Dog wanted for older lady

gettingready

And I would say an older cat rather than a dog, considering this lady's age, sorry.

Even if she gets and older small dog, what is she going to do if for example the dog cats attacked by a bigger dog while out walking?

teddysmum

savingjenny wrote: »

I too would say a retired greyhound. She may be up to an hours walk at the moment, but the chances are she won't be in another 5 years. So a dog that will happily downscale to a quick pop out is needed.

I don't think a retired greyhound, who could be quite young, would manage with a quick pop out. They may be easy to walk (unless they see 'prey' and become quite excited), but do need the distance.

moomin5

My granddad is 90 and is more active daily than i am in my 30's, i don't think its a good idea taking on a puppy/young dog but i don't see why an older person shouldn't have a companion if they have plans in place for help & if they go through a good rescue they will generally take care & rehome dogs if adopter is unable to care for them any longer.

teddysmum wrote: »

I don't think a retired greyhound, who could be quite young, would manage with a quick pop out. They may be easy to walk (unless they see 'prey' and become quite excited), but do need the distance.

There are loads of greyhounds up for rehoming all ages, characters available and the lady needn't take on a young dog or one that gets excited when it see's prey & likely to pull her over, greys don't have a lot of stamina being sprinters and although a few do need a decent amount of exercise, most would be fine with an hours walking a day, often less as they become senior.

Generally they start racing at 15months> and isn't an upper age to retire from track though injuries & losing competitiveness sees most retire between 3-5. some may go to breed or just kept on at kennels. As adopters are contracted to return dogs to the rescue if circumstances change you also get dogs in that have come back from a home so can be older.

My greyhound lad would be great for an older person as he just likes to plod alongside you and isn't very interested in critters. If its really cold or raining heavily he prefers a short walk and sometimes refuses that just quickly goes to loo and heads back to snooze on his sofa. As a larger dog do need to be practical in terms of being able to get to a vet, shifting larger bags of food (though can at least get it delivered now) which if she has family/friends around to help in future may not be so much of an issue, but could be for many.

catkins

teddysmum wrote: »

I don't think a retired greyhound, who could be quite young, would manage with a quick pop out. They may be easy to walk (unless they see 'prey' and become quite excited), but do need the distance.

There are so many greyhounds looking for homes - all ages and differing needs.

Several friends of mine are involved in greyhound rescue and they all have greyhounds, quite a few of them need very little walking. Most are more than happy with a 15 to 20 minute walk

teddysmum

I know that there are lots of greyhounds (and lurchers, especially much maligned bull crosses) waiting for homes, as I help, where possible, with a local well known rescue. I am not very fit, but walk a dog when I can and it's a pleasure, as I am given the gentle usually no-pullers (not guaranteed though).


However my concern was the phrase 'quick pop out' which sounds like a few minutes out for toilet and back home.

lostinrates

I have. A greyhound, and a neurological condition.


She is my easiest dog for exercise, and for care in many respects. She doesn't need e
Elaborate drying when its wet, I don't need to bend to pet her on a low mobility day. I have access to land on which she can run. 15 to twenty minutes? Not when its raining or cold, one has to plead her to go out to piddle, which she'd gladly store up like a camel and do twice a day before popping straight back to her sofa. But we do insist on exercise, and a safely fenced in area allows her an off lead run, which is what she prefers well and truely to a lead walk.

She's not an ex racer, but she is great with cats and chickens, (likes to sleep on my bed with two of the cats given the opportunity) I'm afraid pheasants or other game are likely to get a rousing chase though, and hedgehogs, she is obsessed with hedgehogs. And the peacocks, she cannot resist a bark at a peacock.


What I would say is that she is a surprisingly intelligent dog, I had not really expected that. She puts my other dogs. (And frankly some of my friends and family) in the shade with her mind, and she also became rather possessive and protective with age, which obviously brings other issues. My vet has jokingly called her my Swiss Army knife dog, and its because she turns a paw to anything, she'll herd, not as well as a collie, but with patience and attentiveness, fighting her naturally string prey instinct incredibly. On my worst days health wise she helps me bring in the poultry. She points.....that's a hoot.

She is VERY person orientated, and would rather be with me that the other dogs. She loves the sofa, and slides of the ones she knows she isn't allowed on when she hears me coming. We've had some horrid vet bills but I think, much to my surprised, she will be my 'dog of a lifetime'. I have to admit, I didn't expect that with her, but she surprises at every turn. She is a dog I would be wary of alone with some children. She is easily bored by them, and unlike my other two is not inexhaustible in her patience with them.


I imagine she would LOVE a retirement with an older person who kept a warm house with a soft fleece covered sofa and nice dog safe titbits who chatted to her a lot. And stroked her gently and often.

pulliptears

gettingready wrote: »

And I would say an older cat rather than a dog, considering this lady's age, sorry.

Even if she gets and older small dog, what is she going to do if for example the dog cats attacked by a bigger dog while out walking?

You can't live your life on 'what if's'. As long as a contingency is in place for a time that this lady might not be able to walk the dog then I think she should get one. What about the disabled? Should they not have a dog in case its attacked? What about the blind? What if (and it happens a lot) a guide dog gets attacked? A hearing dog?

For some old people an animal is the reason they get up in the morning and the only reason they leave the home. Cats don't need a walk.

[Deleted User]

Another vote for a retired Grey. They are the most adorable and placid and lazy dogs, ideal for an older person.
I can not recommend this breed of dog enough.