Considering adopting a 9 year old rescue dog, any advice?

[mikado1]

Just that really. Looking at a 9yo dog in the local animal welfare. We both had dogs growing up but I didn't have mine to old age.

Any advice or tips? What do we need to consider? As it stands he is in good health and looks like a collie mix.

We have adopted several older dogs. Loved them all.

Congratulations on becoming part of the pack ☺️.

We’ve had an older Labrador, an elderly lurcher, and more recently, this 12 yr old chap, currently snoozing on my knee, but a walk enthusiast!

All have slotted in amongst our other creatures.

He sounds great op! Things to consider….its hard to be specific because all dogs are different. I’ve had 9 year olds that are “old” and some that were like puppies!
But I’d say diet. Some older dogs can have kidney issue, so does he need renal food. Secure garden - you definitely need to do that. Irrespective of age, all dogs can naff off if the mood takes them!
Holiday cover. Who will look after him when you’re away.
Find a decent vet, ideally not a chain, they are always much more expensive than independents.
Invest in some Yumove. Great for joints of older dogs.

And, cash. There is no getting away from the fact that dogs are expensive. Will you insure him? That’s more expensive past about 8. A lot of mine are old now and I don’t bother, I save the money instead and that worked out fine so far, but I have savings I can and would use if a disaster happened.
I do hope you go for it, oldies are fantastic, I can’t tell you how much joy ours bring!

So the dog isn’t coming from a rescue centre but someone you know? What’s the circumstances of current carers no longer able to care for him?

A lady I knew in her 70’s adopted an older collie cross from a rescue centre. The dog was lovely, super temperament and they were well matched. It got the lady out of her house for regular exercise and meeting people. Life changing as she lived some way from her family so was lonely.

Oldies are the best

We have adopted several, currently a 12 year old boy who has spent far too long in the local canil. He has been perfect from day one - no accidents in the house, calm in the car, sleeps through the night in bed with us. He’s just a very laid back boy who loves a couple of walks a day, and a bit of fuss and attention. He’s even accepted, and been accepted by, our ten cats

Do secure your garden though, it is very common for rescues to go missing in the first days or weeks in a new home. I know of one locally at the moment. It’s very sad as he’s quite frail and been missing for a week now

Good luck

My second dog was 8, had had a dreadful life but she’s an absolute joy!
For a dog that had awful skin conditions, never been walked in her life or vaccinated, wormed etc she’s a real little trooper, up for anything.
I’d say go for it, good luck!

@mikado1

Can you share the online description of him?

I think it's great you want to do this, but I do genuinely question the logic of re-homing a Collie-Cross (9 is not old for a Collie - they routinely live to 15), with a first time owner. At 9, I would expect the average (healthy) Collie-Cross, to need energetic walks and be high-intellect and require stimulation (assuming they've ben crossed with something logical) and not necessarily be an easy older dog.

And I disagree with PPs who think rescues or animal welfare, are a good judge of whether a dog is suitable for homes. We routinely get Golden Retrievers into our (breed specific rescue) that animal welfare and big rescues have failed (multiple times) to re-home. Very often they've 're-homed' them multiple times and the dogs have been returned because they have failed to adequately assess the dog.

So, whilst I completely see why you would want to do this, I would be cautious. We had a few Posters a while ago in similar situations and when they posted the actual link to the dog it became clear these were not dogs suitable to re-homing at all, let alone an inexperienced home. One Poster did proceed to meet the dog, and admitted afterwards that those of us who had warned her against it had been correct - the rescue had seriously downplayed some significant issues.

Thanks for that. I have shared the wording of the post above. He is described as a senior gentleman. The breed is not mentioned though I thought he looked a collie cross so I could be wrong. Don't worry I will be asking plenty of questions as will they so it's not a case of rocking up and taking him. I'm going to call them today for more info.

@mikado1

very friendly and good natured dog, is the description. Just wants short walks, to potter in the garden and a cosy spot in the house plus lots of love.

