Dog

pins tony

Registered User
Oct 20, 2014
213
0
bristol
Hello to all my friends on T P.i would like some advice on me getting a dog mt lovely wife June has been in a nursing home for over 3 years now and the loneliness is driving me mad so I have come up with a idea I think I might get a dog I no its a big commitment but we have had a dog before.no for the downside to the idea.i am 77years old but fairly fit.i live in a second floor apartment would it be practical I am so lonely its driving me mad coming home to a empty home.perhaps T P is not the right place to be asking this question but you have been such a help in the past perhaps some one may have some advice thankyou.take care out there
 

bemused1

Registered User
Mar 4, 2012
3,402
0
Having lost my husband for a different reason I would be so so much more miserable without my dog. She has been my constant companion for 10 years, gives me a reason to get up and some structure to my day which I so need at the moment.
But a dog is a big commitment. They need time and dedication. Also you need to be sure that if anything happens to you there is something in place to make sure it is taken care of.
All in all I'd say go for it. The best companions but do need commitment. They do dictate what you can and can't do to some extent but I would say go for it.
 

pins tony

Registered User
Oct 20, 2014
213
0
bristol
thanks

Having lost my husband for a different reason I would be so so much more miserable without my dog. She has been my constant companion for 10 years, gives me a reason to get up and some structure to my day which I so need at the moment.
But a dog is a big commitment. They need time and dedication. Also you need to be sure that if anything happens to you there is something in place to make sure it is taken care of.
All in all I'd say go for it. The best companions but do need commitment. They do dictate what you can and can't do to some extent but I would say go for it.

Thanks I will go for it but a pup or a older dog take care
 

canary

Registered User
Feb 25, 2014
25,018
0
South coast
Think about what breed to get - if you are in an apartment you dont want a big bouncy dog. A friend on mine has a rescued whippet which seems content to sit curled up in her basket most of the day.
 

Jessbow

Registered User
Mar 1, 2013
5,678
0
Midlands
Put a card up in your local newsagent/wherever- this time of year people are crying out for people to care for their dog whilst they holiday.

i'd love to leave my little chap with some rather than kennel him.
 

HillyBilly

Registered User
Dec 21, 2015
1,946
0
Ireland
You could always foster a dog from a rescue charity - many of them are desperate for fosterers. That way, the responsibility is not totally yours...unless you become a "failed fosterer" of course ;)
 

cobden28

Registered User
Jan 31, 2012
442
0
Hello to all my friends on T P.i would like some advice on me getting a dog mt lovely wife June has been in a nursing home for over 3 years now and the loneliness is driving me mad so I have come up with a idea I think I might get a dog I no its a big commitment but we have had a dog before.no for the downside to the idea.i am 77years old but fairly fit.i live in a second floor apartment would it be practical I am so lonely its driving me mad coming home to a empty home.perhaps T P is not the right place to be asking this question but you have been such a help in the past perhaps some one may have some advice thankyou.take care out there

If you live in a second-floor apartment, you need to ask yourself whether this is the right sort of accommodation for any dog - what about when you have to take it up and down stairs several times a day for toileting purposes? Is there a garden or other open space nearby where you can let a dog do its business, and what about your neighbours? Are you allowed to have a dog where you live?

As a dog owner myself I urge you to think about these points very carefully, but if you honestly and truly think you can cope with a dog, then go talk to the staff at your nearest RSPCA or other animal rescue society; they will advise what type of dog may suit your lifestyle best
 

Selinacroft

Registered User
Oct 10, 2015
936
0
I totally agree with Cobden- think very carefully as so many dogs get taken on and then their owners realise they can't really cope.
Think about all the negatives- when dog is poorly and asks for the garden at 3.00 in the morning, picking up and disposing of poop 4 times a day, will dog cause a nuisance when you have to go out shopping, do you have the time to go dog training each week and socialise your new friend? Remember you will need to pay for pet insurance - upto £35 p/m once the dog gets old, collect the heavy dog food, and prepared to walk in rain, hail and snow come what may 365 days a year.
I am truly not trying to put you off, but having been involved with dog rescue I am just urging you to think long and hard
There are easier alternatives who make excellent company, indoor cats, rabbits, aquarium- this is not meant to sound patronising so sincerely hope it doesn't read that way.
 

blueboy

Registered User
Feb 21, 2015
125
0
I have 2 dogs and the smaller one, a Cavachon (cavalier king charlesxbichon) would be fine in a flat I feel. She is happy to use a puppy pad indoors during the night and doesn't need a lot of walking as she has wee legs! I always said that I would never have a small dog, always having had big dogs but she is a treasure and great company. Puppies are hard work at the start but worth it, I think.
 

Carrie1984

Registered User
Jun 18, 2016
9
0
Tony I think it's a great idea. I second what others have said re getting an adult rescue dog. You may be able to get a dog that has previously lived in an apartment, or a breed that doesn't not need constant exercise Speak to Dogs Trust, they are a wonderful charity.
If you own your apartment then I assume having a pet isn't an issue. If you rent it may be trickier.
If you cannot get a dog of your own, you can volunteer to be a dog walker at Dogs Trust and there is a website called 'borrow my doggy' where you can take other people's dogs for walks and playtime. Good luck
 

LYN T

Registered User
Aug 30, 2012
6,958
0
Brixham Devon
Tony, first of all well done for attempting to do something to reduce your loneliness. You have had lots of good advice here and, if you are still thinking of offering a dog a home, I do think that an older dog is the best way forward. Puppies are VERY hard work and need a lot of attention. Some older dogs have come from very good homes but their owners have passed on or can no longer offer the care that they deserve.

