Max’s Story: A Journey With the Dog Aging Project

Max is a research animal. I am a research scientist, well, sorta. Our research is performed on the living room floor. “What?!” you say? “How can this be?”

Max is the 5,916th member of the DAP Pack, the Dog Aging Project, and is one of over 50,000 research subjects working from home. Or the backyard. Or the park.

Tracking Aging in Dogs

The Dog Aging Project is made up of real scientists who design studies that measure how dogs age, using several different tests and surveys. They track the various changes over 10 years. Some dogs are selected for special projects. If the pawrents feel this isn’t for them, they can always opt out. One set of activities that we (I) opted out of was the “Jog & Run” (and trip – me) and the “Stair Climb” (and fall – me). He was able to do this, paws down. But me, I usually back down! 

The Dog Aging Project website explains what they do much better than I can:

“The goal of the Dog Aging Project is to understand how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence health and aging. … Studying aging in humans is challenging and expensive, but dogs truly are science’s best friends. Even though they age more rapidly than humans, they experience the same diseases of aging, they are genetically diverse, and they share our environment. By studying aging in dogs, we can more quickly expand our knowledge of the aging process not just in dogs but in humans too!"

Max, otherwise known as Mystic Acres Maxim Ka-Boom, aka Maxim, is a 5-year-old Standard Schnauzer, which is a somewhat rare breed in the U.S. He is extremely smart – scary smart. He learns most tricks after only a few attempts, rings the bells to go outside (which has also become the dinner bell), gets the toys by name, opens his crate to get in, and recently learned to open the baby gate that is there to keep him out of mischief. He is our protector, even on the road. He makes sure that there are no scary creatures about to attack us, like rabbits, joggers or bicyclists. He is very time aware. Breakfast, a treat, and dinner happen like clockwork. Bedtime is 9:30 p.m., and most of the time, he puts himself to bed if the baby gate isn’t locked tight. These times cannot be ignored by us, as he rings the bells and barks or chortles at us incessantly within one to five minutes from the appointed times.

A Positive Light on Animal Research

A few months after I brought him home, I discovered the Dog Aging Project. We have been a part of the DAP Pack for over four years now. Every year we put in his medical records and fill out a survey of any changes in living conditions, any health changes, and any changes in his behavior. I’m sure he could complete these surveys by himself, if he had thumbs! Currently, we do annual body measurements and a few cognitive tests. The instructions are very precise with videos on how to perform the measurements and experiments, so everyone does it the same, reducing variability – just like in other research projects. Because treats are involved, the cognitive tests are his favorites. (READ: Emmy’s Story: A Story of Love, Playfulness and Medical Miracles)

Being involved in animal research since the 80s, when I found out about this study, I was thrilled! I think having dogs help other dogs and humans deal with the process of aging from their homes, living with their people, is a great way to perform many aspects of this kind of research. When I tell people that Max is a research animal, it opens the communication on this field in a positive light. It helps people to understand that animal research is important, and it takes away much of the misconception that all animal research is cruel and inhumane, which it definitely is not. So, thank you Dog Aging Project for adding to the data to find out the aspects of aging. And because I have been in this field since the 80s, hurry up so you can help me with my aging!

Sandy Hively, BS, LATG, works at Scripps Research.