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

dogsmother

It so depends on your lifestyle, if you like spontaneity and going away don’t do it. The tie for me now would be my only concern.
I would also suggest the cinnamon trust as an alternative for a doggy fix and occasional walking companion. Having a middle aged dog and a partner who keeps informing me he’s the last I have been wrestling with the idea of this too.

You are so right about going away! Safe to say all rescues' application forms ask you if the dog will have to be kenneled when you go away from its home.

All decent rescues and breeders make certain the dog will have a safe and comfortable home.

No, I wouldn't. We've had dogs for the last 30 years and our current girl is 6. When she goes I'll probably be in my 70s and wouldn't want to take on another as I'd feel dreadful if something happened to me and it had to be rehomed or put in a dogs' home, no matter how good it might be.

Don't hesitate! Why limit your life? You've thought this through and dogs are so wonderful, you will live ten extra years for having your pup! And there is always someone willing to look after a dear little dog while you go on holiday - Enjoy!

I confess that when my beloved JRT dies I was so desperate to get another canine companion I'd have bought from a breeder. The rescues and breeders ruled me, out at my age, even though I had plenty of back -up dog carers.

Finally I found a rescue service where the woman was able to assess me personally age and all. She and I are still in touch about one year later as to how I am doing . My lovely Romanian will be welcomed back by her when and if I had to give him up.

My Mum was a dog breeder and had dogs up until she was 90. No way could she have lived without a dog. She gradually reduced the number until she had just one in her last year. He would hop onto the mobility scooter and they would go to the park where he would run and she would sit and chat. Several other dog owners played ball with him and it really brightened her life. She always carefully trained her dogs and when she decided she couldnt cope with her last dog one of the friends from the park re-homed him and took him to visit Mum a couple of times a week for the rest of her life. I walk a dog using the Borrow My Doggie web site which is another route to help with exercise (although they dont screen dog borrowers) or The Cinnamon Trust which was set up to help older people with their dogs and requires three references from their volunteers. I am in the process of registering in the hope of walking a dog for someone who can no longer manage 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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!'

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.

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.

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! 🤣

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.

@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.

@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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.