Getting a dog in retirement

What a lovely post shabby - I fully understand the joy a new dog can bring to a home.

Just a word of warning to the OP. Choose your breed with care, especially if you are after a puppy. Different breeds, different sizes, different temperaments, different exercise needs and grooming. My dog, a Lhasa Apso doesn't shed, so almost no extra vacuuming needed, but he does need to be professionally trimmed every 6-8 weeks, as an example.

But I'd never be without a dog.

Best choice we made to get a dog now that we have retired. We thought long and hard about whether or not it would be right for us as my husband has severe mobility problems and is more or less housebound so all the responsibilities for care would be down to me but we have had a dog before, not since 2000, so knew what we were letting ourselves in for. However we did discuss this with our close and extended family to see if they would be willing to help if needed. Without exception they all said 'go for it we will help' and they have.

A couple of days before we were due to collect our puppy my younger sister died very suddenly. I didn't know whether or not I could cope with a puppy at such a devastating time but decided to go ahead and it was the best thing I could have done. This little bundle has brought great comfort to all the family not just me. Yes they are a tie, they want you to get up when you want to lie in, they bring mud into the house and tear up the garden but when my dog looks up at me with unconditional love all that goes out of the window.

He has given a new lease of life to this household and instinctively knew the limitations of my husband's mobility and that he has to play with him in a different way. As I type he is having his morning cuddle on his lap.

When, as they all can be, my puppy is being a little devil I can hear my sister laughing and saying 'What has my sister let herself in for!!' but I know she would have loved him as we all do.

Having recently acquired a cocker spaniel puppy from a reputable breeder, I would like to reiterate what most of the other posters have said. I was always a cat person, but husband had dogs all his life. I was loathe to get a dog because of the commitment (our cats were very independent).

As people have said, our pup has totally changed our retired life. Very tied as we can't leave her alone for more than about an hour. No holidays although we have just found a very good dog minder who looked after her for a few days. No popping out for a spontaneous meal out. And dogs are not for the house proud, especially in the winter. Think mud bespattered floors, walls, shower.

BUT she has brought such joy and I love her to bits. Getting up early to let her out has stopped me from the lazy lying in and wasting half a morning in bed. Taking her out for walks has given us fresh air (sometime too much when it is stormy) and exercise.

And the dog walkers' social life is amazing. All dog walkers stop to chat. I have got to know so many people in our village I have never spoken to before.

And our DCs love her. And those eyes!

I wanted a dog so much when I retired. We adopted one to start with and it was a total disaster. The dog wasn't house trained and it kept barking at us. We contacted the rescue centre for advice and only then found out that we were the fourth home it had been sent to. The poor thing was a lovely dog but it wasn't right for us. It needed someone much more experienced. I was really upset when it had to go back.

I think it's as well to remember that every dog that needs rehoming has history and unless you're experienced you might not be able to manage its needs.

We got a puppy after that and she's been fantastic. My advice would be to get a puppy and use a crate to train it. Having a dog is just the best thing in the world for me. She's company and I have to go out with her every day. I'd be totally lost without a dog.

Have written to the Dog's Trust with the idea- let's see what they do about it.

I'm lucky I guess,because I have a sister who looks after Reuben if we go anywhere for more than a couple of hours.

During all of our married life we have had dogs and cats but 3 years ago our last dog had to be put to sleep. We all loved him to pieces and we keep asking ourselves whether we want another. We have a cat and I'm working on getting another

I think we have decided to not have another dog because of the tie. We can go out for the day or away for a few days and not worry about trying to get the dog looked after either in costly kennels or by one of the children.

We have a few neighbours who are very happy to come and feed the ccat twice a day and we do the same for them. And, with the weather we have been having lately I am more than happy not to have to get up to take a dog for a walk in the pouring rain.

I agreed my partner could have a dog when he retired if it was totally his responsibility. Yes I know that was very trusting of me! I've only ever had cats and never wanted a dog, even to the point I was slightly nervous of them. So 7 months ago we picked up a puppy, a Spaniel/Bichon Frise mix. As a former dog refuser, I can point out some good and bad points for you.

