whether it be cuddles on the couch or a game of fetch).
While you’re looking at your daily routine, you can also adjust it to better match your lifestyle today. Dogs don’t tend to like huge changes to their routine, but it’s okay to switch things around occasionally to better suit both of your needs.
Encourage Them to Try New Things
There are so many things in this world to explore! You can keep your dog engaged by encouraging them to try new things, especially related to the things they already like. Here are some ideas:
- Learn new tricks
- Try a variety of dog-safe fruits or vegetables
- Walk in new places
- Play different games
- Explore an entirely new hobby, such as hiking or a dog sport
What works best for your dog will depend on their age, abilities, and preferences. A senior couch potato might become irritated if you bring them to a hiking trail, but might love trying new foods. Your dog who’s never been very food motivated may prefer to spend more time training and learning new cues.
You know your dog best and can surely think of an activity tailored to them. Another helpful tip for mental enrichment? Keep your dog’s breed and related instincts in mind. Your Collie may enjoy a herding ball, while your Beagle will likely love scent games, and you can always engage a Labrador with food!
Get Excited!
If you’re just going through the motions caring for your dog day-to-day, try finding things that will make you more excited about dog ownership. Maybe it’s taking on a new dog-related hobby, such as hiking, dog training, or pet photography. Or you could do something simple, like taking a new route during your daily walk or baking some dog treats.
Your excitement may wear off on your dog, making their life feel more exciting as well. It can also inspire you to continue finding new, fun activities for the two of you to participate in.
How Much Change is Normal?
Even with the best care possible, it’s normal for our dogs to change as they age. Senior dogs tend to be less excitable than puppies, just as humans naturally change from toddlerhood to adulthood.
While some of this can be attributed to a midlife crisis or simply slowing down in old age, it’s always good to be aware of other possibilities. If your dog’s personality changes suddenly or they seem unusually disinterested in life, it may indicate a health problem.
This is why it’s important to keep up with annual check-ups, especially for older dogs. You should also bring your dog to the veterinarian if they aren’t acting like themselves, especially if the change came on suddenly.
Final Thoughts
Dogs have personality changes throughout their lifetimes, similarly to humans. We’re constantly learning more about their brains, though it’s somewhat difficult for a species that can’t speak human language!
While dogs can go through a midlife crisis, it’s still important to engage their minds at all stages of life and to see a veterinarian if you notice any large-scale changes in your dog’s personality, including disinterest in things that they used to enjoy.