Thinking of adopting a dog of the slightly older age. What advice can you offer?

[CarnageAtThePancakeRace]

I notice that in animal shelters that older dogs are passed over in favour of younger more lively ones.

Understandable, I get it, but, I feel so much for the older ones, and I am thinking of adopting an one.

We will be first time dog adopters, so we might have a chance with an older one, do you think? I had childhood dogs, but that was a long time ago and dh family haven’t had any.

What advice/positive stories can you give/tell about adopting an older pooch?
Photos also please 😁

*adopting one, not an one 🙄.

They are pretty much uninsurable after the age of about 8, so do bear that in mind. We adopted one at 7 for this reason. She was already grey in the face at that age. Still going strong now at 13!

@StormBaby

They are pretty much uninsurable after the age of about 8, so do bear that in mind. We adopted one at 7 for this reason. She was already grey in the face at that age. Still going strong now at 13!

Ah right, thats useful to know @StormBaby, thank you.

@StormBaby

They are pretty much uninsurable after the age of about 8, so do bear that in mind. We adopted one at 7 for this reason. She was already grey in the face at that age. Still going strong now at 13!

Sounds positive that she’s still going strong at 13 !! One of our neighbours dogs, Josie, lived until 16 ....

Yy insurance is my first thought. I have a friend who exclusively adopts older dogs, has done for years. She spends a lot of money getting vet care for them and a lot of time and effort caring for them. In succession, I mean: she only has one or two at any one point but she's been doing it for a couple of decades. For her it's a vocation and she's happy with the choices she's made. But it is expensive.

We have recently adopted an older dog although privately rather than through a rescue centre. I work and my dd is 7 so none locally would consider us. I have a dog walker but none of that is ever considered. My one word of advice is take most of what you are told of a its history and behaviour with a very large barrel of salt.

She is 11 and is lovely. She has a very soft temperament, loves a good walk but spends most of her time asleep in the sofa. She came from a home with another dog and a much younger child. The issues her previous owner advised have never been seen here. however, having seen how they allowed the child to behave with the dog when they brought her to me to do house checks etc I can understand why she may have displayed some of the behaviours they described.

They said she had been attacking the other dog, my parents have 2 and my neighbour has 1. No aggression whatsoever. Meet lots of other dogs on walks and no issues.

They described resource guarding, the cat regularly pinches the dogs dinner and the dog never bats an eyelid.

Behaviour she has shown...cowering when approached, pulling her head away and warning attempts to nip if approached quickly with a hand, quakes if her lead goes anywhere near her face so has to be walked on a harness. Barking at any man with a hood up or a hat on that comes onto the house She has clearly been abused by a man at some point which is heartbreaking as she is so loving.

Things to be wary of with all adoptions is potential medical issues. I was provided with vet documentation to show this one was healthy but often people lie so ensure that even of you get from a rescue you get an independent vet assessment too.

But it is very worth it!

Good and kind idea as long as you are prepared for the possible vet bills. I will likely do the same when my present dog is no more, as I am older now so not fair to get any more young dogs then. The only things I think you need to consider are that if you live up some stairs (like me in a first floor flat for instance), don't get a dog who already has arthritis to any degree and also get a dog you can lift up (to carry when necessary and to get up onto vet's table).

Forgot to say that as my previous dog got old (and had health issues), she did not always want to walk far at all and liked to sit down and watch people and nature more often. Helps to remember that they are eventually the equivalent of a human in their 70s or 80s and make allowances.

My last couple of dogs have been rescues. I think my previous dog was older than the rescue thought, they said she was around 2 but we had her about 10 years and she seemed ancient by the end! Current dog was around 7 when adopted. Still plodding on.
I would say it's been difficult to train them out of certain behaviours, but nothing intolerable. Health issues can arise (but same can be said of younger animals too). Dogs will happily settle to new owners given a little time.

@StormBaby

They are pretty much uninsurable after the age of about 8, so do bear that in mind. We adopted one at 7 for this reason. She was already grey in the face at that age. Still going strong now at 13!

A lot of breed rescues have 'Golden Oldie' adoption schemes where they will cover vet's bills, so that might be worth looking in to.

Mine was about 7 when I got her from a rescue in France. She is the loveliest dog, very placid, a few quirks, but everyone loves her. She is getting quite stubborn in her old age (13) but hilarious with it. Go for it. Research the breed to see if they are prone to anything and cross-breeds & mongrels are more resistant.

I think it's a great idea. Lots of the rescue centres offer a package where they will help pay future vet Bill's if you rehome a v old dog or one with known veterinary issues.

Do it. My dream when I have loads of money is to adopt all the oldies I can.

Give them all a sofa to lie on and a field to mooch around in and spoil them rotten for their remaining days.

