For dogs over 8.
An 8-week, research-based protocol for senior dogs showing signs of cognitive change — the pacing, the staring, the 3 AM restlessness. Built from veterinary literature. Designed for the exhausted owner who refuses to be passive.
These are common signs of cognitive change in dogs aged 8 and older. We are not diagnosing your dog from a list — that is your veterinarian's role. But if you recognise several of them, this protocol is built for exactly the situation you are in.
That feeling — anticipatory grief — is well-documented in veterinary research on caregivers of senior dogs. You are not being dramatic. Your nervous system is doing something biologically real.
And there is something you can do about it.
A complete 8-week home protocol, structured as one weekly module at a time. Each week takes 30–35 minutes per day, distributed across three short sessions. There is also a Minimum Viable Day version (under 10 minutes total) for the harder days — and there will be harder days.
You do not need to be a trainer. You do not need expensive equipment. You do not need to medicate your dog. What you need is a consistent half-hour, a few household items, and the willingness to be present with your dog in a structured way for eight weeks.
A five-step sundowning protocol for the hours when most senior dogs unravel.
Daily nose work and puzzles that exercise the brain without exhausting the body.
The structure that lets your dog feel safe when their internal map starts to fade.
Rituals that rebuild bond through the channels that remain strongest in senior dogs.
When the evening protocol from Week 2 is followed consistently, owners often describe their nights as the first area where they sense things shifting — fewer wakings, less pacing, an easier wind-down.
We will not promise this for your dog. We will say: this is the most common place owners report seeing the protocol take effect. Calmer mornings, more confident interaction, sustained attention during enrichment — these tend to come later, week by week.
14–35%
of dogs over 8 develop signs of canine cognitive dysfunction.
Cornell University Riney Canine Health Center
A single PDF, structured as 8 weekly modules.
Plus the DISHAA self-assessment, weekly tracking templates, materials shopping list, severity-aware callouts for moderate-CDS dogs, vet conversation script, and full reference list.
"We will not promise to fix your dog. We will give you a protocol grounded in research, daily practices that respect your time and energy, and an honest framing of what the science supports and what it does not."
— from inside the protocol
$47
One-time payment · Lifetime access · Instant download
Get the Protocol Now30-day money-back guarantee. If for any reason this protocol does not work for you and your dog, contact us within 30 days for a full refund. No explanation required.
Optional add-on at checkout: the 14-track Sundowning Audio Pack (+$17), delivered within 7 days.
We don't know your dog. The research suggests that dogs receiving combined behavioral and dietary support over 8 weeks often show measurable improvements in cognitive tasks, sleep regulation, and social interaction — not all dogs, but a substantial subset. Some hold steady. Some continue to decline despite intervention. We have built the protocol so that whatever happens, you will have done meaningful work and learned what your dog responds to.
No. This is an educational and enrichment tool to help you support your dog and have informed conversations with your veterinarian. We do not diagnose, prescribe, or treat. If your dog has acute symptoms, please see a vet today — there is a clear list of those symptoms inside the protocol.
Yes — and please continue any treatment your vet has prescribed. The protocol is designed to work alongside veterinary care, not instead of it. Many of the practices in this protocol are exactly what veterinary behaviorists recommend as adjuncts to medication.
The "core" materials (snuffle mat, Kong, lick mat, nightlight) total under $40. You probably have most other items already (towels, ice tray, muffin tin, boxes). There is no required ongoing subscription.
Yes. The protocol is breed-neutral. Whether your dog is a Labrador, Border Collie, dachshund, mixed-breed rescue, or something else, the cognitive principles are the same.
The protocol includes a Minimum Viable Day version (under 10 minutes total, no preparation) for exactly that. Caregiving for a senior dog is a marathon. Marathons have walking miles. Doing the MVD on a hard day is far better than doing nothing — and it is part of the protocol, not a failure of it.
If it doesn't, please don't buy. We would rather have no sale than a refund, and we would rather have a customer who does the work than one who feels pressured.
Important: This protocol is an educational and enrichment tool for use by dog owners working with their licensed veterinarian. It is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. The DISHAA assessment is a self-assessment tool intended to help you communicate effectively with your veterinarian; it is not a clinical diagnostic instrument.
Do not change your dog's diet, medications, or supplementation regimen without veterinary input. If your dog shows new or worsening symptoms — especially seizures, sudden mobility loss, severe disorientation, or significant changes in vital signs — contact your veterinarian immediately rather than continuing this protocol.
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