another dog?

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog, I know how awful it is to lose a beloved family pet. My last dog died 9 years ago and I've never been able to replace her. She had been so ill following a stroke the year before and we'd looked after as best as we could. Following her final devastating stroke she had to be put to sleep. She was fourteen years old a beautiful black Labrador called Bella. The weeks following her death we grieved for her like any other member of our family. Even now if my daughter or I encounter a black lab our hearts flip.
I have a dear little moggy who is 14 years old now, but healthy and spry.
I couldn't go through that pain again, also have 2 little granddaughters who I visit frequently. It wouldn't be feasible to have a dog as well.
Some people get another dog straight away as they can't bear to have a 'dogless' house and that's fine too. Not for me though

Our dear Lhassa, Bobby, died this time last year and it has taken me this long, plus a run of bad health for both DH and myself to come to the decision not to have another dog. Before Bobby, we always had Labradors and I would love to get another one but I have come to the sad conclusion that it is no longer feasible either for us or the dog.

Boheminan Did you get another dog yet?

behmian, some of the breed charities don't have kennels, but place all the dogs handed to them with foster carers. The charity I volunteer for has a group of "failed fosters" who fell in love with one of their temporary visitors, and the dog stayed with them. As others have said, be careful and choose a breed/cross breed that suits your life and health. Best wishes, hope whatever you decide, it's right for you.

Long story roses. I went and got a 12 week old B.C. puppy around six months after Missy died, not a good move - I found I just could not cope with her. All she wanted to do was run - 26hrs a day, but after 2hrs I wanted to collapse.
I gave in after around 6 months of total exhaustion and gave her back to the young couple I bought her from (they were happy enough about that).

That was around six months ago and now I'm getting the 'there's something missing in my life' feeling (I live on my own and do like having a dog for company). I don't want to make the same stupid mistake, eg: getting an energetic puppy, so I'm thinking of getting an older dog.
Something that appeals to me is going into 'fostering' dogs, BUT I'm on a very limited budget and worry about vet costs involved, there's not a PDSA near me. I know I can give an older dog a good home. I've looked at a couple of fostering dog sites, and it looks like I'm expected to pay vets fees if anything goes wrong (which, for a dog of c10 years is most likely to happen)

Have any GN'rs fostered older dogs? If so, what's your experience?

2 things come to mind, the first is the Cinnamon Trust, which (I believe) deals with fostering of pets of elderly owners who have had to go into hospital, the second is the RSPCA. They have a "Golden Oldies" scheme, where they help towards and vet bills that might arise in older dogs.

Might be worth contacting your local branch to see if the scheme operates in your area?

Ah, thanks phoenix. I've been looking up sites on line but had forgotten about the Cinnamon Trust - will take a peep

Locally with me there is a scheme called Borrow My Dog. The dogs are owned by people who work and they want their dog(s) walked and cuddled during the day. The owner will stipulate whether weekdays, evenings and/or weekends and often want their animal (s) looked after during long weekends away or longer holidays. There is a choice of dog (s). One couple owned 5! One dog lived only 1/4 mile from me. The cost for the borrower is £9.99 per year for the agency. The owner pays considerably more. The bonus is that you would have a rapport with the dog, you could have several to visit but keep separate or whatever. If you are interested I will look up the name of the company which has set it up.

Border Collies are working dogs and very intelligent and demanding, especially as puppies. Why not go for a lazier and stupid quieter and less demanding breed? I have two Lhasa Apsos who are cute, bone idle but good company. Yes, they enjoy a walk and have been known to break into a canter on a good day, and they don't shed.

DS2 and his GF fostered a rescue (English) bull terrier. We had one when he was a child and we do love them. The story they were told wasn't the whole truth as they found out she had a heart problem. When there was talk of someone taking her permanently they found they couldn't part with her and so they have now adopted her. She's doing really well and her medication is sorted out. We love to have her for occasional weekends and she gets excited when we go there. They organise events for Bull Terrier rescue and go on walks with lots of BTs. They are keen to let people know what a lovely breed they are when they are in a loving family.

Rescue greyhounds are also worth considering. My neighbour has three and they have a lovely temperament and don't actually need much exercise.

Charleygirl thank you for the info on Borrow My Dog(gy). I looked it up on line and will follow up the lead (no pun intended).

Yep Aka young B.C's are hyper, but do calm down as they get older. I'd like to adopt a 5yr plus. Adopting or fostering a dog (to me) means not so much pressure of finding 'a new life companion', at least if things don't work out, there's not the guilt trip.

A few friends have suggested greyhounds but I'm not keen on the breed (after one 'went' for my previous dog Missy - I know it shouldn't, but it's put me off the entire greyhound population!).

I can understand that bohemian I think I would feel the same in those circumstances.

