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Author Topic: Another dog or not? Update  (Read 18153 times)

luckylady

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • Yorkshire
Another dog or not? Update
« on: September 20, 2012, 10:08:03 am »
OH and I just can't make a final decision on this one so input would be appreciated.  Until May this year we had two golden retrievers when Martha the elder of the two was PTS aged 15.  Since then Toby (now 12 and a half) has not coped at all well as we got him as a pup and he has known no other life than being with Martha.  Despite all our efforts he remains very down, shows no enthusiasm for his food and cannot bear to be left alone even when we just pop into another room.  We take him outside with us when we work, he goes on walks and we play ball etc with him and he gets plenty of cuddles.  The only thing we cannot do for him is be another dog which leads us to our dilemma.  Do we get him a canine companion?  We have discussed rehoming a rescue dog of maturing age for two reasons a) the rescue centres find it difficult to rehome older dogs and b) a puppy would be too boisterous for Toby as he has a degree of spinal arthritis.  Knowing that we probably won't have Toby for a great deal longer, do we adopt another and would it be fair to the adoptee? 
« Last Edit: October 10, 2012, 10:03:48 am by luckylady »
Doing that swan thing - cool and calm on the surface but paddling like crazy beneath.

Old Shep

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • North Yorkshire
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2012, 11:27:33 am »
Oh yes!!  :dog: :dog: :thumbsup: :dog: :dog: :thumbsup:


You would have to let your dog choose his new friend as well as you, but I'm sure you could find a nice rescue dog to fit the bill.  [size=78%]http://www.oldies.org.uk/[/size] specialises in older dogs.


Do you have an idea what breed you would look for?
Helen - (used to be just Shep).  Gordon Setters, Border Collies and chief lambing assistant to BigBennyShep.

luckylady

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • Yorkshire
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2012, 12:01:49 pm »
Brilliant website Shep.   Went straight to the 'overlooked oldies'.  I want to adopt them all poor things.  Don't mind what breed, just something medium to large and cat/sheep friendly.  Thinking it may be a tall order but will look at website in depth this evening.  Thank you.  :)
Doing that swan thing - cool and calm on the surface but paddling like crazy beneath.

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2012, 12:42:22 pm »
That broke my heart  :'(

Bionic

  • Joined Dec 2010
  • Talley, Carmarthenshire
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2012, 12:48:39 pm »
Yes, I think another overlooked oldie would be the answer too, but as Shep has suggested you would need your current dog to help choose to make sure he is comfortable with the new companion.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Sally
Life is like a bowl of cherries, mostly yummy but some dodgy bits

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
    • ABERDON GUNDOGS for work and show
    • Facebook
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2012, 04:16:09 pm »
Definitely agree with getting him a companion, but it must be one he can cope with and get on with.  Two boys together or two girls together can sometimes cause problems if they haven't been brought up together, but if one of them is neutered I'd opt for one of each, so I would be suggesting a  girlfriend for him.

Good luck finding the right one, and well done for offering your and his love and companionship to a re-home.
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

Sylvia

  • Joined Aug 2009
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2012, 05:15:02 pm »
Yes, yes, yes!!!! An old dog will settle into your life as well as a young one. I have a few "old men" who came to me to be found good homes for, nobody wanted them so they stayed. They are as happy(I hope) as any dog.

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2012, 05:38:52 pm »
I've been in a similar situation and yes, got another, older rescue.  In my case, I wanted the newcomer to be a playmate for my younger dog, who was running the old boy ragged with her youthful energy.  But I didn't want the old fella's position to be usurped, so it had to be a dog that would accept a doddery deaf old buffer as head dog!

The only word of caution I would give is to make sure you take your own preferences fully into account.  I stupidly looked more at how the dog would relate to the old dog and young bitch so that the dynamics of those relationships would work and did not do a thorough enough job on assessing the newcomer in terms of how he would relate to us and our life.

But if you make sure your new dog fits in with you as well as with Toby, I can't see a downside here.  Except, of course, that you could well be in the same boat again in a few years when Toby's time is up.  If continuing dog ownership is not a problem for you, then why aye, go ahead  :thumbsup:
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

Mammyshaz

  • Joined Feb 2012
  • Durham
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2012, 05:43:14 pm »
 It's a great idea to get another companion, of a mature nature who gets on well with your old lad ( but not too oldor you could be in the same position again in a couple of years) .

I have tried to keep same species in groups for companionship when the species is known to live in social groups. Since we work some days, it means they have each other for company.

Go for it, it'll help him get over his grief with another companion to get on with   :sunshine:
« Last Edit: September 20, 2012, 05:46:43 pm by Mammyshaz »

jaykay

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Cumbria/N Yorks border
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2012, 06:56:28 pm »
I'll never have dogs or cats one at a time any more - they seem to enjoy company.

I think adopting an older dog is a great plan - both for the oldie and your current fella. You will need to take into account his thoughts on the matter. He might find it easier to give house room to a castrated dog or a bitch, but that still depends on everyone's personalities.

luckylady

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • Yorkshire
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2012, 08:19:46 pm »
Having seen Toby with the building surveyor's goldie when visiting yesterday I don't think we will have a problem with introductions and acceptance (and he was an entire male - the dog not the surveyor  :o , although I'm sure he will have been entire too!  ;D ;D
Have been on oldies website and, oh boy, where do I begin.  Amber and Hollie?, Patch and Jess? Two girlfriends for Toby?  Seriously, perhaps not as I think it would be too much for him.  Definitely a girl though and we don't mind how old.  We are happy to repeat the process once we no longer have Tobs and giving a forever home to an 'overlooked oldie' is reward enough for us.  We have visited 'heartbreak hill' quite alot lately with some old animals we have taken on for retirement (mostly equine) so we know we can cope.
So, our minds are made up.  Huge thanks for giving us the nudge in that direction.   :thumbsup:
Doing that swan thing - cool and calm on the surface but paddling like crazy beneath.

Mammyshaz

  • Joined Feb 2012
  • Durham
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2012, 08:46:31 pm »
Will watch this space for piccies of your new family member  :excited:

sabrina

  • Joined Nov 2008
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2012, 09:03:32 pm »
Will give him a new lease of life, great site.

luckylady

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • Yorkshire
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2012, 02:37:42 pm »
Have just spoken to Vanessa at the 'Oldies' website and filled in the adoption form.  Hoping to adopt 'Darling Amber Liverspot' a 9 year old 'overlooked oldie' with some medical issues the same as Toby's i.e. thyroid and arthritis.  Keep your fingers crossed for us.  :fc:
Doing that swan thing - cool and calm on the surface but paddling like crazy beneath.

Mammyshaz

  • Joined Feb 2012
  • Durham
Re: Another dog or not?
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2012, 02:38:39 pm »
 :fc:   :excited:

 

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