Elderly person getting a dog

[Mitzi50]

My mother would like to get a dog. She is in her 80s but is reasonably fit and healthy (belongs to a gym) and plays bridge. She would like a small dog and couldn't have one which pulls on a lead. We always had dogs growing up.

Would any of the rescue charities consider re-homing to someone of her age?

Yes I think they would. I follow a couple of labrador rehoming websites and they seem to let older dogs go to older people, if they are fit and healthy.

Our elderly neighbour adopted a mature staffie a few years ago from a rescue. He's 83 and is far more sprightly than the staffie now but the staffie has had a lovely home and her tail wags furiously as she hobbles along behind him so still enjoying life as old and as stiff as she is.

I've been involved in helping to rehome dogs to a couple in their 80s. The first one died, so they had another. The couple outlived that dog too. Arguably retired people are better as they're generally at home more often. Of course illness can strike ... but that can happen at any age. Yesterday I had a call from a friend in South East London asking if I knew anyone who would like to give a home to a Poodle x Yorkie (but looks like miniature poodle) - she said a retired person would suit the dog very well.

insanityscratching that's a sweet story.

MitchellMummy - a poodle/yorkie sounds fab. We had poodles growing up because of my brother's allergies.

She lives in Essex has a small garden and a park at the top of the road. She does go out for a couple of hours at a time but is mainly at home. She loves JRTs but I suspect they'd be too lively for her now.

Many rescues will gladly rehome dogs to older people. They often make very caring and loving owners, and there is a great deal of research to suggest that the routine of daily dog walking provides not only good exercise but essential social interactions as well, so it's one of those lovely situations that benefit both.

The Oldies Club (for older dogs) is a great place to look - a middle aged or older dog is often calmer and less bouncy, and the overall time commitment is also obviously going to be less.

She could also consider fostering - this can be long or short term. Many rescues hate having to put older dogs into kennels when they are waiting for homes so an active home with a adult home most of the day is absolutely perfect.

If she does adopt, she should think about having a discussion with you/other family members about her wishes in the case of serious illness/death, and showing she's thought about this and made appropriate arrangements would be a huge positive at any home check.

Good luck.

Thanks Scuttlebutter I will suggest she look at that website. I would obviously help out with the dog if she was ill.

An older lady that I dog walk with got her dog as a long term foster from The Cinammon Trust , he is an older dog who's owner had to go into care ( so dog will not be going back anytime) . The dog was obviously used to living with an older person ,although he was very unfit when he came to her and is very fit now , and I think she gets help with vet bills . It may be worth contacting them to see if they have anything local .

What about a greyhound bitch (as they are much smaller) my friend has one and she is quite tiny not much bigger than a whippet.

I go on a lot if the retired greyhound walks and there are a lot of elderly owners (also great as a social thing). They are happy to sleep most of the day and will do as much or as little as your mum is up to.

Mine can be strong on the lead (he is a big male) and gets excited by cats etc but they're plenty that don't if you explain what you are looking for.

They are fabulous cuddly companions.

Whippt81 I own a retired racer and agree that it's a great breed but she is adamant that they are too big.

I've been keeping an eye on beautiful Winnie on the EGLR website. She's smaller and looks adorable, and really deserves a nice home for her remaining years.

My Grandma got 2 Yorkshire terrier puppies when she was in her mid eighties! It was the best thing she did. Her old dogs died and her husband a few years before. She lived quite a hermit sort of existence by cvoice with all her children living quite far away although they visited regularly. The dogs gave her a reason to get up and a reason to go out she adored them and they her. She lived until she was 98 so the dogs were quite old when she died. She did feel worried about getting them so late in life and started them up a bank account to pay all their expenses which had quite a healthy balance by her death. My Uncle also agreed to take them on when she died so she knew they would have a good home. They made her final years so happy definitely worth it as long as there is back up for when she is ill or eventually dies. Might be worth finding a local dog walker from the start so that she can have their number to call if she is feeling under the weather and wants someone to take the dog out.

She's seen a little dog who is 9 on a rescue website and is waiting for someone to call her back. Fingers crossed it works out.