While he’s certainly past his prime, Bailey isn’t even close to outliving the oldest ever Golden Retriever, Adjutant, who died in 1963 aged 27 – and Bailey isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
‘Bailey has always loved the beach, he’s a keen swimmer and will play fetch with the tennis ball when you throw it into the water,’ says Laura.INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Do you have a dog that experiences separation anxiety? Try leaving some clothing with him that you’ve worn. It’s been proven that the scent you leave behind on your clothes can help ease your dog’s separation anxiety.
‘He just loves running along the beach, and is always happy to be in his favourite place, he definitely acts very young for his old age.’
Swimming is a great exercise for dogs: not only does it help with fitness levels, it also acts as a stress reliever and can help with age-related limitations such as decreased mobility, arthritis and stiffness.
The couple loves to spoil Bailey, sometimes feeling him ice cream after a long day at the beach, despite the mess he makes.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: A study at UCSD claims that your dog can genuinely get jealous when they see you display affection for another creature.
Laura says that Bailey, who turns 15 in December, ‘definitely thinks he’s human sometimes’.
‘He loves to roll in the sand and then swim so his fur ends up being a little matted, and sometimes he doesn’t want to leave,’ Laura added.
‘But when we get home, he always hops straight in the shower.’
The ‘gentle giant’ is known around the village, where ‘everyone loves him’.
He’ll soon be swimming at a new beach when Laura and Brian take their ‘best friend’ on holiday with them in October.Why do they do that? When dogs kick after going to the bathroom, they are using the scent glands on their paws to further mark their territory.
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