Hi everyone,

My border collie is almost 11 years old, she is a perfectly happy and healthy pooch (She had a check over at the vets, and got a clean bill of health)

In her earlier years, she would exercise non-stop, out for a walk 5 or 6 times a day and bombing around the garden for 1-2 hours daily (She was seriously crackers )

Over the last 6 months she has become an awful lot lazier, - dramatically so! On her walks now she will just stroll down the road, have a good sniff for 5 minutes and then she wants to go back home, we don't get any further than 5 minutes from the door. We still do this about 4 or 5 times a day, and she is perfectly happy with it, I've tried to encourage her to go further, but she doesn't want to. She doesn't ask to play in the garden much any more either.

She sleeps like a log from 6pm now, after just a little bit of exercise.

In herself she seems perfectly happy like she always has been, good appetite and happy dog. I'm just shocked at just how dramatically her exercise needs have dropped, is this normal for an older border collie, or should I be worried in anyway at all?

Thank you

This is absolutely completely and utterly normal. Some dogs will remain super active for much longer than others, but generally, it's only normal for them to slow down greatly as they get older. My 7 year old is much sleepier and happy to skip walks these days.

So as long as she's healthy, nothing to worry about

Our boy is 12 and he sleeps about 20 hours a day but he's done that since he was about 2 years old so he always been a lazy moose.

Seriously it's normal, they do slow down as they get older, and they will exercise as much or as little as they want. Just make sure she doesn't start putting weight on, if she does then adjust her food portion size, and if she starts showing signs of stiffness then give her some glucosamine. We give ours a joint care stick every morning and doesn't seem to be doing him any harm.

I love the oldies when they slow down and stop to smell the plants and flowers, one thing can help is take them on different more exciting walks, but not everyday they would get too tired. Our late oldies always perked up if we went somewhere different but then took a couple of days to get over it.

Maybe have you vet check her for arthritis, that'll slow them down pretty fast and there are lots of meds and supplements that are effective.

But you know, older creatures do slow down, it'll come to us all.

My border collie is over 15. Due to poor liver health a vet told me she would be dead in 3 - 6 months. That was over 2 years ago! She has a good quality of life and her energy still surprises strangers when we are out and about. I was chuffed when a farmer recently asked me if she was a working dog! But she will also sleep for long periods.
Others with collies have told me that they tend to go full pelt at life then suddenly slow down at around 14/15.
11 isn't old for a border collie and I think it is young for a collie to slow down. I wouid have other checks done. Vets aren't infallible. Assume you have done a full blood panel, checked for thyroid etc?
Interesting discussion about longevity here.
http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/i...howtopic=34292

My wee lass is the same age, she has good days and bad days, we both do she's got arthritis and now so have I. Her bad days are rough though, I've had to give her a wee help up the other day quite tough to do when your in a wheelchair, she may be slow but she still enjoys life and is cheeky.

I think that is key, if she's still happy and not suffering, She could be sore though. 11 is quite old for a dog, my lass has got some grey hair

I've noticed that too, take her somewhere different, I got usually go further a field with her in the car, She'll lie down for most of the drive, then see she's somewhere different I watch her in the mirror, the facial expression is brilliant "OOHHH where are we"

I've had Tanna at a couple of dogs trust events and she was much more alive, until the day after, I got the " Aw Jesus will you just sod off and leave me"