If you are a leaseholder on your apartment it may stipulate that pets are not allowed-if you own, or part own the freehold, then you maybe ok. Working dogs like spaniels would probably be difficult to keep as they need a lot of exercise-probably a garden too. A friend of mine always re-homes greyhounds/whippets and they make terrific pets. Apparently, they only need short exercise of 20 minutes-but quite a few times a day.

Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck.
 

Zana

Registered User
May 12, 2016
185
0
You could always foster a dog from a rescue charity - many of them are desperate for fosterers. That way, the responsibility is not totally yours..

Brilliant idea.

My neighbour does this because her husband is not always well so she canot commit to a full time dog of their own.
She helps with the re-homing too introducing the dog to potential new owners. That way she feels she can take some of the 'risk 'out of taking a rescue dog that many people worry about she can tell people exactly what the foster dog likes and doesnt like.
She enjoys each dog as it comes along but she can take time out if need be because of her husband.

Good luck with finding the right dog(s) for you
 

CJinUSA

Registered User
Jan 20, 2014
1,122
0
eastern USA
Hello. I think an older dog would be a wonderful choice. But I might first suggest that perhaps you might consider volunteering at a local rescue center. That way, you would have a chance to assess your friendship level for a particular dog. If you are in the second half of your 70s, I would suggest a dog that won't be too peppy. A dog that is 8 or 9 might be a good age for you. It will need to be walked, but it won't walk too much faster than you might want to walk. I am speaking from experience. We rescue cocker spaniels. Normally we get dogs that are 9 or so, because the older dogs are not as sought after as the younger ones. Last summer, we got one who is maybe about 7, and he tires me out! He needs an extra walk every day. I'm in my early 60s!

So I have two suggestions, actually. Try visiting your local rescue and see if they would like help walking their dogs or having someone play with them to keep them socialized. And that way, you might have a chance to get to know the dogs better. If you only have foster rescues in your area, then fostering a dog that you think you might be able to bond with might be a good way to test out the circumstances.

You might want to do some research on the need of certain breeds. A basset hound, for instance, might have difficulty doing stairs as he ages. Cockers do okay, but as ours age, I do tend to have to pick them up and carry them up and down. I also, as each ages, eventually have to get down on the floor and feed them by hand, because each of our dogs has gone blind, and it's very hard for them to find their food without getting it all over their faces!

I think a dog is a great idea. I know what you mean about loneliness. An older dog would love to bond with you. They usually have had good families that just can't care for them (or afford them) any longer. We have two at a time, and sometimes three. We love them all. I don't know what I'd have done without having the dogs to care for when my beloved mother died on Feb. 28. They have saved me by making me keep active and attentive to their needs.
 

Babymare01

Registered User
Apr 22, 2015
315
0
My MIL is reasonably fit and very able mentally and in her lates 70's and 4 years ago she approached a local rescue centre and enter into her life Tilly - a little terrier type of about 3 then and she is wonderful company to my MIL. So yes it needs thinking about wether its a commitment you can cope with but if you think you can then I would start researching and contacting local rescue centres. Yes puppies are a lot of work BUT there are many older dogs out there crying out for a quite loving life and just to be a companion :) ps a local young teenager across the road helps out with the odd walk for a bit of pocket money :)
 

angecmc

Registered User
Dec 25, 2012
2,108
0
hertfordshire
Hi, it might be worth contacting the rspca, I am sure they do a scheme called elderly animals rescue service. Under this service I believe they give help with things like food for the dogs and injections and possibly other help too with the cost of caring for an older dog. My son rescued two dogs, he swears they saved his life, he suffered severe depression and with their help and comfort he is recovering. Good luck xx

Ange
 

pins tony

Registered User
Oct 20, 2014
213
0
bristol
I have today emailed a local rescue centre I think only having a shared garden that's not enclosed might be a problem but worth a try I will keep you posted
 

CJinUSA

Registered User
Jan 20, 2014
1,122
0
eastern USA
good luck!

I have today emailed a local rescue centre I think only having a shared garden that's not enclosed might be a problem but worth a try I will keep you posted

Well worth a try. We don't have a fenced in yard, and for one rescue group, this proved a problem, and they wanted to make a visit. I showed them I had purchased a ground screw and could tie the dogs out, and that solved the problem for them. Truth is, once the dog is around a long while, it doesn't want to leave. We let the dogs out only when we are ourselves outside. We can let one off the lead, and we tend to keep the other on the lead, though he doesn't run (but he's only been here a year, so better safe than sorry).

Here are the boys, sleeping together this morning.
 

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CJinUSA

Registered User
Jan 20, 2014
1,122
0
eastern USA
Hello to all my friends on T P.i would like some advice on me getting a dog mt lovely wife June has been in a nursing home for over 3 years now and the loneliness is driving me mad so I have come up with a idea I think I might get a dog I no its a big commitment but we have had a dog before.no for the downside to the idea.i am 77years old but fairly fit.i live in a second floor apartment would it be practical I am so lonely its driving me mad coming home to a empty home.perhaps T P is not the right place to be asking this question but you have been such a help in the past perhaps some one may have some advice thankyou.take care out there

Hi again. I've been watching your thread and wondering how you are doing and how things are going for you, pins tony. I'll see if I find you on other threads, but I wanted you to know I have been thinking about you.
 

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