Stiff Old Dog? 7 Things That Help
Most owners know six of them
He’s slower getting up than he used to be. He waits at the bottom of the stairs. Getting into the car has become a lift, not a jump. And everyone tells you the same thing: he’s just getting older.
Getting older is the reason. It doesn’t have to be the end of the story. We look after senior dogs at our daycare every week, and the owners who keep their old dogs moving comfortably tend to do the same seven things. Six of them you’ve probably heard of. The seventh, most people haven’t.
When we asked our own customers this month, more than 8 in 10 had never heard of number seven.
Hunter’s Doggy Shop customer survey, November 2026Takes about four minutes. Number seven is the one to read twice.
Start with one through six. They’re the basics, and they all matter. Then read number seven.
Keep the weight off
Every extra kilo is carried by the same stiff joints, every time they stand, climb or turn. For an older dog, a little lighter often means a lot easier.
Ask your vet what a healthy weight looks like for your dog, then cut back treats before you cut back walks.
Little and often beats one long walk
Two or three gentle walks a day keep an old dog moving better than one big weekend outing. Grass and sand are kinder than concrete.
Shortening walks is tempting when they slow down. Keeping them regular matters more.
Give them grip on hard floors
Floorboards and tiles are hard work for back legs that don’t push like they used to. A few rugs or runners on the routes they use most, and keeping the fur between their paw pads trimmed, can stop the splay and the slip.
A ramp for the car and the couch
If you’re lifting them into the car, a ramp or a step saves their back legs and yours. Most dogs learn it in a day or two with a few treats.
Takes the strain out of the jumpDoes nothing for the stiffness when they first get up
A supportive bed
A thick foam bed that doesn’t flatten, somewhere warm and out of draughts. Older dogs sleep more, so where they sleep matters more.
Helps them rest wellCan’t help with the stiffness they wake up with
Joint supplements and your vet’s plan
Many owners give a joint supplement, and your vet may already have a plan in place. Keep going with it. Supplements work quietly over weeks, from the inside.
Worth keeping up, every dayNothing you can do in the evening when you can see they’re stiff
For Hunter
Hunter was our Labrador, the dog this shop is named after. In his last year he lost the easy way he used to move. On one of our last trips to Sandy Bay, his favourite beach near Clontarf, he was still lifting that back right leg to get along the sand, and the rest of him was working overtime to make up for it.
Every owner of an older dog knows that look. It’s why we went looking for gentle, everyday ways to help older dogs stay comfortable, and it’s why number seven is on this list.
Karen & Hiten
Ten minutes of red light, at home
Red light therapy uses gentle red and near-infrared light, held against the body, to support circulation, comfort and mobility. Vets and canine physios use light-based devices in clinic. SoothePaws™ brings it home as a cordless wrap your dog wears like a coat.
Strap it on, press the button, and let them settle. It’s the only thing on this list you can do on a stiff evening and watch them relax into.
- Gentle, soothing warmth during each session
- Cordless: no cable, nothing to hold in place
- Switches itself off after 10 minutes
- Start with 20 minutes, then 10 a day
Free shipping · 30-day trial · 12-month warranty
How the light reaches your dog
Red and near-infrared light
Red light at 660nm is absorbed close to the surface. Near-infrared at 850nm travels further into the body. The wrap uses both together, so every session covers both depths. A button on the shoulder lets you choose both, red only, or near-infrared only.
Through the coat
The wrap lies flat against the coat. Fur does absorb some of the light, so for a long or thick coat, part the fur along the spine before you strap it on. Short and medium coats need nothing extra.
The whole back, in one go
The lit panel runs along the spine and over the hips, where stiffness in older dogs usually shows. It’s sized by back length, not weight: 68 LEDs on the Small, 128 on the Medium and 264 on the Large.
Gentle by design
A gentle, soothing warmth: comfortably warm, not hot. It switches itself off after 10 minutes. The LEDs face into your dog, so fit the wrap before you switch it on and the light never points at their eyes. Stay with them during a session, as you would with anything they wear.
Made for dogs
A genuine leather back that dog hair wipes straight off, chest and neck straps that stay put when they shift, and no cord to trip over or chew. Not a human belt strapped on and hoped for the best.
*68 LEDs on the Small, 128 on the Medium, 264 on the Large.
Three ways to give your dog red light
Vet clinics and canine physios have used light therapy for years. Here’s how a wrap at home compares with the other options.
| SoothePaws™ | Clinic sessions | Human belt or cheap pad | |
|---|---|---|---|
| At home, any evening you need it | |||
| Your dog settles on their own bed | |||
| Made for dogs, not people | |||
| Cordless, with nothing to hold in place | |||
| Red and near-infrared together | |||
| Australian support, 30-day trial and 12-month warranty | |||
| What it costs | From $249, once | Around $30 to $100 a session | Usually less |
varies or doesn’t apply
Clinic sessions use more powerful equipment in a professional’s hands, and they’re the right call after an injury or surgery. A wrap at home is for the everyday: ten minutes on the evenings in between, for about the price of three to eight clinic visits.
Choose your SoothePaws™ size
Every size has the same light, the same leather back and the same 30-day trial. The only difference is how much of your dog’s back it covers.
Measure your dog, not the scales
With your dog standing, run a soft tape along the spine from the base of the neck, where the collar sits, to the base of the tail. Then pick the size below that matches.
Between two sizes? Message us the number and their breed and we’ll tell you which. Size swaps are at your cost, so it’s worth measuring twice.
