new dog in old age

I was told a while ago that some guide dogs are available when they retire.........an older, well trained dog might be just the thing.

Nannylovesshopping are you sure a springer spaniel is the right dog for you? The majority I have known are very headstrong, you don't take them for a walk, they take you. They're super strong and totally mad, but unless they're being worked are really just too boisterous. They are of course absolutely adorable. But tbh I'd never get one again.

We are dog-sitting our DD's dog for five days while she is on holiday and I must say it's been good fun.( We have had to send our cat to the cattery as she would have spent the five days up a tree or on top of the pergola.)Betty, the dog, is a rescue and has her problems but she does make us smile a lot.
So go for it, get a dog and be prepared to smile all day and have a warm furry body for companionship.

If you don't want a dog full time, you can always foster. I volunteer for Oldies Club. We take in dogs for various reasons - sometimes from the relatives or friends of people who have died and made no provision for their pet. Even harder is those we have to turn down because people have made no attempt to socialise their dogs and we don't have the fosterers who can take on troubled dogs. So please, think ahead!
I have an elderly dog and when she eventually goes, I'm going to foster. I also can't face another one way trip to the vet... At least when you foster they leave you alive. And you can go on holiday whenever you want, without worrying about kennel fees, no worry about vet bills etc. Rescue centres are always desperate for fosterers. Of course, if you get too attached to your foster dog, you always have first refusal on adoption...

I could have written the OP. I have an old horse (28) who had to retire at 18 due to foot condition. Costs me a fortune but love him to bits. My dog is now 16 but still likes to walk twice a day. The trouble is my OH enjoys holidays abroad and we haven't anyone willing to take the responsibility of looking after the old dog for a couple of weeks - apart from which I would never forgive myself if he passed away and I wasn't there. I feel so guilty that OH is missing out on holidays at this stage of our lives. He is 76 and I am 74. He says no more dogs after this one but I can't imagine life without one. I have made so many friends whilst walking the dog

I have always had at least one dog,they are such a joy.I am only 61 but can no longer walk a dog in the usual way due to limited mobility which is permanent.The dog I have now doesn't miss out though as I manage to take him long walks with the aid of my mobility scooter and an extending lead.I am also lucky enough to have good neighbours who offer to walk him in case of illness or bad weather.I love my dog-he has such character and is the one thing that makes me go out when I feel low and would otherwise stay in and mope.
I think the problem with taking on a dog in later years is the thought that they may outlive you and what would happen to them then?There are charities who promise to take on your dog and try to re-home them.The one in my area will not put down any healthy dog and will look after them if a home cannot be found.My feeling is that I would not want a dog to go through all that stress and so there will be no more dogs for me after my current one.
Dogs are wonderful companions and I would say go ahead and have one as long as you have a good plan for its future should the worst happen.

I've never had a pet but after loosing my husband last year I'm taking the plunge. Picking up my Cockapoo puppy next Saturday, thus adding another heartbeat to my empty home. The idea is to get me out and about meeting new people (I'm quiet meeting people)so she will be my friend and companion. I'm 63, don't feel 'old' have had experience with my son's pets and am looking forward to the challenge of puppy training.

On the theme of having an older dog, i would recommend Many Tears, they rescue exbreeding dogs from a life of hell. One year ago I took on Clemmie exbreeding cocker almost blind through neglect and not housetrained. She gets on so well with my other cocker, great friends. Took 6 months to housetrain, but to see her happy, makes all the hard work in those early months worthwhile. I would add i live alone and am seventy, but my dogs bring such joy and with M.E makes me get up, go out and in my limited way, enjoy each day with them

At 65 you're nowt but a babby!! You could live for another 40 years or more <G>

I tried living without a dog for a few months after my rescue dog died of cancer. I have just had my 70th birthday. I saw a staff cross being ill treated at 4 months, already having had 4 homes, so I rescued him. He has grown to the size of a Labrador and is very strong on a lead, so have to get a dog walker to walk him for me. (Must be crazy)!! Then I got him a puppy to play with, a miniature cross breed (Poochi) They love each other so much I may as well not exist! They keep each other occupied and me in fits of laughter .... so you are never too old to have a dog. go for it!!

