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AIBU?

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Original poster

Good companion dog for Mother

79 replies

Ramy48 · 27/03/2015 10:52

Hi, does anybody here have a dog so they can tell me advice what sort of dog is easy to maintain? I want for my Mom please.

OP posts:
richthegreatcornholio · 27/03/2015 12:08

Kinky Yes greyhounds/lurchers can certainly handle excercise and will happily charge around at 40mph but not for very long. Many ex racers are unable to be walked off lead anyway.

richthegreatcornholio · 27/03/2015 12:11

I'd add that quite a high number of them hate the rain so at least you don't have to go out in all weathers with them. Ours will dig in if you try and take her out in the rain. You can tell she's thinking "Fuck that! Go out if you want but I'm not coming!"

turkeyboots · 27/03/2015 12:16

Does your mother want a dog? My DBro tried to get one for my DM at Christmas and she refused one and got really upset about it. Dogs aren't for everyone.

ComposHatComesBack · 27/03/2015 12:27

Is your mother active enough to take the dog for a walk twice a day? Take it to the vets if needed? I know it is impossible to tell these things but if she has long term ongoing health problems it might not be fair on either your mum or the dog.

In these circumstances might a cat not be a better bet? Especially an old cat who would be happy to nap and keep your mother company?

MrsFlannel · 27/03/2015 12:29

I know you said dog but I always reccomend Siamese cats as companions. They're SO affectionate and sociable. Many don't like going out much either....they're less work than a dog as no walking and they're easily litter trained too. Ours is like a third child.

Boofy27 · 27/03/2015 12:35

I'm not sure that there is an easy to maintain breed of dog, they all need to be fed, exercised and groomed daily, to be wormed and fleaed every month and medical care at least a couple of times a year. Most breeds with low exercise requirements, tend to need more fuss/attention/companionship than those who want a good run.

Food, insurance, pet sitting and un-insurable medical needs are all fairly expensive and emergency dog care is hard to come by at short notice.

ArcheryAnnie · 27/03/2015 12:41

Have a look at the Oldies Club, which showcases older dogs in need of rehoming. They often have a lot of years ahead of them, but are housebroken, etc, and well past the "bounding around the park" stage and want companionship themselves most of all, so perfect for a retired person.

Here they are: www.oldies.org.uk/

HavenKimmel · 27/03/2015 12:50

A Yorkie would be lovely, very affectionate, easy to train, don't shed, very sweet loyal little dogs. Need some exercise and stimulation but they only have little legs so that should be manageable.

Alternately, I'd second getting an older rescue dog. Lots of dogs aren't suitable for homes with other pets or children so it might be kind to offer one of them a home.

A Spaniel or a Jack Russell would be a mistake.

Original poster
Ramy48 · 27/03/2015 12:57

SoupDragon my mom she used to look after her friend's little terrier but I think she wouldn't mind to have her own dawg she always talks about it.

It would be a nice surprise for her but I think maybe she would be easier with a smaller dog because my mom is very short (4ft 11)

OP posts:
MagnetsOnItsTail · 27/03/2015 12:59

It depends on your mother's lifestyle as well OP. If she does a lot of walking or jogging, an older rescue terrier might be suitable. We've got a rescue Patterdale, who's lovely and affectionate, but needs LOTS of exercise.

squoosh · 27/03/2015 12:59

Oh please don't surprise her with a dog. She may well want one, but it's not the kind of thing to spring on someone.

bumbleymummy · 27/03/2015 13:02

I was going to suggest lurcher/greyhound too. :)

ArcheryAnnie · 27/03/2015 13:05

Totally agree with squoosh about not surprising your mum. This is the sort of thing she needs to decide for herself. Get information, encourage her, offer to help with rehoming fees, etc, but don't dump a dog into her lap!

SoupDragon · 27/03/2015 13:10

Looking after someone else's dog is not the same as having your own.

Do not surprise her with a dog, it is a terrible idea!

bumbleymummy · 27/03/2015 13:10

Sorry - just saw that you were planning a surprise. I don't think animals should be 'surprises' for people unless it's been agreed in advance that you're getting one!

BestZebbie · 27/03/2015 13:12

Aargh, pets are a huge commitment of money, time and effort for many years, as well as making the owner less flexible because you have to arrange care for them if you want to leave them for more than a few hours - an unexpected pet is possibly the worst kind of surprise gift after an STD. Do not surprise your mother with a dog to be responsible for!

ComposHatComesBack · 27/03/2015 13:37

Please don't 'surprise her' with what could be an expensive and demanding 15 year commitment. Why not talk to her and ask if she'd like a dog?

HavenKimmel · 27/03/2015 13:52

Come on now, it's not ALWAYS a terrible idea.

You do need to make absolutely certain you're doing the right thing though.

MrsFlannel · 27/03/2015 13:59

kimmel to be fair those vids are all of kids! Of course they're pleased! Grin

ComposHatComesBack · 27/03/2015 14:01

Come on now, it's not ALWAYS a terrible idea

Yes it is. The op is concerned about her mum, but is going about it in all the wrong ways.

That video appalled me, treating animals as gift on a par with a playstation or a new bike, but what the op is proposing is worse. At least in the video it is adults presenting the pets to their children and presumably the adults who bought the dog will be responsible for feeding, walking and cleaning the dog. What the op proposes is foisting the dog on someone else with no clear idea she wants it and expects her to do all of the above.

Luckily no reputable animal shelter will let her have a dog on this basis.

SoupDragon · 27/03/2015 14:06

Those kids are not going to have to look after the dog, take it to the vet etc etc. I "surprised" my children with our dog but as I was going to be the primary carer, I had made the choice to get a dog. Surprising anyone with a dog you are not going to be looking after yourself is a terrible idea.

Summerisle1 · 27/03/2015 14:08

SummerDog is a Jack Russell. I love the breed and mine is very laid-back at nearly 10 years old. I would not recommend the breed for an older person who wants a quiet companion!

I would recommend a well-bred Yorkie (although they can be noisy little buggers) or better still a whippet. Lovely, quiet gentle dogs that don't need masses of exercise but do thrive on lots of love and snoozy time on sofas!

Stinkersmum · 27/03/2015 14:11

Animals should not be 'gifted'. Please don't underestimate the amount of effort, commitment and time a dog takes. The possible new owner should be fully consulted and agreeable before having a dog lumped on them. Dogs are living creatures, not toys, gifts or amusements.

HavenKimmel · 27/03/2015 14:26

Yes, that is all of kids but there are several others which feature grandparents as the recipients and they are equally emotional. Obviously it needs to be established whether a dog is wanted and going to be cared for properly, and granted, given that the OP seems to have limited experience with dogs, in this case it might not be the best idea.

'Appalling' is a bit strong Compos, for a video of children crying with happiness over receiving much longed-for puppies. Relax.

Summerisle1 · 27/03/2015 14:36

I would also qualify what I said upthread with the fact that your mother shouldn't suddenly be presented with a dog. They're not for gifting like a box of chocolates. If your mother wants another dog, OP, she should be making that choice herself. It's not enough to say "she wouldn't mind" having a dog.

I have a couple of older friends (old gimmer here) who have always had dogs and who love dogs. However, on finding themselves dog-less due to the death of a much loved companion, they've also made the decision not to take on the responsibility of another one. If a well-meaning adult child suddenly presented them with a dog it'd cause consternation. And of course, not be at all fair on the poor dog.