Former Gloucestershire resident, model, menswear designer, and University of Gloucestershire alumni, David Gandy, has teamed up with insurer Petgevity to create a new bow tie especially for senior dogs – and owners can get one for free.
Like a 'baby on board' badge, the new bow tie is designed to let people in busy areas, such as on public transport, know that the dog needs more space, time, and patience due to their age.
According to a survey conducted by Ripple Research, over a third of senior dog owners in the south west avoid busy places because they're concerned it will be too difficult or stressful for their pet, with their main concerns being crowding, noise and having nowhere for their dog to sit comfortably.
It also found that 20 per cent of south west senior dog owners say people have been impatient with their dog while out and about – higher than the UK average of 16 per cent – and one in six owners feel judged while out with their senior dog, with common signs of ageing often being misconstrued as bad behaviour.
David, who has a nine-year-old mixed terrier dog named Dora who he adopted as a puppy, said: 'Dora acts like a young dog but it’s on my mind what support she may need as the years go on. I know there'll be owners of senior dogs across the UK who are thinking the same.
'As dogs get older, they can suffer from worsening eyesight or hearing and need a little more time, support and space.
'By having the bow ties out and about, I hope it will encourage people to be just as understanding of age-related health changes in dogs as they are with humans.'
According to vet Dr Emma Chandley, who works with Petgevity, conditions which can affect older dogs' behaviour include vision loss, which can make them more hesitant and cautious, so they need space and not to be touched unexpectedly; arthritis, which makes things like balancing in a moving vehicle and negotiating steps more difficult; and canine dementia, which can mean dogs struggle with changes in sounds, smells and movement.
But even owners can mistake these common signs of ageing for bad behaviour or grumpiness.
The new bow tie design, which also has a matching collar available, helps provide a signal to the public to be compassionate and make space for senior dogs – and it's already being embraced, with bus company Arriva saying its drivers have 'committed to supporting owners and their senior dogs on routes in whichever way they can.'
The limited edition bow ties are available for free from Petgevity's website while stocks last.