I'm confused at the moment as to what to do when we lose Hattie. We haven't had a long holiday abroad for years because my last dog was taken ill when we were away and I'm scared of it happening again. We don't know how long we have with Hattie now, but I'm cancelling my pet insurance because it's quite expensive and she isn't covered for so many things now. I've always had puppies, but I'm coming up to 65 and my children don't like dogs much. I would take on a rescue dog but it's very important that I have a dog that I know isn't snappy [I nearly had my finger taken off by a little dog a spoke to at a pet shop the other day] or is nasty to other dogs. I thought I'd done everything right with this one and that she would take me into my 70's so it's not a decision that I was expecting to have to make so soon.

My friend is poorly on and off with Lupus. She's had a jack Russell for about 8 years but has recently bought herself a JR puppy as well. They are such high energy dogs and although my friend is only 61 she is quite disabled so I personally think she's crazy to get another dog. Saying that she gets a lot of pleasure from them. She's not good at training them and they are naughty girls. With the Lupus her life expectancy is much shorter than a healthy 61 year old so I do wonder where these 2 dogs will end up if/when my dear friend passes on. I have a 10 year old black lab who I adore but have vowed not to replace him when he's gone. They are very restricting and I only have my very elderly parents to look after him when I'm not around. He gets too stressed for me to put him in kennels (typical rescue dog with separation anxiety!) and I'm in dire need of of a holiday abroad. It is a dilemma isn't it

Hi Jen , I would definitely recommend getting another dog. I have a Pug and look after my DD Pug and Bulldog. They give you so much and since I suffer from depression they give me a purpose to get out of bed in the morning. Its great walking them as you invariably stop and talk to other dog walkers which is something I wouldnt do otherwise but they inspire me and I can honestly say my recovery would not have happened without them. As long as you have a plan should anything stop you from being able to care from them then I'm sure you will cope wonderfully as at 65 your definitely a spring chicken !!!

All my (many) animals have been rescue cases.
I lost my beloved dog over 2 years ago at the age of 18 & I have not replaced her as I am very busy with GC & I do not have the time to dedicate to a new dog at the moment. I think that is only fair to the dog.Once all the GC are at school I will re-think it but I will probably go for a slightly older dog as I don't fancy training another puppy. My old dog was 2 when I got her & that was perfect.
I am 66 & I really miss the daily walks & so does my expanding waistline!
Go for a rescue dog that really needs a loving home & maybe 2-3 years old. I like mongrels as I have found they are much hardier &
easier to train. My last girl was Lab/Staffie cross & was calm, loving, great with children, adored all other dogs & bullied unmercifully by our cats( who loved her a lot!). She looked like a small lab with brindled staffie colouring- I miss her every day.

Well you could always get a rescue dog that's a few years old. Seriously though, YOU ARE NOT OLD!

Oh no, I'm 66 and in December,.... I can't bear to think about it! On the other hand, I could live to 90. Go for it Jenn, you might outlive all of us.

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201609/medium-176793-dsc-0051.jpg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201609/medium-769762-img-1752.jpg%3C/span%3E