If that's the description, that's terrible...(so bad in fact I didn't even realise that was an actual description the charity had given when I first read it). No rescue should be re-homing a dog with so little information.

As an example, the below is what I would expect from any decent rescue that has properly evaluated a dog:

https://spanielaid.co.uk/spaniel/barney-sa5428/

Even Battersea (who I wouldn't touch with a barge pole) put more effort into their descriptions...

I really hope it's good news for you, but honestly from that description it doesn't sound like they've put in any amount of effort to try and get to know this dog or find it a home and as a first time dog owner you deserve far better.

@Costacoffeeplease your dog is beautiful and really reminds me of one we had years ago when my children were young. He was of unknown age and was an absolute legend.
Having had a lot of dogs from different backgrounds and of different ages, I would recommend setting clear boundaries and getting advice from people who know the dog if possible.. Do secure your garden as PP have said.
My 12yo collie cross is great at relaxing but will also happily go on a 4 hour walk and still be running at the end of it so I wouldn’t underestimate a 9 year old.Good luck!

Wow. That's very thorough and means no one's time is wasted. I Havent seen any descriptions like that in the various rescues I'm looking at here in Ireland.

If I didn't happen to own a 9-year old dog my initial reaction would be oh that's old but it really doesn't feel like that. My dog doesn't feel old at all, just quietly brilliant and If in good health I think it's a great idea. An older dog is usually calm, can't be bothered to run off, or constantly wanting to play with toys or other dogs. I'd say go for it.

I have a rescue, got him just before he turned 8. I'm a first time dog owner but have volunteered at a rescue charity for several years. In my experience older dogs can have less issues because they often (but not always) have had a loving home and have come in because their owner is ill or died or had to go into a nursing home. I'd speak to the rescue to find out more about their background, often you find out more by speaking to them than you do in a short written info.

Specific things that I think apply to rehoming older dogs:

• I think they're more likely to have separation issues as they may have been used to being with their owner constantly. Think about this because it takes many months of dedicated training. And until it's sorted the dog needs to come everywhere with you. That may or may not fit with your lifestyle.

• it's hard to undo bad habits (I was niaeve about this!). So it'll take time to retrain especially if the bad habit provides a reward (eg chasing cats, counter surfing for tidbits)

• medical. Even if your dog has a clean bill of health, I highly recommend pet insurance (life time cover if you can) particularly for the first year in case you discover anything like arthritis.

• you'll have to adapt round the dog and their previous experiences. Mine had never seen cows, horses or sheep before, or been in a cafe, or been on a train. We've sorted livestock, we can go to quiet cafes outside, but there's no chance I'll ever get him on a train. Some may have never been in a car.

• they may be unfit when you get them (especially if they've had an elderly owner with reducing mobility). So take it slow to start with!

• you're likely to have them for less time.

But there's lots of positives of an older dog. As I said they can often be amazing dogs who've only ever experienced love and have had time invested into them and their training. It's brilliant when you see their fitness improve and them do normal dog things. And you (hopefully) don't have to go through toilet training. And they might know (albeit be rusty!) on commands. And no teething stage!! They're also great, they like a walk or a play, but then a nap. I got an older dog as it fitted my lifestyle (I have a chronic illness) and I don't regret it.

Super, practical tips. Thank you.

Good for you Op. Fills your dog shaped hole and gives a dog a happy end.

If they run off remember they have excellent smell even if eyes and ears go. Any “you” smell is good and don’t panic if they run off. Get them chipped because people always return them to vets even if they aren’t lost.

Hello OP, good on you! We are in the market for an older dog at present.
we do have a resident older dog (10 year old lab) but her joints are shot and she just does little walks. Our 16 month old daughter is too much for her so we thought a dog 6 plus might be the right fit. We are looking for a retired gun dog I suppose that has had training, will be more agile with our young child and fit enough to walk with us and smart enough to respect our older girl….