It's A Dog's Life .. if only..

Dogs may be smelly and have teeth and claws but they are also very loving ,and loyal . Stroking a dog or cat lowers blood pressure and children from a home with pets tend to have less allergies than children from pet free home

We always had at least one dog when I was at home but I was attacked by a friend’s dog when I was at uni and never had a dog if my own be I had become frightened of them. Then my little rescue Yorkie came into my life . I spoiled him rotten and lived him dearly. When he left after 10 years I almost went with him. I won’t have another. The pain of losing him was too much.

Cannot imagine life without a dog. We have had dogs since 1987 and loved them all. Have 2 right now; English Golden Retriever and a rescue teeny tiny chihuahua/miniature poodle mix who weighs all of 7lbs!

We adore our 11 year old lab cross Taffy. We are in our 70s and I do worry that we won't be allowed to replace him ( an older dog would be our choice now). When we were going to rescue centres they wouldn't let us adopt a dog because we were in our 60s. We bought him online , which is never recommended. He has had 11 years of being spoiled rotten and has had his walks whatever medical problems came our way. He is a gentle giant , well known in the village and I enjoy friendly chats with dog owners.

I realised today that most of the friends I have these days I’ve met through dog walking and getting chatting to them. Even my best friend in our village became my best friend when we both had young dogs thirty or so years ago and started walking them together.And my most recent friend is someone who I got chatting to because I fell in love with her beautiful dog.

I didn't have a dog as a child but they have greatly enhanced my adult life and that of my family. My current dog is 6 and I love him dearly. He is great company, enjoys watching nature progs on TV, loves his walks and just wants to be around us. However, he's well trained, pretty obedient and I'm a responsible owner. I just wish all owners were!

Oldbat1 please can you tell me the website to which you refer, the dogs that need new homes because their owners have died?

I do think that at our age we need to put in place a plan just in case... we are no longer there to look after them. Find someone if possible who agrees to take them on, and leave them some money to pay for vet care, etc.

I have had dogs all my life, always big dog, including a fabulous Rottweiler bitch, Weimaraners, then Standard Poodle. When I lost my very special last Standard Poodle coming-up 9 years ago, I was 55 and my husband 61. We decided to move to small dogs since we were getting older and got two Toy Poodles. I’m finding now more and more that I miss having a large lollopy dog who runs and is daft on walks (our little blokes just walk beside us), so at 64 in July, hubby 69, we’re thinking of getting another Weimaraner. It’s reassuring to read here about all of you well into your 70s with big dogs 🙂 I have discussed with my adult children that any of our animals that can’t remain in the family (we also have Siamese cats) must be rehomed through breed associations since they ensure that a home understands the needs of the breed and is suitable.

Peggy my JR is in kennels tonight as I’ve been away for the weekend. I can’t wait to collect her tomorrow. The house is so empty without her.

Mollygo

Such good ice breakers. We love to walk our dog, and people stop for a chat, with or without dogs. If they have a dog, we often chat, whilst the dogs have a frolic.

When I'm walking the dogs, people (with/without dogs) smile, say Good Morning, stop and chat.
Every time I read someone on here write about loneliness, bereavement moving area or retirement (worrying about not needing to get up when they retire, filling their day, losing the company of their colleagues), I want to say 'Get a dog'.

I’ve always loved living with dogs. I don’t know how I’d have managed without my 2 since my hisband died.

They’re in my will.

Never had a dog myself but have a friend whose whole life as a widow has changed since she got herself a dog. It has given her a whole new life, she talks to so many other people on her twice daily walks and has a reason for getting up every day to take the dog for a walk. Never taken to dogs myself always been a cat lover but can really see the benefits.

