Dog wanted for older lady

Hermoine

My lovely aunt is just over 80, and in pretty good shape both physically and mentally -partly due to a lifetime of dog walking. She has just re homed her dog (bearded collie cross) very reluctantly. She adopted him as an adult knowing very little about his background and coped with the nipping, barking at visitors and chasing after bicycles, but the lunging on the lead became more and more of a worry to her as she got older and less strong. She didn't want to risk a fall and a broken hip, so when a friend heard of someone who lived out in the country who wanted a similar dog, she gave him up. But, she has said (and I believe her) that if she doesn't get another dog soon she will " go downhill". How can I help her to find a dog? She wants a dog she can walk every day for about an hour, but which isn't so strong it could pull her over, and she says she doesn't want anything teeny. Any thoughts??

fordfocus-chav-car

meritaten

any breed really! the rescue centre will know if it pulls like a train! Though I have to say that my springer was a dreadful dog on an ordinary lead - on a halti after half hour of her struggling and trying to pull, she soon realised she couldn't do it. and walked 'nicely' everafter! so much so that I let the kids walk her. and although she was a big fat dog - I wouldn't have hesitated to let an older person walk her on the Halti.

Even a small dog can overbalance a person if they are lively. I found a Halti to be so useful. if you control the head then you control the body too.

krlyr

It may be worth speaking to someone at the Cinnamon Trust - they specialise in helping older owners and their dogs. They may well know of a suitable dog in need of a home because the owner can no longer cope - and a slightly older dog, used to living with an elderly owner, may be perfect
http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/

zaksmum

I have an elderly friend who has a Yorkie. Not a miniature one...quite a large size for the breed.

She is frail and couldn't cope with a boisterous dog but the Yorkie is perfect for her. She takes several short walks a day with it and there's no pulling to contend with either.

thorsoak

krlyr wrote: »

It may be worth speaking to someone at the Cinnamon Trust - they specialise in helping older owners and their dogs. They may well know of a suitable dog in need of a home because the owner can no longer cope - and a slightly older dog, used to living with an elderly owner, may be perfect
http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/

I was going to suggest Cinnamon Trust too. There are a lot of elderly dogs whose owners have passed away - and if the Cinnamon Trust can "foster" them with other elderly people, it can be a win-win situation for both dog and owner.

Person_one

As well as the cinammon trust, have a glance at this site too:

http://www.oldies.org.uk

Al1x

We have recently re-homed a retired greyhound. He is the laziest dog we know and is more than happy with one walk a day (and the odd run around the garden) He is so good on the lead that our 6 year old daughter can walk him with out him pulling.

http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/

RobotsinDisguse

Another vote here for the cinnamon trust

We have a rescued O.A.P (old age pup), she was 10 when we got her, she's now nearly 12 and she's the best thing that we've ever done... And she's enhanced the life of my elderly parents too. Rehoming (or fostering) an elderly dog is a great thing to do.. And no puppy training needed!

Bless you for helping your auntie.

LouiseDorman

A King Charles!!!! They where bred for companionship...

MrsAtobe

We currently have a springer who's a dream on lead, but the last one, ERM, wasn't, bless her. The one thing I would consider as we get older is whether or not we could pick up the dog to get it into the car and to the vets in an emergency, I appreciate that your aunt said that she doesn't want anything teeny, but in 20 years time, the OH will hit 70, so it will become a factor. His mum has a westie whose a real character, BTW, and loved by the entire family, might that be an option?

Do have a look at the Oldies club, BTW, they don't just list by breed, but also by exercise need, which could help your aunt decide on what would suit her.

Scary thought there about the OH, although I am no longer a spring chicken