Getting a pup in your 70's. Would you do it?

My BIL bought a puppy about a year after his wife died. He was 74. They had always had dogs so knew what it involved, or so he thought.

The dog is a JR cross and is absolutely on the go 24/7. He is now 3 years old and you cannot tire him out. He gets two long walks a day and runs after a ball thrown from one of those shooter things. All their other dogs were treated to the same amount of exercise but knew when enough was enough. This boyo doesn’t and sits whining at his master who is trying to watch TV until he gives in and plays another game.

I was going to have a dog when I was a fit 70 year old, but then cancer came and then another cancer 18 months later, then I broke my leg tripping over a pipe in my garden. So I'm glad I don't have dog.

Bear in mind as well a Jack Russell is generally a long lived dog, can you be relatively sure that you will be there at his end? If you go ahead I would imagine making plans for him, should you no longer be able to be there for him, should play an important part in your decision.

Always had a dog in our family. Adopted a 3 1/2 Weimaraner at 71, unfortunately my husband whos 73 does have some health issues. We both do the morning walks but I do the evening walks. The Weimaraner came from a young family with 3 children (1 a newborn). The husband had a back injury so they were struggling to walk him. He is a lovely dog and our third Weimaraner. They have said that if for any reason in the future we need to rehome him to call them 1st. (I guess they were looking at our age). Our last Weimaraner was nearly 15 when we lost her so hopefully I will be fit enough into my 80s but think he will be out last dog. I would advise adopting an older dog, you do forget how much more exercise and attention a younger dog requires.

I did just that.
He was one this Tuesday.
It has been a really hard, but very rewarding year. He's great fun and absolutely full of bouncing beans.
I use a wonderful dog walker twice a week. Worth every penny as I found I was getting over tired.
Takes a lot to wear Cavapoos out.
My last dog was a 2 year old rescue. That's very rewarding too. Promise you one thing, it will never be dull !!

I recently finished reading Sophie, the dog from Romania by Rory Cellan-Jones. He is retired and has Parkinson’s. It was a good enough read to start but that dog was scared of it’s own shadow and by the time the book ended they had spent a whole year trying to get it to come out from behind the sofa. They also could not let the dog near visitors or grandchildren.
I can’t find any enjoyment in having a dog like that with so many problems and which you can’t even take out for an enjoyable walk.

I don’t think I would. We have a very much loved thirteen year old Cairn Terrier and, as he is generally in good health and can still go on long walks, I think he has three or four years left at least. This would bring my husband to seventy and me to my mid-sixties. Cairns are the class clown of dog breeds and we would want another Cairn but the puppy stage is very hard work. What we are more likely to do is to get a retired breeding bitch from the very reputable breeder where our dog came from. They are usually around five and have had two or three litters. They are also spayed before going to their new home. I know people who have gone down this route and they have had many years of love and enjoyment.

If you really want this pup, go for it.

We are all different, and having once taken on two four year old cats whom we loved desperately, I felt so cheated when they died aged 10 and 11, as we had "only" had them for six years that I told DH it's kittens next time.

And when the last of those two died aged 17, I waited a year then got two new kittens. I am coming up for 73, so this pair are very probably my last cats, but I would not be without them.

They are 3 now, and now the weather is becoming Autumn like they are playing wild games when they come in at night to warm up before settling for the night.

I honestly do not know how I would have got through the first three ghastly months after DH's death without them.

I know I would love a pair that had been adult when I got them, just as much, but the joy of starting afresh with a kitten or puppy is unbeatable.

Musicgirl

I don’t think I would. We have a very much loved thirteen year old Cairn Terrier and, as he is generally in good health and can still go on long walks, I think he has three or four years left at least. This would bring my husband to seventy and me to my mid-sixties. Cairns are the class clown of dog breeds and we would want another Cairn but the puppy stage is very hard work. What we are more likely to do is to get a retired breeding bitch from the very reputable breeder where our dog came from. They are usually around five and have had two or three litters. They are also spayed before going to their new home. I know people who have gone down this route and they have had many years of love and enjoyment.

Breeding bitches often can't live without the company of another dog at home. I think a lot of rescues stipulate a two dog household for ex-breeding bitches

My last two dogs lived to 18 and 19 so I won't have another. Thinking of looking after an old dog when I'm 90 doesn't feel fair to either of us.

Primrose53

I recently finished reading Sophie, the dog from Romania by Rory Cellan-Jones. He is retired and has Parkinson’s. It was a good enough read to start but that dog was scared of it’s own shadow and by the time the book ended they had spent a whole year trying to get it to come out from behind the sofa. They also could not let the dog near visitors or grandchildren.
I can’t find any enjoyment in having a dog like that with so many problems and which you can’t even take out for an enjoyable walk.

My Romanian is quite big boy. I told the rescue woman exactly what I needed and what I was not able to manage.

She insisted on a video of my house interior and garden. She said I must get a stair gate , and the garden was excellent . I was honest with her about my age, state of health, and social support , and she was pleased to choose for me a Romanian who exactly matches my requirements in age and temperament, and work required such as grooming. I had to promise never to sell him on to someone else.

missdeke

I was going to have a dog when I was a fit 70 year old, but then cancer came and then another cancer 18 months later, then I broke my leg tripping over a pipe in my garden. So I'm glad I don't have dog.

Bear in mind as well a Jack Russell is generally a long lived dog, can you be relatively sure that you will be there at his end? If you go ahead I would imagine making plans for him, should you no longer be able to be there for him, should play an important part in your decision.

Miss Deke, I send my wishes for your recovery.