I had Standard Poodles for years. I had to have my last old girl put to sleep two years ago. It broke my heart. She had cancer, so DH and I knew for some time that it was coming. We are both retired and decided that we wouldn't get another dog because we like foreign travel and getting out and about in the UK too. We felt it would be best not to be tied as is inevitable with a dog. However, within a couple of weeks, we had decided we had to get another. We just hated the silence when we got home from anywhere, and the house felt empty and sad. Stardards, like Spingers, are high energy, slightly nutty creatures when youngsters and they need a lot of exercise to keep them sane. My hubby is rising 63 and has arthritis. He is fine most of the time, but it will get worse of course. I have plantar fasciitis. It can be reasonable for walking for months, then I can go through a period of being crippled by it for months. We thought about that and about going away. Thankfully, one of my daughters, who has a Yorkie, agreed that she would have a small dog while we were away. We also have a large garden, so a small dog could get exercise without a walk if necassary. Long story shorter, we got a toy poodle puppy. We chose a puppy so that we could bring him up to be happy with our life-style. From the beginning, he has come with us whenever possible. Consequently, he travels really well, nothing phases him and he loves everyone (human and animal). I fully appreciate the need to rescue dogs, but a psychologically damaged dog often has issues, such that it can't cope with going anywhere confidently. Since getting Colin, we have also found that staff in shops that wouldn't usually allow dogs in smile, make a fuss of him and forget their rule! Some people ruin Toy dogs by literally treating them like toys. Colin is now two and is treated and trained just as a bigger would be and he is very much a proper dog. He is also loving and hilarious and we would not be without him.

That should read Standards, like Springers . . . . and rescues ... can't always cope with going everywhere, not anywhere ?

My dear Maltese died (at home thankfully) 17 years of age, 5 years ago. Then I became a long distance granny so was travelling a lot and couldn't get another pet. Have now solved my own loneliness by Pet sitting when friends go on holiday. I have the love of several wonderful dogs but I can leave the country without any responsibility

A dog that is ideal for people who want companionship but perhaps don't want to do a 5 mile walk every day is an ex racing greyhound. They have marvellous temperaments and love people. They are sprinters not racers so do not need a great deal of exercise, two 20 minute walks a day, however if you do want to walk further they are up to it. We have our second and third and they are very easy going dogs. They usually retire from racing around 3 - 4 years and can live until 12 or more. Our oldest is twelve and a half now and we have had her for nearly 7 years, we also have a male of 9, a mummies boy. After they finish racing their future can be very uncertain, they are no longer earning money and some either get dumped or are put to sleep, all perfectly healthy dogs. The really unlucky ones can have quite horrendous ends. Greyhound rescues are always full and there are always others on the waiting list. As you can tell we think they are marvellous

That may, as a sighthound lover, be the way forward for me, too. Every time I see anyone with a greyahound, I always ask them if it's a retired racer, and they usually are. I've never heard a bad word said against them. For some reason, institutionalised as they are from pups, they don't appear to suffer from the problems that a lot of rescue dogs due; separation anxiety etc. I, too am having problems with my feet and hands and worry about having a dog that needs a lot of exercise.I'd feel awful, though, if I took on a retired greyhound and then couldn't, for any reason, keep it. I assume they would cost a lot more to feed than my whippet?

Millymouge .. I was just about to suggest retired greyhounds too ! We have two at the moment (we lost our first in 2011 .. a wonderful girl and gave us such pleasure ) . They are the proverbial couch potatoes .. as you say, only needing short walks .. but preferring to sleep a lot of the time . But in saying that they are marvellous company and just right for my age (67) .

I do hope that jenn (the OP) soon finds a wonderful companion to share retirement with.

Oh Stella14 your dog is adorable! Thank you for the lovely photos - I wish I knew how to put photos on Gransnet because my dog Lottie is adorable too (half jack russell/half border terrier - so smart, lovable and minxie!!)

Tegan most of the rescues have you sign a form saying that if for some reason you find you are unable to keep the greyhound that they must be returned to them not passed on to anyone else. The one we home from certainly does. They do come in varying sizes, and a smaller one would, I think, cost no more than a whippet to feed.
They are also excellent travellers as they are used to being moved around, and on the whole they certainly don't seem to suffer the emotional problems so many rescued dogs do. A good rescue would certainly make sure that your dog would suit you.
Sheena nice to know that someone else knows what wonderful companions they make. I think more people are starting to realise what great dogs they are.

Sorry, just showing off my two