Play, whether it be social or with toys on their own, is purposeful and benefits the animal. There is a disproportionate amount of studies on play in younger dogs compared to senior dogs. It is unclear why research on play behaviour in senior dogs is limited and why play behaviour apparently declines with age. Further studies are certainly warranted, since play could offer many benefits for senior dogs and improve their quality of life. This article offers hypotheses into the apparent decline in play with ageing. In addition, the article proposes that continuation of play throughout the life stages and into senior years could be beneficial for the dog in multiple ways.

Catherine Tomlinson -