The mess is incredible, if the dog has access to any carpeted area, it will never look the same again (the carpet not the dog). Even if there is a never ending supply of towels at the back door and the dog allows itself to be trained to wait on the towel for drying before it goes any further. (I find this works about 90% of the time, should one of my adult children or grandson be in the house, the towel rule goes out of the dog's head completely).

Following the above, the housework increases considerably. After an early morning walk today, I ended up cleaning the mud off the hall entrance while my partner cleaned the dog in the shower. I am presently putting off going upstairs to clean the shower.

Forget any retirement lie ins, someone has to be up at 7.30 to let the dog out and clean his feet again when he comes in.

Although I do seem to spend a lot of time muttering "I never wanted a b****y dog anyway" he also is a great source of pleasure. He adores me, goodness knows why. When I go to my intermittent job, he sits waiting from 5 p.m. for my return. He sleeps on my bedroom floor, never gets on the bed, unless he thinks I'm trying to sneak a lie in past 7.30. Strangely the dog has also formed a great bond with our very feisty 2 year old cat. They chase each other round and round the garden until she stops and hides under a bench, then she jumps out on him. She actually seems to come looking for him to play. The bond between my grandson and the dog is also lovely to see. They roll around the floor together playing tugging games and ball games.

Finally I would say that for us, it isn't too tying, because my son is willing to house and dog sit while we go away, but that is definitely something you need to consider. I wouldn't give the dog up now, despite the cleaning.

There is an organisation, I don't know the name or perhaps it's just in some areas...someone owns a dog but for whatever reason can't walk it regularly or is prepared to let you " borrow" it for a weekend. If you could find the right dog and owners it could work really well for some people. All the bonus none of the aggro!

I am more of a cat person but many years ago when I had 2 weeks holiday and my ex was abroad on business, I agreed to look after 2 large dogs belonging to friends. When they returned from their holiday, one dog did not want to return- she had been walked x2 a day, allowed free run of the garden and thoroughly enjoyed herself as she normally lived in a flat. It was embarrassing watching her being dragged out to their car!

Go for it if you have weighed up the pros and cons and go for a rescue dog.

If I was considering a rescue dog I wouldn't go to the RSPCA, there are excellent sanctuaries who place their dogs in foster homes first , any problems is easier to pick up in a home than in a kennel

I'm a cat person, but did once have a dog also, and loved the way she made me go for a walk, whatever the weather, which was really good for me, mentally and physically.

My cousin lives alone and has been thinking of getting a little dog. The trouble is, she quite often likes to go shopping/lunch for the day with a friend, being out at least 8 or 9 hours. She has no close neighbours she could call on to take the dog out lunchtime, so that puts her off, as a dog can't be left for too long.

I do think the dog share is a great idea.

We retired to Cyprus in 2003 and immediately took on a rescue puppy, a terrier mix, who we loved - she made sure we kept fit because one or other of us would walk her twice a day. She was such a joy, but unfortunately we lost her on Boxing Day 2014 when she was attacked and killed by 2 wild dogs. We decided not to replace her, as we enjoy travelling, and we have recently started fostering dogs. This has given us back the enjoyment of having a pet in the house and the regular walks, but the benefit is that we know how long we will have the dog (because the organisation we are helping finds new homes for the dogs, and we have them until they fly, generally a couple of weeks). The benefit to the organisation means that they help 2 dogs each time, the one that is being fostered, and the space created in the dog sanctuary can be filled by another rescue dog - so everyone benefits!

Makes sense doesn' it. In fact, I am surprised the Dog's Trust and other dog charities have not thought about this, and perhaps set up a register of pairs of dogs that get on well, and 'advertise' them in pairs for 2 retired couples or singles to adopt together. Might even write to them and suggest it. Of course couples would have to live fairly near, and also, as said, agree on basic principles (for use, never feeding bits from the table, only 1 snack a day, no in our bed sleeping, whether allowed on settee or not- etc- and agree to stick to those 'rules'- or it won't work).

