Long shot - youngish dogs for adoption? Small - terrier size. Essex/Suffolk area

[KirstieAllsop]

I know it's a very long shot here, but I was wondering if anyone could help?

My nan is looking for a dog. Fairly young though not necessarily a puppy. Quite small, terrier size. She's not able to pay a lot, so breeders are out of the question. Local dog rehoming centres don't seem to have the type she's after.

She's not fussy, just wants a small dog she can handle at the age of 70. She doesn't want an older dog, as doesn't want to get attached to then lose it.

Does anyone have any ideas how we could find a dog for her?

It's not my area but when you say young terrier sized and that your gran is 70...without meaning to sound rude as it really isn't meant that way, how fit is she? Terriers are working dogs and are quite high energy. Mine gets 1 - 2 hours a day at a brisk pace as a minimum and still sometimes lays down in protest when he twigs we are homeward bound!

She's in fairly good shape. She could manage an hour or two of walks a day. But terrier size is exactly that, doesn't have to be a terrier. Just something quite small.
To be honest she needs it for her mental health more than anything. She's struggling through quite a depression, has been after a dog for ages as it'll give her something to focus on, but she keeps hitting brick walls with the rescue places. She's brilliant with animals, has always kept cats but they've all passed now.

Does it need to be small as a greyhound would probably be ideal and there's usually plenty looking for homes.

I think she's got her heart set on a little lap dog type. She wants something to love, that will love her back. I don't know much about dogs and have no idea what greyhounds are like.

I think I'd be more inclined to go for terrier sized. Maybe she'd have more luck not going for a young dog? It doesn't have to mean losing it soon. Our childhood dog made it to 20 and mid teens isn't unheard of so a 7 year old dog could well live another 7 or 8 years. Of all the terrier types a mid age staffy might be a good choice and always lots in rescues.

She doesn't want a staffy, which is a shame as there seem to be so many needing rehoming. She's hard work, trying to suggest alternatives to her will not go well. But I can see how desperately she needs a little companion.

Greyhounds are lovely and they'd definitely curl up next to you on a setee , generally walk very nicely and are very loving ( all the ones I know anyhow)

I'll see if I can try and persuade her to look at other breeds, but not expecting it to go well. The only greyhound I know of is one that has his walks past my house. His owner told me he barely needs any exercise contrary to popular belief, and is actually quite lazy. It surprised me

Thank you. I'm not a dog person so I don't have much of an idea about breeds etc. All of your advice has been brilliant.

May be worth contacting the oldies rescue as the will rehome to older people and I know they rehome in that area.
The problem is age unfortunately not meaning to be rude but at 70 yrs old you cannot guarantee that your nans health won't decline and having a young dog isn't a great idea as it will be energetic and need a lot of excersize.

a lot of rescues will not home to older people for this reason but if your nan is prepared to take on an oldie I'm sure they could match her up suitably.

She's not after a puppy, I don't think it would do her any good to have to do all the toilet training, just a little dog that's going to keep her company for a fair few years.

Ruledbyheart, I completely understand. My concern is, if she is in good health in her 80's+ then she's not going to want to have lost her little friend. If the worst happened, I'd happily take the dog in. My son would love it. I do realise rehoming centres may not wish to rehome to her for that reason. Is it worth telling them that I'd have the dog if the worst happened?

I think if your prepared to take the dog on if anything should happen then most rescue centres would take that into consideration.

Good luck :-)

Have you been on dogs blog? there's a little chihuahua in east anglia I just saw.

Take a look at the kennel club rescue info - she may be able to find something locally here? Consider something like a cavalier king Charles spaniel? Lovely little dogs, great company but not as demanding as terriers. www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/204

Ok I shall. She's going to a rescue place on Monday so I'll let her know to give my phone number and let them know that I could take it on.
Thank you for the websites. I'm looking at them now and hopefully we'll find something for her. I thought it would be a lot easier than this.

Have a look at Suffolk Animal Rescue they have about 3 smallish dogs who might be suitable. Also Wagtails Rescue in Essex has a small dog called Indie and one called Marley.

Jerry Green's has a Border Terrier crossbreed. Look at Faith Rescue on Facebook, they have a few smallish dogs.

A list here of Suffolk centres doghousesuffolk.co.uk/dog-rescue-centres/coming-soon/

LadyTurmoil, that is brilliant, thank you.

Awww the Border cross at Jerry Greens has the same gremlin face as my border

You're welcome - also meant to say that it's worth calling rescues even if they don't have suitable dogs on websites now. Calling every now and then will help to form a relationship with the rescue, so that if a suitable dog comes in, they will think of you! That's the theory anyway, although rescues are usually very busy with little manpower so may just simply be too stretched for it to work - but worth a try Keep us updated!

enfielddogrescue.org/ also has a few suitable doggies!