After the Forgetting: Helping Dogs Navigate Human Dementia Using the L.E.G.S. Model

How do dogs navigate the changes that come when a beloved human develops dementia? This course explores the emotional, environmental, and practical realities of dogs living with people experiencing cognitive decline. With millions of people affected by dementia, more dogs will find themselves in homes where routines, communication, behavior, safety, and attachment patterns begin to change in confusing ways.

Using the L.E.G.S. model, this presentation looks at how dogs may experience human dementia and how professionals can support both the dog and the family system. Participants will examine changes in predictability, caregiving roles, household stress, safety needs, and the dog’s own coping capacity. The goal is to help families protect welfare, preserve connection where possible, and make thoughtful decisions as the human-animal relationship changes over time.