Do you have a dog?

lostinrates

My parents have almost always had dogs, but they are aware it could have been a bind in retirement. The last dog that dies they were not intending to have another dog after, but one was gifted to them and they felt....both pleased to have another dog but also a little....frustrated to be ''tied'' again. I moved back in with them and they love it, it frees them to go on holiday (my mother is away for over a month this time) and not worry about the dog. They did have two, and one recently died. That their dog has company from mine is aso a relief to them. They have already asked me to consider ''keeping the dogs together'' i.e. me taking the dogs with me when I move out.

Its odd to consider my mother with out a dog, but holidays aside, as she gets older and more frail, things like unplanned, and even planned, hospital stays etc mean it would get more difficult. I am absolutely positive they will outlive the remaining dog, and had circumstances not turned out as they were they would love her, keep her and spoil her always as they do now, but.....I think they love the idea of more freedom too.

elsien

Mother and I have a time-share dog.
I wanted a dog but work fulltime including 24 hour shifts, mum likes having a dog around sometimes but hates being tied down too much, and having to get up for the early morning walk.
So she's nominally mine, but mum has her when I'm working long shifts, having a social life, or if mum's feeling lonesome and wants a fuss.
Mutt doesn't give a stuff where she is as long as she's warm, fed and fussed.
Works for us.

littlerat

I'm not retired, in fact I'm 18 though am currently on disability benefits.

I have to agree a dog is a bind, I have a 7 year odl rescue goldie I got a year ago. Obviously with being an adult, and the fact he's lazy, he can be left - but you can't decide to go somewhere 2 hours away, stay all day, grab tea on the way back and get home 11 or 12 hours later, if you want to go out for the day you have to sort it so you can either take the dog or not leave them too long. Holidays will either require kennels or be dog friendly, which can be quite costly.

That said, none of that stuff quite beats the upsides for me, and I couldn't imagine life without a dog now.

I have to say I would recommend a rescue, there's so so many rescues who need homes, and the older they get the harder they can find it - even 5 or 6 year old dogs can often have quite a wait before finding a home, and realistically you could still have 8 - 10 years with them, plus you'd be able to get 1 who's beyond chewing and can be left for 4 or 5 hours at a time very quickly, which can make life a lot easier.

travis.b

I've always had dogs so cant see why it would ever not be a good idea. right now i have a labradoodle which is amazing

They are expensive to keep tho, particularly a big dog like mine. I find i have had to make some extra money selling gold scrap, to buy all the extra things i need now adays.
My gran has a dog as a companion as she is retired and loves it. i guess a lot of retired poeple get smaller dogs as they require less walking

foreign_correspondent

travis.b wrote: »

i guess a lot of retired poeple get smaller dogs as they require less walking

A small dog is not always the best choice - an active terrier (bred for working and stamina) will need a lot more exercise than a greyhound (bred for a quick sprint, but perfectly happy to be a couch potato for most of the day)!

Another advantage of a taller dog is that less bending is required - bending to take hold of a small dog's collar, or clipping a lead on and off a small dog can be really tricky if you have any balance problems, stiffness, blood pressure problems etc... a taller dog can be much easier in this respect - actually greyhounds are probably a great choice in both of these respects for older people - and they are lovely, gentle dogs - I have always hankered after one tbh :-)

Perr

I am 62 have 2 staffy's very soft and loving used to have 3 but the oldest died all Spayed and Micro Chipped. They do get you out 3 walks a day in my case and you do meet lots of people. they can be left for about 4 hrs,my house is opposite the Beach, so out of the front door cross the road and there is their playground. They love there ball,If I have to miss one of theirwalks a freind takes them for me I would not be without my girls.