I'm 82 and got a puppy last year to join my four other dogs. There is no good worrying about what might happen. If I die tomorrow I think my two oldest dogs would have to be put down the fourteen year old is blind and deaf so wouldn't settle anywhere new. The 12 year old is quite nervous and I don't think she would adjust to a new home but the other 7, 5 and 1 year old would be fine. They have beautiful temperaments and are well trained so I think they would easily find another home. Get a puppy if that is what you want - they are hard work but presumably you have more time now than you did in the past.

Musicgirl

I don’t think I would. We have a very much loved thirteen year old Cairn Terrier and, as he is generally in good health and can still go on long walks, I think he has three or four years left at least. This would bring my husband to seventy and me to my mid-sixties. Cairns are the class clown of dog breeds and we would want another Cairn but the puppy stage is very hard work. What we are more likely to do is to get a retired breeding bitch from the very reputable breeder where our dog came from. They are usually around five and have had two or three litters. They are also spayed before going to their new home. I know people who have gone down this route and they have had many years of love and enjoyment.

I would love a Cairn, my mother has this breed and I love them. Can .I ask, are you able to let your .cairn off the lead on walks, what is the recall like? Many thanks,

@Teaze12, sadly he is an escape artist - we should have called him Houduni - and he suffers from selective deafness so we cannot trust him off lead. He is wonderful otherwise; a real character and a lovely nature. He's not particularly fussed about other dogs but thinks all humans are his friends. We bought him from Lindcoly, which is near Newmarket.

@Caleo, I think it may be different at rescue centres but the people l know who have had retired breeding bitches have had them directly from the breeders and they have all been single dogs. As far as I am aware they have not had problems.

We decided against it, given mid-70s and thought mobility is likely to decrease over the next 12-14 life of a puppy. We have nobody to take one on if we cannot manage.

There is a charity, Dogs Trust, that takes dogs from the deceased, so these may be a little older and less of a risk, but you need to be careful about potential vets bills, I guess.

We have had two bad experiences with a rescue, but we have friends who have been happy.

You do not say how long it is since your last, but I reminded DH that clearing up, muddy paws and hairs would be HIS responsibility.

You then have to look at your own schedule, how often are you out and do you have a puppy proof or outside space you can safely leave him for those times. If you have holidays, do you have a sitter, can you afford kennels.

Musicgirl

@Teaze12, sadly he is an escape artist - we should have called him Houduni - and he suffers from selective deafness so we cannot trust him off lead. He is wonderful otherwise; a real character and a lovely nature. He's not particularly fussed about other dogs but thinks all humans are his friends. We bought him from Lindcoly, which is near Newmarket.

Thank you. They are comic characters! I am hoping if
I can get a puppy .i might be able to train good recall! 🤣

Sorry no. Your dog could live for 16yrs. What if you don't stay fit for 16yrs? It's really not fair on the dog if something happens to you. There are plenty of unwanted rescue dogs. Give your love to one of them.

If you're unsure, maybe you could do dog fostering enabling a rescue dog teaching it all about living in a home, that would be worthwhile and some people look after dogs if their owner has to go into hospital for a while. And if you get to a stage when if it becomes too much you can retire from it or just do it in an emergency capacity.

Caleo

missdeke

I was going to have a dog when I was a fit 70 year old, but then cancer came and then another cancer 18 months later, then I broke my leg tripping over a pipe in my garden. So I'm glad I don't have dog.

Bear in mind as well a Jack Russell is generally a long lived dog, can you be relatively sure that you will be there at his end? If you go ahead I would imagine making plans for him, should you no longer be able to be there for him, should play an important part in your decision.

Miss Deke, I send my wishes for your recovery.

Thank you. Both cancers seem to have responded to treatment and I still have regular scans and they are usually happy with everything. The tripping is just me, I have always been clumsy, at least I've not 'had a fall' there is always something that makes me fall over. A couple of months ago I fell over a flower pot which had been in the same place for years and I managed to trip over it, I face planted the gravel which gave a me a black eye and gravel burns over my face but no big damage. Lesson to self 'look where you are going!'

we are in the same quandary - and have decided yes. The upside of a puppy is that you know its background, it does not come with a history. Downside sinking your bare feet into something soft and yielding on the kitchen floor as you make the morning tea. Bonding is easier. OTOH there are thousands of rescue dogs needing a good home. That really was not helpful - sorry!

Musicgirl

@Caleo, I think it may be different at rescue centres but the people l know who have had retired breeding bitches have had them directly from the breeders and they have all been single dogs. As far as I am aware they have not had problems.

I was loaned a little ex-breeding bitch from a personal acquaintance who wanted me to take her for a trial period as the wee thing could not keep up with their labrador on long walks.

I had to return the poor wee mite as she was unhappy most of the time . From the little I was told (they used to sleep together)I reckoned this was because she had bonded with the labrador in her old home. I still worry about her but I feel I did the best thing for her.

Just a suggestion, have you looked at eleven hour rescues or many tears both on Facebook, and I’ve had dogs off both rescues. Eleven hour rescues are from China’s kill shelters (we’ve got a beautiful little Bichon Frise from them currently) and Many Tears have hundreds of dogs in rescue. Some of many tears are from breeders who haven’t managed to sell all the puppies!

Only if you can be absolutely sure that someone will take the dog on and give them a loving home should you die or become unable to care for it.

I’m widowed, 71 and I have a dog. She’s so important to me. We chat all the time and we go out twice a day for walkies. We meet our friends at the park. She has other pups she plays with and I have my dog owner friends.

If anything happens to me, my two sons will know as I text them every morning. They’ve both said they would adopt my dog, if necessary.

I think if you can be sure your dog is cared for in the future, then go for it. I haven’t regretted a single moment.