We’d been coming to Bend for five years before we took the plunge and moved with our senior dog, Taylor. Our traditional way to hit town was with Taylor’s annual belly flop into the Deschutes at Riverbend Park. I have five years’ worth of pictures that all look exactly the same: Taylor. Ball. River.
But Father Time has a way of catching up to us all. At 13.5 glorious years, Taylor is now considered a senior dog. He can’t quite dive into Bend with the same gusto.
But fear not, senior dogs, because America’s favorite dogtown has GOT YOU!
There are countless places to go, areas to sniff, and treats to be had in the paradise that is Bend. We can find a little slice of heaven every day here for our older angel in fur.
There are so many dog parks around town––many of them walking distance from our home on the West Side, and even more a short drive away. Here are a few of our faves for a senior dog.
Getting in the Car with Your Senior Dog
We hop in and out of the car with ease since we found these soft, fabric-covered Animals Matter stairs.
Yes, they are somewhat pricey, but at about 12 years old, Taylor started rejecting his ramp.
We were spending 15-20 minutes every time we wanted to go somewhere, trying to coax him in and out of the car. Treats, songs, demonstrations — none of it really worked reliably.
It finally dawned on us that the ramp was causing him joint pain (yeah, we’re slow).
After a long search, we found these stairs, and they were a godsend!
He ascends and descends them with ease, so we use them for getting in and out of the car and getting in and out of our bed (which, you guessed it, he hogs).
Animals Matter is a great company that really cares about orthopedic issues with pets; they’re worth a look if you have a senior or disabled dog.
Our Favorite Parks for Our Senior Dog
Once we’re in the car, we might head to Good Dog!, Sawyer Park, Hillside Park, Shevlin Park, or Phil’s Trail.
Good Dog! is definitely Taylor’s favorite; if you’re from the Bay Area, you’ll understand why we’ve dubbed it the Fort Funston of Bend.
We also love hitting nearby Overturf Butte Park from the Cascade Highlands trail above it. This is one of many wonderful urban trails that go through the neighborhoods of Bend and wind through beautiful forest preserve lands. Discovering all these little trails has been one of the highlights of moving here.
Swimming (er, Wading)
When Taylor wants to get his paws wet, we forego the belly flops and head to the small beach at McKay Park.
This small sandy beach provides easy river access.
He also enjoys Farewell Bend Park, which has a huge grassy area and also offers easy river access for a senior dog to enter.
Easy Lakes and Waterfalls for Your Senior Dog
If you’re up for a longer drive, Taylor also loves to take in Tumalo Falls, Sahalie Falls or Sparks Lake. He really comes alive hiking these natural wonderlands with us.
No doubt he recognizes the beauty and appreciates all the smells.
Don’t Sleep on Neighborhood Parks
There are also tons of Neighborhood parks we don’t have to drive to, like Columbia Park, right down the street, which has a big grassy area, lots of people, and a dog water fountain.
Behind the park, the paved road leads to another breathtaking bridge over the Deschutes where you’ll want to stop for a pic. Once you’re beyond it, you can either head right, walking down the river to Old Mill, or head left and hit up Drake Park.
Drake is a good one-mile stroll for us, so we’re hitting our limits on distance for our senior dog. But once on the other side, you can enjoy some outdoor music at The Commons or Bend Brewing Company. Make sure your pooch gets photographed for the Dogs of BBC insta!
Forever Young
We know we’ve traveled a bit too far if Taylor starts dragging his left hind leg a bit, so we try to turn around before this happens.
But we’ve also found, since moving here, that Chinese Herbs can give him some of his youthful vigor back. Thanks to Four Paws Wellness for introducing us to these and to the wonders of acupuncture for senior dogs!
In future posts, we’ll share more on that, plus other tips for keeping Taylor so young and vibrant, as well as some of the amazing service providers in Bend who’ve helped us along the way.
Author: Chelsea Hardaway
Chelsea is a lifelong dog owner and passionate advocate for raw feeding, holistic care, and off-leash dog walking. She currently answers to Taylor, a 13-year-old, tall, dark and handsome Golden Retriever, who is busy defying his age, melting hearts, and making friends on the streets of Bend.