Small
39 x 21cm wrap
Your dog measures up to about 43cm
Usually suits: Jack Russell, Pug, Cavalier, Shih Tzu, French Bulldog
$249
- 68 LEDs, 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared
- Cordless, switches itself off after 10 minutes
- Genuine leather back, USB charging cable included
Medium
52 x 30cm wrap
Your dog measures about 43 to 63cm
Usually suits: Border Collie, Boxer, Standard Poodle, most Labradors
$299
- 128 LEDs, 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared
- Cordless, switches itself off after 10 minutes
- Genuine leather back, USB charging cable included
Large
80 x 40cm wrap
Your dog measures about 63cm and over
Usually suits: German Shepherd, Greyhound, Great Dane
$379
- 264 LEDs, 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared
- Cordless, switches itself off after 10 minutes
- Genuine leather back, USB charging cable included
Questions owners ask us
Will it work through my dog’s fur?
The wrap lies flat against the coat, and short and medium coats need nothing extra. Fur does absorb some of the light, so for a long or thick coat, part the fur along the spine before you strap it on.
Will it get hot? Is it safe near their eyes?
It gives a gentle, soothing warmth: comfortably warm, not hot. It switches itself off after 10 minutes.
The LEDs face into your dog’s back, not outwards. Fit the wrap first and then switch it on, so the light never points at their eyes.
Will my dog actually keep it on?
Most dogs settle quickly, because it’s cordless and sits like a light coat. Pick a time they’re already winding down, like the evening, and let them lie on their own bed.
Stay with them during a session, as you would with anything they wear. If your dog is a chewer, keep sessions to times they’re settled and supervised.
How long until I notice a difference?
Every dog is different, and we won’t promise a timeline. Start with a 20 minute session, then 10 minutes a day, every day. Give it at least two weeks of regular sessions before you decide, which is why our 30-day trial asks for 14 days of daily use.
Which size do I need?
Measure your dog standing, from the base of the neck to the base of the tail. Small is up to about 43cm, Medium about 43 to 63cm, and Large about 63cm and over. Go by the tape measure, not the breed or the scales.
Between two sizes? Message us the number and your dog’s breed and we’ll tell you which to get.
Can I use it alongside my vet’s treatment?
Yes. It’s designed to sit alongside the care your vet already has in place, not replace it. If your dog is under active treatment, mention it at your next visit.
SoothePaws™ is a general wellness device to support comfort and mobility. It doesn’t treat or cure any condition.
What about IVDD, a recent injury or surgery?
Check with your vet before you start. Don’t use it over an open wound or on a pregnant dog.
Can I use it if my dog has cancer?
Talk to your vet first. Red light shouldn’t be used over a tumour or a cancer site unless your vet says so. Some vets do use light therapy away from the tumour, on the back or the other legs that take the extra load, to help keep a dog comfortable. That’s a decision to make with them.
How do I charge it?
With an ordinary USB wall plug or charging hub, always using the cable in the box. Please don’t use an Apple or Samsung fast charger or a laptop charger, as they can stop the battery charging properly. A full charge takes three to four hours.
What if it stops working?
Every wrap has a 12-month replacement warranty. If it develops a manufacturing fault, send us a short video showing the problem and we’ll send you a new one. You won’t need to post the faulty one back.
What if it isn’t right for my dog?
Use it daily for at least two weeks. If it isn’t right for your dog, contact us within 30 days of delivery for a refund. Return postage is at your cost for a change of mind or a size swap. Our returns policy has the details.
How long does delivery take?
Shipping is free. Orders are processed within 24 to 48 hours and every parcel is tracked, so you’ll get a tracking number by email once it’s on its way. Our shipping policy has the delivery times.
Still unsure? Text us on +61 480 887 771 or email hello@huntersdoggyshop.com. We’ll get back to you within a few hours.
Your first month, week by week
Every dog is different, so we won’t promise you a result by a certain day. Here’s the routine, and what to watch for along the way.
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Day 1
Charge, fit, switch on
Charge it fully, strap it on while your dog is lying down, then press the button. Start with a 20 minute session: two 10 minute blocks back to back.
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Days 2 to 14
Ten minutes, every day
Same time each day works best, like the evening when they’re already winding down. It soon becomes part of settling in for the night.
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Day 14
Your check-in
Two weeks of daily use is the point to decide. If it isn’t right for your dog, you still have until day 30 after delivery to ask for a refund.
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Week 3 onwards
Keep the routine
Ten minutes a day, for as long as it suits your dog. If anything changes with their health, check with your vet.
Keep a simple note
Jot down three things on day one, then again on day 14. It’s the fairest way to judge it, and you’ll know your dog better than anyone.
- Getting upHow easily they rise after a nap
- Stairs and the carDo they pause, or go straight up?
- The walkHow far, and how keen they are to go
What owners say about this wrap
You already do the first six. Number seven takes ten minutes.
The pause at the stairs, the slow start after a nap, the lift into the car. You can’t turn back the clock, but you can make the evenings easier. SoothePaws™ is ten minutes of gentle red light on their own bed, with nothing to plug in and nothing to hold.
Try it for 30 days
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1
Use it daily
Ten minutes a day for at least two weeks. That’s a fair trial for any dog.
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2
Not right for your dog?
Text +61 480 887 771 or email hello@huntersdoggyshop.com within 30 days of delivery.
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3
We refund you
Send it back and we refund the wrap. Return postage is the only cost to you.
Plus a 12-month replacement warranty. If it develops a fault, send us a short video and we’ll send a new one. No need to post the old one back.
Free shipping · From $249
We’re a small Australian family business on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and we only sell things we’d be happy to use on our own dogs.
Karen & Hiten