No pressure just pleasure

Re insurance some rescues if they have real oldies will long term foster them to you then they will help with vet bills etc or long term health conditions.

Have you had a look at the Oldies Club website?

@PollyRoulson

Do it. My dream when I have loads of money is to adopt all the oldies I can.

Give them all a sofa to lie on and a field to mooch around in and spoil them rotten for their remaining days.

No pressure just pleasure

Re insurance some rescues if they have real oldies will long term foster them to you then they will help with vet bills etc or long term health conditions.

Ahh, that sounds like paradise. I hope it happens for you, Polly.

@Sprig1

I think it's a great idea. Lots of the rescue centres offer a package where they will help pay future vet Bill's if you rehome a v old dog or one with known veterinary issues.

That sounds interesting, I’ll look at into that @Sprig1

I just want to give one a sofa and some doggie love, with a nice back garden where they can sunbathe. I have visions of a dog with a sun hat on 😀

Ours was 6 almost 7. Best thing we ever did. She gets to live a pampered pooch existence just as she deserves. I’d say the only negative is that she is fairly set in her ways but is so sweet natured so it all balances out.

We took on a previous visitors ddog full time when she was about 8...
In great health apart from her teeth. At 10 she cost me £800 in 10 teeth out!! Apart from that she is amazing at 11...
She was previously living outside... Broke my heart.
She shares a bedtime story with ds 6 every night. They have amazing bond!

I fostered then adopted 7yr lurcher she's 14 now and while her body maybe showing signs of old age she's still a sparky madam, that excels in thievery. She got dropped off & just made herself at home. I think people often assume at 7+ will be plodding along on short walks but she was still active & it can be middle age in some small breeds.
You never really know how will pan out with a young dog either as I've had one die well before time & may develop joint issues or disease so not be able to lead type of lifestyle had originally planned.

I've insured with petplan which has been great & haven't ramped up premiums to get shot of us yet, we claim more for meds than the monthly premiums.

I think where the rescue provides 4wks free petplan with adoption it may also cover older dogs if you carry on with it. The issue is if the rescue identified any issues on vet check they'll not be covered but many rescues do help out in that case or put in a permanent fostering scheme. I think you can still get some insurance cover after 8/9yrs but likely expensive or limited to 12month than lifetime.

I adopted an old boy last year.

Best thing I've done in a long, long time.

Story (and pictures) here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/3890171-Adopting-an-old-boy-am-I-crazy?msgid=102528261

As PPs have said, be prepared for health issues that the rescue centre won't know about. I was told that Morgs was in good health – turned out he has congestive heart failure and arthrosis that he was living with without medication for at least a year. Getting him on meds has been a transformation.

He also has separation anxiety, which I think is a perfectly logical result of losing his previous owner after a long time together. Something to be aware of for yourself depending on the dog's backstory.

People so often say to me "thank you for adopting an older dog", and I get it, but honestly, he's SUCH a gift, I'm, the grateful one. No toilet training to handle, no destroying stuff, just a sweet, well-mannered gentleman who brightens my every single day.

It's going to be shit when he goes – utterly, unimaginably shit. But every dog does go someday, and the only thought that hurts me more is the idea that he might still be in a cage in a shelter somewhere right now, if we hadn't found one another.

switches off emotional music

Oh my days, ladybee your story is absolute gold dust. How did I miss it first time round? Thank you. 😘

We adopted our previous dog when he was 5. He was a boxer-lab mix so we had avoided the bouncy destructive phase, he came to us relatively chilled for his breed mix. He was trained with basic commands and seemed to seamlessly fit into the family.
The downside is that some of the issues are more ingrained and harder to treat. For us it was that he was reactive to other big male dogs, partly because he was only neutered before we took him so what was hormone driven before had become learned behaviour.
He was also very very needy in terms of attention. He would have sold his soul for a back rub. Since we had a busy family with 2 small kids, this actually ended up being fine but not sure it would ahve been the right behavioru to encourage had we had him from an earlier age.
We had 9 great years with him until he died a couple of years ago aged 14. Adopting him was the best thing we ever did, he was a fabulous family dog despite some of the issues.

Good for you OP, adopting older dogs is a lovely thing to do.

I love an older dog - in fact I have never had a dog under 6. We adopted out current Lurcher at 7 (10 now). She is fitter and healthier than most other dogs I know. Don't write off the older ones; they have their own personality by then and overall should be easier to manage. If you are put off by thinking they won't enjoy longer walks, all of mine have up until about 12/13yrs.
Santaiscovidfree, I love your pic!

ladybee28 I followed your thread...glad to hear he is bringing you such joy. Your story was very moving... He had quite a fan club on here!