That's a brilliant idea Granjura.

We like to travel too but we're lucky that our youngest DD has Sam or if not , as is the case this week , we have 2 young friends who love dogs but can't have one full time and they have Sam.

He's gets a very different experience in each home in as much as his exercise levels go up when he is with our friends but has the company of two of his favourite little people at my DDs.

But I love your idea.

Although we've always been cat people, OH loves dogs and enjoys taking DD's dogs out when we visit. I would like to buy him a dog to get him out of the house (for exercise, that is!) and fancy a cockapoo. Friends who have one, sourced theirs from a website. I am just worried about how to be sure that we wouldn't be buying from a puppy farm. I suspect that the people who run these places are pretty devious. Any advice would be welcome, please.

HUGE question for us too at the moment. Our very elderly Gatsby had to be put to sleep in April, and our Slinky is getting to the very end (now diabetic with insulin twice a day, and totally blind- but still very happy) - both 17.

I've promised we would have a gap to do some of the travelling we had to put on hold. We travel often, but for 2 weeks max- and my fabulous neihgbour looks after the cat and takes Slinky to her home. But we want to go to Australia/Tasmania for 6 weeks, and then back to South AFrica for 3- then we will see. I just cannot imagine my life without a dog-and the walking is so good for all.

Ideally, I would like to find another couple who feel the same, and who have the same 'philosophy' about how to keep a dog (eg very much part of the family, but no 'humanisation, so dressing up, no sleeping in our bed, no titbits during the day) - and adopt 2 dogs from a rescue that are good friends, and from the beginning, have each others for week-ends, holidays, etc. That would be fabulous.

Retrolady, they can be a tie,something you have to keep in mind because it's not fair to leave them for too long,but they give a lot back,ours is small enough to tuck under your arm,loves to play with a ball,and is too spoilt.

We always said we'd get a dog when we retired, but then DH changed his mind. He said they're 'tying'. I'm hoping at some stage he might change it back again. I'd set my sights on a Border Terrier!

Our dog came from a rescue place. She was only eight weeks old when we got her. We are young retirees_58 and 61. We do lots of walking and our dog loves it. We walk her four times daily. She hates the rain. I must confess we never went to training classes!
I'm sure you won't regret the decision Retrolady.

I'm with the pro dog brigade.

We've had giant breeds all our life but now we're retired our newest mate is a little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He gets my husband out very day. He's the perfect TV watching mate and we chose him specifically as a breed that's good with children.

I think a dog sounds like a good choice for you but do consider everything.

1. How much exercise do you want to HAVE to give your dog. A well exercised dog will be a happy dogs. Not all larger breeds need a lot, some small dogs do.

2. Will you be prepared to start training from 8 weeks. Walking in the countryside will mean a well trained dog is essential.

3. Does it have to be a puppy? I prefer that because with a rescue you get bad habits too perhaps.

4 . Don't buy from a puppy farm. Buy from a reputable breeder . It doesn't have to be show quality but it does have to be healthy.

5. It's not cheap to own any pet but the rewards ( for me) far outweigh the costs.

You could offer your foster services with your local dogs home to see how dog ownership experience goes.

I wish you every success!! It's worth it !

I totally agree, a dog is the best thing in retirement, I would be nuts by now without mine! You do have to bear in mind that it is a tie, you have to think ahead and plan visits etc. If you rehome one bear in mind that not all dogs like cars or may be poor travellers. The drawbacks are so far outweighed by the pluses but you need to consider them.

If you really like dogs do have one , no better companion , you get unconditional love too

We have always had dogs and now enjoy our three year old Labrador even more as we have time to go for longer walks. It also gets you up and out, whatever the weather. We have recently started helping with GDBA and board trainee guide dogs for periods of six months. It is very rewarding though time consuming (you have to take them to training school on Mondays to Fridays), our dog loves having these doggie visitors! So go for it, you won't regret it.

Do it