another dog?

Get a kitten. Bring it up like you would a puppy. Perfect compromise. My beautiful puss is lying beside me as i speak tucked in warm and cosy after a night on the tiles. Bliss. Xx

Frank!

When our dogs have died the way we get over the grief is to get another dog.
Even though they have always been cairn terriers they have never been the same but they all got us happy within days.
The one we have now has had a hard time.
His owner died on the same day our old dog died.
Somebody by him knew about our dog and we had a call saying the dog needed a new home.
They phoned us and we went around to see him straight away.
He was obviously grieving about the loss of his owner but came with us.
I think he realised our previous dog had died when he came in the door but he got to work immediately and managed to get us out of our grief as well as getting over his.

Younger I mean!!

Our last dog was 4 when we got him (older than your collie I know) but he was the best dog ever! He was used to being spoilt by his previous elderly owner but he soon adapted to family life, our youngest being 6 at the time.

We decided for practical reasons not to have another dog after he died, but still miss having one around. DD1 and DD2 both have dogs now, DD1 has just lost one of hers but will get another.

Years ago a family friend got an adult Border Collie from Battersea. He had been picked by someone else, but they changed their minds. Our friend decided that he was therefore "meant" for her. It was a marriage made in heaven and they suited each other perfectly and had many happy years together.

Good luck Boheminan with finding the right dog for you. How about settling for a dog about 5 years old? Old pets [even cats] are now riciculously expensive to treat at the vets.

boheminan have you thought of maybe fostering a dog from a rescue centre,we did this for many years to all sorts of dogs and we always had them for at least one month some slightly longer whilst they where assessed for homing and as sure as eggs are eggs some stayed for the long haul and made themselves part of the family,you may come across one dog that you just click with and can't bear to let go.
Volunteering at the local dogs home may give you an insight of the kind of dog that would suit your lifestyle and you would get great satisfaction knowing you have helped a dog back to normal.
We also have a Lhasa same as Aka and she came to us for rehoming via Gumtree after the lose of the wonderful Barney and she has settled in very well it seems as though we where destined to find her after her trumatic experience,so best of luck with search as one lucky dog will surely find a new home with you.

Thank you everyone for the wise advice. A few friends have suggested getting a greyhound, but I'm not keen on the breed after a bad experience with a whippet a few years ago. I guess Aka you're right regards everyone having their preferred breed - I've always had B.C's (five up until now). No dog will ever replace Missy, although she wasn't my first dog. I need to find out more regarding help with vets fees (from the rescue centre) as I know from experience they can be crippling (and there's no Blue X near here). In previous years I've been inclined to not get insurance (as the dog got older the price rose sky high) but put some money by each month 'in case'...

I adopted a 12 year old dog - a blue roan cocker spaniel. His owner, a colleague was moving to Spain with family and the vet advised he wasn't fit to stand the stress of the journey. He lived for another 18 months, so we only had a short time with him. He also had some medical problems that needed treatment - lumps and bumps, including a cancerous testicle. He came through all that, though, and enjoyed pottering around the garden and little walks around the field. His only 'funny way' was a tendency to jump up on the sofa, which I don't allow but made an exception for him. I just wish we'd had him for a few more years.

Have to disagree, but gently. When my beloved Bichon/Lhasa had to be put down I vowed, though I would get another dog, I'd never let myself love another dog so much again.

Now I have two, getting elderly Lhasas, and I love them just as much. I tried to be strong but somehow it didn't work like that

have to agree wholeheartedly with marmight no dog ever replaces a beloved lost dog.
I had my first dog (a lovely lurcher) when she was 6 as she needed a home and lost her at 11 but they were a good 5 years.
to fill the dog-shaped hole in my life I acquired another rescue lurcher who needed a good home when he was 4 (he had some border collie in him but it was very much tempered by the laid back greyhound). He was a problem for about the first 6 months I had him - separation anxiety, destructive, very strong chase instinct for anything that moved - but I persevered and he is now an absolute sweetheart with still some quirks that make him who he is and I shall miss him terribly when I lose him (he is now 10)
BUT I have vowed not to get another dog at my age and definitely even if I weaken after a few years - it would not be a puppy.
good luck with filling the void left by a beloved pet but another dog is not an easy option and they are such a tie if you live alone.

Perhaps speak to your local vet?

Some of the shelters offer to contribute towards vet fees if you adopt an older dog. Breed rescues usually have older dogs due to the owner passing away. Another place you could contact is the Cinnamon Trust which helps elderly people with their dogs so would know if any in your area needed new homes.
I hope you find the right dog for you and your family, there are many older dogs looking for someone to love.

You have received some really good advice here bohemian and I have to add my voice to a retired greyhound as they can be such gentle creatures and as long as they have a good walk tend to be couch potatoes - literally, our lurcher took over our fold up bed settee as her day bed! Good job we now have proper spare beds

whatever you choose a good rescue home will want you to take the dog home for at least a day so that you both discover whether this adoption is for you. Good luck with your choices and enjoy.

After losing our beloved bearded collie, I wanted to replace him. Silly idea really as nothing could do that. Anyway 6 months later we acquired a 4 year old collie x from the local kennels. She was wild and I knew I should have left her there. She ruled the roost from the start, ruined the kitchen floor with scratching and in the end, much against my principals, slept in our room so we could have some peace. She had some form of separation disorder! She mellowed with age and lived until she was 15 but I never had an affinity with her whereas the late MrMarmight who didn't want her in the first place, eventually loved her to bits and was holding her 'paw' when she was put down. I would think very seriously before committing yourself..........

Choose a placid breed. I suggest youu need to learn from your experience and choose a breed to reflect your energy levels and physical fitness. Rescued dogs have often been badly treated or not socialised. I agree with shysal - be very, very careful.

You would need to be very sure of the reason for the dog needing a home. There are sometimes issues which have not been revealed. I know several people who have regretted taking on border collies, due to behaviour problems.They are more suited to living on a farm in my opinion.
I also have heard that retired greyhounds make good pets, and surprisingly they don't need a lot of exercise or space as they 'fold up small'! There will be plenty available in what I seem to remember is your area, as the Oxford dog track has closed.
I hope you find a pet that suits you.

I think everyone is going to suggest their own favourite breed! Go with your gut feeling Bo

How about a retired greyhound or a whippet? I think you would suit a greyhound and the rescue people will take it back if there's a problem.

An older Labrador that has 'settled down' would be my choice. Possibly a 4yr old.

Everything that Merlot said is true, but I do know people who have adopted older dogs and never regretted it. It depends on what you want from this dog and what you are willing to give.

Why not take it on trial and see? You'll soon know if you are suited to each other.

Is it essential that you have a collie, bohemian? Maybe a less energetic breed would suit?

The problem with rescuing an older dog (I haven't) is that although they may be less demanding on the exercise front, you are going to get health issues. The dog will be difficult/expensive to insure so you may not have long before you are forced to say goodbye which is heartbreaking.