Adopting an older dog.

My son had to have his dog Seamus put to sleep about three years ago and he says he will never ever have another dog as he couldn’t go through that again..😓

We foster often older dogs. Prefer the oldies as they seem more appreciative somehow. The really ancient poorly ones stay with us until the end - it still hurts like hell though when they go. I would recommend fostering- some stay for just a short time and others stay months.

All but one of my dogs that I've had throughout my adult life have been adopted. I've had three puppies but the others ranged in age from 3 to 10. The older ones had come from family homes and had to be rehomed for different reasons. As Paul O'Grady said, they come from homes where they have been loved. Maybe their owner has died or gone into long term care. You will be rewarded by their love and affection and you won't have to deal with house training.

Many people don't want to get another dog when their own has died, often because they think it would be disloyal. It isn't. Sometimes getting a new dog fairly quickly after losing one helps you get over the pain of loss. I always have two dogs and when one dies I occupy myself looking for a new companion for the remaining one. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks for them to get on with each other but then it's as though they've always been together.

Yes, adopting is the way to go imho, and to adopt an older dog is just so rewarding, and a wonderful thing to happen to the dog too. I just could not buy a puppy. In so many ways, I'd so love to have a puppy - but when I think about it, I just could not.

Our 2 year old approx will arrive late winter, when my friend returns from Djerba. Knowing we saved her from being shot, stoned and otherwise mistreated, will be so worth it.

DaisyAlice Have you ever thought of making yourself available to a rehoming charity to take a dog for a walk for an hour you don't have to adopt but a dog would love the experience of being walked and being out of the kennels for a while.

Many re-homing charities also need short- or longer term foster homes- so the dogs can be socialised whilst waiting for the 'forever home' (warning- this often leads to the fosterer adopting, as they fall in love with the dog, and also know their behaviour and character, etc).

If you adopt a dog, you give them a good life for however long. Pain is the price we pay for love, or would we rather not experience it. Enjoy the now and be prepared, think how much joy your dog gave you, can you say you would rather not have had that.

I help collect donations for a local shelter and as soon as puppies go on for adoption they are snapped up. It breaks my heart for the oldies who seem to have been there forever, especially the ones who their owner has died as their whole world is just turned upside down.
They have a separate part for the really old ones and ones that have really bad health problems that can't be rehomed. They have sofas and beds to lie on, a real home from home, well as near as they possibly can have.
I find older dogs are a joy, they seem more settled and just want cuddles. The pain of losing a dog is awful, they are your family, but to give another a wee chance is a lovely thing to do. I have never gotten over the death of my last dog, she was a sweetheart, but my rescue now has helped me just as much as I've helped her.

Fully understand the pain of losing a beloved pet balanced against the joy of having a dog? I think that it's just life and none of us can protect against pain. I would certainly consider homing an older dog in the future.

Fleurpepper what lovely thing to do. I've a friend who adopted from Romania and another friend who has a rescue from Portugal.

We don't adopt puppies either as they invariably have plenty of potential adopters.
We do get older dogs from 3years upwards who have had a traumatic past. As others have said our rescues help us as much as we help them.

After we lost our 2 dogs in close succession, I couldn't bare the thought of having another dog for quite a while....until we saw a photo of a dear spaniel, He was aged at around 4 or 5 as he was found wandering.
Honestly, he is now the light of our lives and I couldn't imagine life without him, our AC love him dearly too.
He had several issues to begin with, had obviously not be used to living/sleeping indoors but we gradually overcame them together.
It's heart breaking when the puppies get adopted so.quickly and the older.dogs are left waiting.
I would love more dogs but as we travel about a bit more now and if the Dog can't come , it's a big ask of our children to look after more than one.He is thoroughly spoiled by them.on his few little breaks with them.
I love my dog ( more than many humans to be fair)

Thank you for all your responses. Shinamae, I hope that your son will feel able to have a dog again. As Allsorts said I would not have been without the joy that our dog gave. I don't think fostering is for me as I probably wouldn't want to hand them back! Giving a home to an older rescue dog seems the way forward. My four year old Grandson is also a consideration when it comes to making a decision. He likes dogs but can be a little shy around them. For now I think your suggestion of dog walking Glammanana is a good one. I'll look into it.

