“They Deserve More Than Just Old Age—They Deserve Joy”
– Helen St. Pierre on Senior Dog Care
Aging is inevitable—for us and our dogs. But what if we redefined what it means for our senior dogs to truly live in their final years? Helen St. Pierre, Executive Director of Old Dogs Go to Helen and owner of No Monkey Business Dog Training, is on a mission to change the way we think about senior dog care, quality of life, and the hard decisions that come at the end. In her presentation Navigating the Golden Years – Essential Care for Senior Dogs, she shared invaluable insights on how we can ensure our old dogs experience not just longevity, but also joy, function, and purpose.
Spoiler Alert: Helen is not here to sugarcoat things. She believes in good deaths, hard conversations, and giving dogs the dignity they deserve in their final days.
“Senior Dogs Aren’t Just Old—They Have Needs, Too”
“Seniorhood is not a disease,” Helen reminds us. “Just because a dog is old doesn’t mean they should stop living.” Many pet parents assume that once a dog reaches a certain age, their needs diminish. But in reality, senior dogs still need purpose, joy, and enrichment—just in different ways than before.
One of Helen’s biggest pieces of advice? Create a “Senior Square”—a designated, easily accessible space where your aging dog can access food, water, rest, and enrichment without stress.
“A senior dog’s environment should be predictable, easy to navigate, and provide comfort,” she explains. “If they’re struggling with stairs, set them up in a space where they don’t need to go up and down all the time.”
Signs It’s Time: The Function, Purpose, and Joy Test
Helen uses three pillars to measure a senior dog’s quality of life:
- Function – Can they walk, eat, sleep, and eliminate comfortably?
- Purpose – Do they still engage in activities they enjoy?
- Joy – Are they still experiencing moments of true happiness?
She stresses that just because a dog is still eating and walking doesn’t necessarily mean they have a good quality of life.
“You could eat and walk today, but does that mean you had a good day?” Helen asks.
She shared a heartbreaking yet powerful example of Martha, a hospice dog with spinal cancer. One day, Martha was happily playing with other dogs. Just weeks later, she could barely walk down a ramp. Helen recognized that Martha’s function had completely deteriorated, and it was time to give her a peaceful goodbye.
“When function starts impeding quality of life, that’s when we need to have the conversation,” she says.
“Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late”: The Power of a Planned Goodbye
One of the most difficult topics Helen tackled was euthanasia. While many pet owners struggle with when to make the call, she has a strong stance:
It is always better to say goodbye a day early than a day late.
“None of us are getting out of this alive,” she says bluntly. “We’re going to grieve either way. But what we can control is whether our dogs have a good death.”
Helen encourages pet owners to plan euthanasia before an emergency arises, ensuring their dog is comfortable, surrounded by loved ones, and experiencing joy on their final day.
“If you could choose your own death, wouldn’t you want to say goodbye on a good day? To eat your favorite food and feel no fear?”
Bringing in a Puppy? Read This First!
For those considering bringing a younger dog into a senior dog’s life, Helen has co-authored a new book:
Old Dog, New Dog: Supporting Your Aging Best Friend While Welcoming a New One
Helen and co-author Kathy Callahan tackle the challenges of balancing a new puppy while ensuring an older dog’s final years are happy and stress-free.
“Some senior dogs love having a younger companion. Others? Not so much,” Helen laughs. “Our book helps you navigate that transition and set up both dogs for success.”
“Let’s Stop Being Afraid to Talk About Death”
Death is hard, but avoiding the conversation only makes it worse—for both you and your dog.
Helen offers an online course, The Good Death, which dives deeper into navigating end-of-life decisions and coping with grief.
“Grief is inevitable, but we can prevent regret,” she says.
If you’re struggling with an aging pet, know this: you are not alone. There are resources, support groups, and experts like Helen who can guide you through the process.
Because, as Helen says, “Every dog deserves to live a full life—and a good death.”
Want More Support? Here’s How You Can Learn More:
- Pre-Order Helen’s Book: Old Dog, New Dog: Supporting Your Aging Best Friend and Welcoming a New One (Available June 2025)
- Take Helen’s Online Course: The Good Death (Proceeds go to Old Dogs Go to Helen)
- Join the Golden Dog Health & Wellness Support Group – sessions offered monthly March – December
