new dog in old age

What about fostering a dog - perhaps medium to longer term? Rescues often have dogs with health conditions or who are older and will not be adopted, so they go into long term foster. The rescue will often meet the costs of any medical treatment etc required. You are in quite a unique position to help dogs like this, without a 15 year commitment like buying a puppy. Rescues would really value your help. I can also personally recommend a rescue greyhound - so affectionate and low maintenance. Lazy and don't need lots of exercise! Or you can volunteer to walk the dogs of less mobile people or people who are ill via The Cinnamon Trust. Lots of options!

The shock at looking at puppy prices!!!
It's 30 years since I last bought a pup but over £1000 for a pet!!Even more shocking this is for unregistered cross breeds i.e. designer dogs.No wonder there are worries about bad breeding and puppy farms if a litter can bring £7/8000.
My horse cost less than some of these pups.

Go for it Jen.
You are still young enough to train and look after a puppy.
He/she will be such good company. x

A rescue centre will be able to give individual advice on suitability - and you can discuss your needs and 'limits' with them too.

My last four dogs have all been "rescues", and they have all been amazing, with so many dogs looking to be rehomed (most of them through no fault of their own and anyway, reputable rescue organisations will have checked them out for temperament and health) I wouldn't go for anything else.

Never ever chosen a dog- they always found me (chose me in a way) - and I'm sure the same will happen with the next.

Yes, have a dog in older age, but make absolutely sure you have plans for him/her in case you become ill, are hospitalised or are no longer able to care for him/her. Never 'expect' anyone to take care of him/her and ask and have it all properly organised (I'd say this is essential at any age).

Are dogs ever 'totally yours'? With so many dogs needing a good home, I have to say I could never buy a bred one.

Hello, I hope I'm not butting in as I am new on here, I have two dogs, long coated German Shepherds, my boy is eight and my girl is only two, I'm nearly 67 and often wonder what I will do whn my boy goes over Rainbow bridge, a smaller dog for smaller times or as some one suggested ,a rescue but they often come with a lot of baggage and some of them are never really yours. I can imagine at the age of Ninety still being dragged thought the woods by a boisterous Shepherd pup, but I am a total dog nut and cant live without at least one Shepherd. I am lucky because my 32 year old daughter, is a Spinster of this parish I guess I will just hand over t he lead to her

Show whippets aren't as prone to chasing little furry creatures as working whippets [at least, my two never have] but it's the speed they run at that's a problem. They don't see things such as barbed wire fences and their lack of a dense coat makes them very susceptible to cuts. When Hattie was a puppy I blew a football whistle each time she went into the garden and rewarded her with a piece of meat; she now stops dead when we blow it..calling her name wouldn't have the same effect. We only let her off on the beach and even then when there are no other dogs around. I don't think she'd run down a small dog, but I suppose you never know till it happens. I spoke to someone at a dog show last year who said that GS breeders often switch to Papillons when they get older and want a smaller breed, as they are such intelligent dogs. I very much fear that Hattie is not going to be with us for much longer and I'm in a dilemma as to what to do. We can't bear the thought of walking on the beach without a dog. I've always wanted a Bedlington/Whippet cross but I'm so used to whippets I'd be scared of having a dog that was hard work. The two whippets I've had have been wonderful dogs in every way. I did everything right with this dog; reputable breeder/insured her/identichipped her/crate trained her..can't believe we're going to lose her at such a young age .

Interestingly the person who bred my GSD also breeds whippets. I think I will have a whippet next time. One question though Tegan, are you able to let yours off lead at all? I know some cannot be trusted not to take off after other furries!

I've always wanted a GS but it's never going to happen as I'm a fair weather dog owner and my whippets are as loathe to go out when it's cold and wet as I am. My whippet seems very lame at the moment; I don't know if it's the result of the aspiration the vet did last week but I'm very worried about it. She was fine before the aspiration albeit a tad creaky when she first gets going.

Like a couple of others on here I have a dog and a horse. I am 69 & still ride most days. My lovely horse is 21 & I will be heartbroken when he is gone. Three years ago I got a german shepherd puppy, my second GSD. I chose a boy this time and he is much more vigarous then my previous bitch. I have been pulled over numerous times - he is very strong, so wouldnt recommend this breed to older people. He is however a complete delight as a friend and companion for my grandchildren aged 13, 11 & 18 months, very gentle with the little one, playful with the bigger boys. Wouldnt be without him.

I got a new Labrador puppy at 66. She was jolly hard work (I had the misfortune to get a boisterous one). Three years down the line i don't regret it.
A dog will give you pleasure, companionship and exercise. What could be better in later life?
Yes, the dog may outlive you, but would give you several years of joy.
A well trained, amiable dog should not be difficult to re-home if necessary.

We get our dog fix by having the grand-dogs to stay. (We have four) Got one here now, just overnight while DS and family go to an overnight 'do'. Love 'em to bits but have to admit the house stays a lot cleaner when we're dog free and it's nice to be able to stay out as long as we want and go away when we want.

I think the Cinnamon Trust has already been mentioned. They look for short and long term fosterers as well as walkers. My mum's dog is now living happily in the Derbshire Dales on permanent foster. (They managed to find someone to take a 10 year old Staffie with a fear of children!). The advantage there is that you have a week's trial for long term foster, they pay vets bills and you know the dog will have a home if you can't care for it anymore.