I have had four rescue dogs over the last 22 years. Three were aged about 2-3 when I got them but my gorgeous Jetta was 15.
I told the rescue centre I was looking for a 2 year old small female. The next minute this jet black corgie was in my arms. I thought she looked older than 2 but didn't express her to be 15.
Her owner had died 7 months earlier and family couldn't keep her. No one would adopt her because of her age. Needless to say she came home with me and we had a wonderful 18 months together.
I wouldn't have changed r e the world and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to adopt an older dog again

Fostering, if you fall in love and don't want to end him/her back- you just keep it. And you know the dog is a good match perfect <3

My daughter says that she's just going to leave one in a box on my doorstep lol.

I adopted my old boy about 18 months ago, when he was 13. I'd offered for a younger dog but by the time the home check had been done, he'd been rehomed. They asked me to consider t' owd lad, and I always have been a softie for the ones, dogs or humans, that no-one wants.

He has been an absolute joy! Very loving, loves running on the dunes off the lead - never had an owner but somehow has grasped Recall!

He's had a couple of months of hydrotherapy for his three old legs - he'd had one amputated the year before I got him - and it's made a huge improvement to his gait and balance.

I knew I wouldn't have him for long but he's a reward every day for both taking him on and for how sad I will be when he goes. 💗🐶💗

I fostered a sweet long haired chihuahua for six years. He was nine years old when he arrived and had a grade five heart murmur! Tiny little chap but good as gold and clean in the house. The rescue paid all his vet bills because of his heart. I lost him just before Christmas this year. I miss him terribly. I have two rescue chihuahuas that I have adopted . So loyal and sweet natured. The tiny one was six when o adopted her I recommend adopting

We've always adopted dogs. The oldest was a 9 year old Parsons Jack Russell who's owner had to go into a care home. Now we have a 4 year old Staffie that was picked up as a stray. I'd never agree to buy a puppy as these 'lost dogs' need a loving home. They've all given us as much love as we have given them, and I really recommend shopping around rescue centres to find the one that will fit into your home the best. Compatibility is the key to success.

I am a permanent Fosterer for the Cinnamon Trust. You have to accept that they are usually older dogs. The Trust rehome elderly peoples’ dogs if they go into a care home or pass away and pay all vets fees so you don’t have to worry about the possible expense of an older dog. They are always looking for volunteers, also for temporary fostering eg if the dog’s owner has to go into hospital, and dog walkers to help owners who can’t walk their dogs. I started dog walking when I lost my 17 yr old Tibetan Terrier and couldn’t face training a young puppy. Then I looked after a few dogs for short periods and then ended up with a wonderful little Bichon Frise for 3 years. I now have a whippet with a bit of Greyhound - much harder work to begin with as she was v nervous but the Trust paid for an animal behaviourist to work with her and she’s wonderful now. 13 years old and a bit arthritic but the Trust suggested and pay for acupuncture and monthly injections for the pain. Absolutely brilliant! ( and they can always use funds raised to help !)

Our beloved 6 year old whippet had to be put to sleep 2 weeks ago. I’m heartbroken. But maybe an older dog who has been loved could come to live with us. But where do you get one? The ones I see in kennels look mad and usually are gnarly breeds!

I had my two girls Misty was a Wolfe spitz she was a runt had her 16yrs brought back through quarantine six months from Germany just before passports came out. She was one of the last ones and milly she was a guy I knew who asked if I could look after her till he found a new home for few weeks after he split from his wife. Yep you guessed it he never came back lol I had her for 10yrs vet through she was about 2yr but she had cancer. The heartbreak I went through after losing them I don’t think I could do that again. If you can’t get a dog why not offer to help at local animal shelter dog walking etc

Is it the usual practice for rescue centres to pay the vet bills that come with older dogs?

Sorry I haven’t read all the posts.
Some rescue centres will not sanction an older dog to retired folk.
We have retired recently and our dog died. We contacted them and told they’re reluctant to place an older dog within our home as we’re retired we have visiting grandchildren- over 10 years old so not babies.
We have a dog friendly home and experienced dog owners. Our home wasn’t inspected and we’re fit with a safe garden and near parks and fields.
Sadly we bought a dog and fortunately we now have a lovely dog. So sad we couldn’t get a rescue dog only due to being fit pensioners who are experienced dog owners. I can’t understand. We didn’t want a puppy who would still be fit when we perhaps would be reliant on walkers but that’s in 20 years time.