Ask Emma — Advice and Paw-spective

Ask Emma — Advice and Paw-spective

By Emma the White Dog 🐾

Hello Saddlebag Notes friends! I’m Emma, your cheerful little white dog in SaddleBrooke. In this column, I share a dog’s-eye view on life by answering thoughtful questions with kindness, gentle humor, and a bit of tail-wagging wisdom.

You can follow more of my adventures and photos on my blog, Life With Emma in the Desert, at emmathewhitedog.com.

Ask Emma:

Do dogs get bored?

Oh yes. We absolutely do.

Dogs are curious creatures. Our brains like to be engaged, our noses like to work, and our hearts like to feel included. When days start to look exactly the same—same walk, same route, same chair, same view—we can get a little… flat.

Boredom in dogs doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it shows up as extra sleeping, restlessness, pacing, or suddenly finding very creative ways to entertain ourselves (like investigating shoes, cushions, or things we’ve ignored for years).

The good news? Preventing boredom doesn’t require big adventures. Small changes go a long way

• Varying walking routes, even slightly
• Letting us sniff more (that’s brain work for dogs!)
• Short play sessions or gentle training games
• New toys rotated in and out
• Simply spending time together—sitting counts

Most of all, dogs don’t want constant excitement. We want connection. A little novelty plus a lot of love keeps our tails happily wagging.

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Ask Emma:

At what age do dogs stop playing?

Here’s the honest answer:

We don’t—unless something hurts or no one invites us anymore.

Play changes as we age, but it doesn’t disappear. Puppies bounce. Young dogs race. Older dogs play smarter. We might prefer gentler games, shorter sessions, or more rest in between—but that playful spark is still there.

Some dogs slow down because of sore joints, arthritis, or stiffness. Others stop playing simply because humans assume we’re “too old” and stop offering. That makes me a little sad, because play isn’t just exercise—it’s joy.

For senior dogs, play might look like:

• A slow game of tug
• Rolling a ball instead of chasing it
• Gentle indoor games
• Playful interactions with favorite people

If a dog suddenly stops playing, it’s worth checking with a veterinarian to make sure everything feels okay. But if we’re healthy, trust me—we still love to play. We just like it served with dignity… and maybe a nap afterward.

If you have a question for me, I’d love to hear it. You can email me at emmathewhitedog@gmail.com and I just might answer in a future column.

With love and wagging optimism,

Emma 🐾