But you're only young, and fit enough to ride and look after your horse, a puppy wouldn't be any problem for you! (I had the same relationship with my old pony. Really miss him)

Thank you ladies!I now know I am not old ,I am but a spring chicken.
The posts have given me a lot to think about and I am still unsure if it will be a pup or a rescue.
What I have decided is that it will be next year if I can last that long!!Having elderly dogs meant I could never go away for more than a week so this dogfree time will be my time to travel further than Europe.
Xmas in the sun is looking good.

We decided that when our two setters died we wouldnt have anymore as being either side of 70 any new dog could outlive us. In July we lost our elder setter and we said no more dogs. But thst lasted all of 3 weeks because we saw a little charmer on FB who was looking for a home via a local animal charity. The country where we live has a history of bad treatment of dogs and cats. We brought him home and he has brought so much happiness with him. My husband has PTSD and our little dog as has been so good for him. I think they have been good for each other. When we go on holiday we use housesitters so the house and animals are well looked after. So at the age of 72 I would say to a youngster of 65 go ahead and get a dog but maybe a couple of years old so you dont have to go through all the puppy training.

We decided against getting a rescue dog because the two grandchildren spend a lot of time at our home and we were nervous about the possibility of getting a dog with behaviour problems. A friend, an experienced dog owner, adopted a dog from the local Dogs Trust. Within a very short time the dog had bitten her husband, was attempting to get over the garden fence to attack the neighbour's children and was uncontrollable. Regretfully, they had no option but to return the dog and were then told that it had a history of agressive behaviour of which they had not been informed. Don't suppose this happens very often but we were not prepared to take the risk so bought a puppy from a reputable breeder instead - and he's perfect!

I would love to have a dog again but am unable to commit sufficient time to one, so I just look after friend's dogs when they go on holiday. That way the dog doesn't have to go to kennels, the owners are happy that their dog is with someone who knows them, and I get to have a doggy companion from time to time. I don't charge for this 'privilege' but receive some very nice bottles of wine from time to time. Everybody's happy!

I agree with taking a retired greyhound as they are wonderful dogs, "couch potatoes" but good companions. I can't have a dog as my garden is not fenced but when I moved last year my DD asked me to have her cat (I moved to be nearer to her) as she had 3 small dogs at that time (who loved cat to bits!!!). Main problem was that there were lots of cats around & he was always getting into fights & he would be good company for me (emotion blackmail) .

I had cat neutered & micro-chipped & he has settled in well however if I go away my daughter has to take him back "home" as although my neighbours would feed him & he has his "cat kennel" he howls for me. That all happened after I suddenly had to go into Hospital & he is now spooked if I am not there (I do go out & he's fine for a few hours). Love him to bits though but I won't have another, I will miss the company always having pets until a few years ago.

I would say go ahead & there have been some good suggestions from others on her

My mum got a puppy from RSPCA when she was 65, outlived him then got an older rescue dog who was pts through old age two years ago after losing him she went downhill as he meant she had to get out and walk him twice a day, she had to go into a rest home this year aged 92 but I think the dogs kept her going, my husband and I have two very large active dogs aged 18 months and two years we are 74 and 60, and also have 4 horses, hopefully we will have many active years left in us

65 is not old and as you are retired a dog or 2 would be great company. Why not adopt one from one of the rescues there are thousands waiting for a new chance in life all shapes sizes and ages. If you were to consider an older dog the oldies club specialises in finding new homes for dogs over 8. I say go for it when you are ready

I am involved with dogs through a Dog Caring service. I won't say the name as this might be construed as advertising but I have met some lovely dogs and people through this. My thoughts on this are that a dog is a big responsibility and it can be difficult to arrange suitable care for them on some occasions but the companionship and love they give is amazing. The people I meet do not want to put their dogs into kennels - sometimes I just have them for a day or an overnight. One owner "had" to go to his son's wedding otherwise they would not have been parted. The one thing I would caution about is taking a rescue dog. You really need to know their background. I have looked after a few and, sadly, even after years in a loving home they can still exhibit behaviour problems. I also would love to have my own dog but, with no immediate family for back-up, am unable to do so.

Forgot to say that she was 10 weeks when we got her so I do know that she may well outlive both of us but she will be well looked after as the family love her as much as we do

We have had Labradors for years but when the last two had to be put down about 6 or 7 years ago ,we decided no t to have another one as they are such a tie. However last year I started thinking that I would really love another of my beloved labs as oh cannot travel any more. I approached our local animal rescue and was told I was too old to have anything younger than about 8 years old !! I will be 72 next week and as fit as a fiddle. After a discussion with my children who all said that one of them would take her if I was unable to care for her,we bought our beautiful black lab Jess. She came to us last New Years Eve and has been an absolute delight. I take her to the beach or through the woods each day and also to puppy training. She was certainly the right decision for us

i think getting a dog is a great idea, i am 65 volunteer at the dogs trust and would love another dog but landlord forbids have you thought about re homing an older dog dogs trust always have older ones desperate for a new home, and you can also register with them that if you pass over before your dog he or she will be taken back by them. i love doing my bit of voluntary and it has made me see that getting a puppy would not be a good idea its would be like having a two year old around again , but an older dog would be happy to plod around on short walks and curl up on the sofa and nap with me or maybe you should try volunteering at a animal rescue to see if you really want a new pet.

Im sorry to be a wet blanket but we are both in our late 70s and after our cat died we thought we just did not have the years left as a cat can live 16 -20 years

I sprained my ankle badly yesterday and to day I am relieved I don't have a pet to see to, let alone a dog to walk!

Sometimes you show your love of animals if you don't get one which will be homeless or desperate when you die or go into a home.