Aging Sucks Even for Dogs

As my baby woke up this morning I noted that he moved very slow and with a distinct stiffness to his movements. He's been a great companion for many years and it seems to me that probably what I'm seeing are the initial signs of aging.
There are things to understand when caring for your Bichon Frise as he ages. For example, aging in both dogs and humans is a gradual process. Some symptoms are going to be very easy to see: stiffness in joints, sensory and perception deficits, loss of energy, and strength.
I have noted over the past couple of months that my baby has less energy to do things like take walks or play fetch. Actually, when I really think about it, he has been sleeping more and playing less.
In addition, he seems to be losing his hearing a bit, or getting cantankerous about answering my call.