Have you had a look at the Cinnamon trust website? There are some lovely case histories on there.

boheminan Quite a few years ago we fostered dogs which came into local rescue centres,we had our own dogs at the time but where fortunate to have loads of land at the back of the family home and always had someone at home.
The dog or dogs where placed for an inital period of 1 month & 1 day so they could be accessed as to their temprement prior to re-homing.ie: cats/other dogs/children/men etc.after the inital period they where advertised on the rescue centre list and people would come to ours to see them and if they liked the dog and got along to-gether (and if we liked the adoptee's) things progressed to rehoming,needless to say some of the dogs never left us and stayed for many years,the one eyed french bulldog,the shitzu with no tail and the old english who was frightened of cats.Have a look locally and see if there is anything similar in your area and by the way all vets bills etc was dealt with by the charity.

Our local shelters, as well as the breed specific rescues are trying to place dogs with foster carers. Our shelter has a number of elderly dogs to place. Usually, the charity or shelter will be ongoing vet fees for these old dogs. The charity I volunteer for has regular fund raisers, some for specific dogs who have been handed in because of ill health.

Great to hear you're still thinking of dogs bohemian, hope something works out for you (and a lucky dog)

Years ago I got a 5 year old rescue collie. It took a while to civilise him but I had another 5 happy years appreciating his wonderful brain.
Then I downsized to cavaliers. I lost one, suddenly and at only 3, a few months ago. Now I'm hoping to adopt another cavalier from Many Tears, who rescue bitches from puppy farms. They have never lived in a home and were usually kept in appalling conditions, having litter after litter for the puppy trade.
Maybe consider homing one of these, Bohemian, or fostering for a rescue centre.

My mum's Staffie was left to the Cinnamon Trust and is now very happy in a long term foster in Derbshire. In effect Jet is theirs, but Cinnamon Trust pay all her vet's bills and will, I believe find kennels for her if her family goes away.

Well worth a look.

I would so love another dog, I lost my beloved Kelly, 7 years ago and as I work I felt that a puppy would not be a good idea, also I have cats and an adult dog would not be a good idea either. I now have DGD and the danger of her picking up dog poo and catching toxoplasmosis is worrying.
No matter how carefully you pick up poo there is still some left on grass.
I cannot manage a large dog for walks as I have a slight disability. I would love to 'dog share' with an elderly or disabled person so I can take a small dog out now and again and maybe look after it in holidays. Is there an organisation that will put me in touch with a dog owner. Cinnamon trust does not work in my area as Ive asked them.

Algernon Trust near Silverstone on Bucks/Nhamptonshire border is always looking for foster homes, they would pay any vets fees and if it works permanently great, if not they would continue to find a forever home. I foster a cat who is rapidly becoming permanent. I have always had dogs - for 33 years but a cat is just as loving and less of a tie as we become older! There are always homes needed for animals it is a shame if one somewhere cannot be helped by you and give you unconditional love, friendship, laughs in return.

Today, our JR Peggy reminded me of how much joy and companionship dogs can bring.

I've been very stressed for the last few weeks and today felt very tired and grumpy. I got cross with Peggy because she indulged in her favourite pastime of digging through molehills and coming in covered in black soil. She was cleaned up and told to stay in her bed while I went outside to put the washing on the line. I didn't realise the back door hadn't closed properly and half way through pegging the washing out I felt that familiar wet nose at the back of my ankles.

She'd dragged her bed out into the garden, plonked it at my feet and sat on it.

my labrador is nearly 12 we have been together since he was 6 weeks old and apart from me going shopping we have spent all of that time together, I am hoping to outlive him as he might not settle well in a new home, however, the thought of not having him around fills me with dread and at 75 it wouldn't be fair to take on another dog although at the moment I am fit and walk my dog for about 2-3 hours a day through the woods.

reading the messages from other dog owners has certainly helped thanks.

He's a very lucky dog and you're a very lucky owner. Don't worry too much about the future, just enjoy your lovely walks together. I've always wanted a labrador but I know that, if I had one I wouldn't give it the exercise it needs. My cousin who's just turned 85 takes on older dogs and, like you walks every day.

Merlotgran that is lovely and is exactly why we love them and need them in our lives.

We lost our beloved standard poodle a couple of years ago, but decided against getting a replacement. We sadly missed the company of a dog and all the fun they bring to your lives but realised that we are older now and walks in the freezing cold, high vet charges, (even with insurance) cost of feeding and kennelling during holidays. Our old cat then died a few months later and we were animaless for the first time in 40 years. That was certainly painful. After careful consideration we decided to get another cat and were lucky enough to get a Big beautiful British short haired kitten.
No regrets at all and no longer pine over wanting a dog. Get a cat.