I am in love with my tiny Rescue dog. A local chef went to UK and took his family so this dear little dog was abandoned and the local dog shelter immediately sent me a photo of this dear little Yorkie mix and I immediately adopted her. She is so sweet, affectionate but already has taken charge of my dog Marcus who follows her around. She thinks she is a big, fierce dog and barks at any stranger entering our property.
She is getting spayed in a week and stays at the Vet overnight. I am very anxious that she will think I have left her. My life is built around dogs and their welfare. I watched series 11 of Paul O’Grady and wept for the way dogs were abandoned and poorly treated! I hope you see little Polly’s photo%!

I spoke to someone a few weeks ago whose dog can tell when her daughter is going to have an epileptic fit. The dog is a very important member of their family.

I love dogs. Had dogs for over 40 years. Agree people speak to people with dogs more readily than a person on their own. What I can't stand are the dog owners who keep their dog outside and allow them to bark and yelp for hours every day. The dogs are distressed, why are some owners so irresponsible.

Last year I became a minor local celebrity when I was filmed and photographed trying to get my stubborn English Bulldog to shift her furry @rse when she decided she wasn't going to move, everyone thought it was hilarious

Murphy and Molly's reaction to the Eurovision song contest. Have to agree...

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TerryM Your dog looks just like my Joey. He is a rescue dog, settled in with me immediately, I love him to bits and he me.

Love the picture of Polly Annie

Have to try and find a picture of my lovely little Westie Lilly, had her for 15.5yrs, she saved my life in my darkest times.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My granny had a farm and had indoor and outdoor dogs and so I grew up with them but as an adult knew I was going to live abroad and didnt think it is fair to the dog to have it for one or two years and then give them away (this was before dog passports etc ) So I have been a dog auntie - dog walker for friends and relations, and recently at a group I go to there was a lady who came to talk to us about a service , which I think was called PAT, where people were checked out and had had dogs before and they look after usually dogs where the owner had to go into hospital for an operation or treatment over a time. There were people who were putting off necessary treatment as they did not want to leave their pets and had no one to look after them. So thought I would mention this as there may be something of the sort near you
i f you look around. That way you get a chance to still be involved with dogs but are not committed to owning and looking after them full time. I know it is not the same but may be a compromise which would allow you to have a dog in your life in a way. I was owned by a cat - I always say that you own the dog but the cat owns you!! She was a rescue cat, (which was why I took her) a british shorthair blue exotic. Like a persian but a bit shorter coat and with big orange owl like eyes. She definitely ruled the roost and when friends called with their dogs would sit haughtily on the top of my piano looking down on them all!! Fortunately (or not as you may decide) I am from yorkshire and am quite happy to say hello to anyone with or without a dog cat child or none of those things. The british are nearly always prepared to talk about the weather if nothing else. The worst that can happen is if the person glares at you or walks off or ignores you. so what? I now have a friend of over 7 years that I met at a swimming bath and invited her to join me for coffee. we have become firm friends and do a lot with and for each other. She is a very quiet retiring sort of person and apart from the normal good morning or whatever would have never begun a conversation with anyone and she is still quite like that , but we have had a lot of fun and adventures with each other and been supportive when we have been having hard times. I am very glad that I spoke to her that day. So great keep using the dogs to get to know someone if no other way. As you say you get to know people by the dogs names. Well we used to be like with other boat owners , but you got some funny looks when you called across to the big 6ft chap Morning pansy , how are you!!! Happy days !

Reading through the comments reminds me that when my mum was working and still lived at home she got a dog. It was her responsibility and she always looked after it properly. Then in the second world war she enlisted and became a driver for the army driving lorries.
She went to the trouble of organising someone else to take the dog if it became too much for my grandparents particularly my grandmother.
Mum was posted to Scotland. After she left my grandmother had the dog put down, and made my very gentle grandad take the dog to the vets to have this done.
She was a very jealous woman and she didn't like it that my grandad and my mum got on so well. That was a very cruel thing to do to my mum, there she was, serving her country, risking her life, and then no dog to come home to. I don't think I would have been able yo forgive her for doing that if it had been me, to have a healthy dog put down.

What a dreadfully sad story. Despicably cruel and unfair- no I would not have forgiven her for that, ever.