Posted on 01/16/2014 9:00:37 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
Like many people in late middle age, I find myself wondering if my next dog will be different. I have long shared my life with retrievers — active, field-bred dogs who throw themselves with joy into every situation (and every puddle of water bigger than a dinner plate). Their boisterousness is infectious: My dogs make me happy. But in 10 years, or 15, or 20, will I be up to the demands of dogs like these?
Or will a nice, quiet little spaniel be the dog I need?
My answer may be different than others, even among people of similar age (55), health (reasonably good) and activity level (decent, could be better). I live in a rural pocket near an urban center, and I can always walk out my back door and engage a bored retriever in a heart-thumping game of fetch in my horse pasture. But I won’t always be able to lift a sick or injured 70-pound dog, and that’s an unchangeable truth. These types of concerns explain in part the increased popularity of small dogs as baby boomers like me approach retirement age.
Smaller May Be Better
So, yes, size does matter when you're choosing a canine companion for your golden years. But so do energy level and health history. Energy level is important, because if you choose a small dog thinking he’ll be easier to keep exercised and entertained than a large one, chances are you don’t know anyone who has a Jack Russell. And the health history is important in choosing any dog, but especially so when you’re on a fixed income, as most retirees are. The health history may tell you about any preexisting health conditions that your dog may have, but of course, it's not a guarantee that the dog won't develop health issues in the future. An easygoing or at least kid-tolerant temperament is also a must, especially if you have grandkids over regularly.
Before I start suggesting specific breeds, I have two other recommendations. First, get an adult dog. With an adult dog, you are more likely to have a good idea of health history and temperament, and you’re past the time and money involved in raising a puppy. Second, check out shelters and rescue groups to get a great pet — breed mixes may often have fewer health problems than their purebred counterparts. If you want a purebred puppy, be sure to find a reputable breeder, because if you don’t, you may end up with a poorly socialized dog or a dog with health issues who doesn’t measure up to the full potential of the breed. (You may also be supporting puppy mills if you choose the wrong source for your pup, and you don’t want to do that.)
French Bulldog
Martha Stewart is one of an A-list of celebrity fans of the French Bulldog, a stylish small spark plug of a dog with a solid disposition. While the Frenchie is a brachycephalic breed with all the baggage that comes with that, if you take the trouble to avoid casual or puppy-mill breeders, you’re likely to have fewer health problems. (And do take the trouble: Poorly bred French Bulldogs can have their respiratory systems so compromised by their flat faces that they need surgery to survive.)
A healthy French Bulldog is a solid companion, especially if he can be with you all the time. While not exactly known for their athleticism (they tend to overheat easily), if kept fit and trim, the Frenchie is a wonderful walking partner. Sharing the bed may take a little getting used to, though, since these dogs tend to snore. But in the eyes (and ears) of those who love them, that just makes the Frenchie more endearing.
Poodle
There’s a reason why Poodles have remained popular decade after decade, especially with older people. They’re personable, easy to train and have a lively sense of humor (they laugh with you, not at you). They are also relatively clean, low-shedding dogs who are easy to maintain as long as you keep regular grooming appointments (or learn to maintain a short “puppy clip” yourself). The Poodle is part of the original popular crossbreed, the Cockapoo, and the “poo” influence is seen in the names of many others, including the Labradoodle, the dog that kicked off the modern cross-breed craze.
The Toy Poodle is very popular with people who want a fun tiny dog, but the miniature may be a better pick if you need a dog who’s a little sturdier and more capable of a good long walk. Trick training is usually a breeze with these dogs, and once trained, Poodles seem to live to keep you laughing.
Schipperke
One of the more long-lived dogs, the Schipperke is a sturdy little breed with an easy-care coat and shoe-button eyes that are always asking, "What next?" If you live with a Skip, the answer could be, “Anything.” Take up kayaking, or buy a sailboat — heck, move onto a sailboat and head for an around-the-world adventure. Equipped with a life-preserver in case he goes overboard, your Skip will love you, because after all, this breed was developed for onboard living, as a ship’s ratter from Belgium.
Want to stay on terra firma? That’s fine too. Put in a dog door so your Skip can patrol the perimeter, and plan some long hikes. The Schipperke may be small, but he’s indefatigable. But always keep the leash on: He’s fast, and always ready to show the squirrels just how fast — even if there’s a busy road between him and them.
Maltese
If you want a dog who sheds the least, get a small, long-haired dog and keep your pet clipped short. The Maltese fits the bill here perfectly. Although the Maltese in the show ring is a perfectly groomed, shimmery wave of floor-length white fur, the same fur goes easy-care when the dog is kept clipped short.
That’s not the only benefit of the breed, by far. Maltese are in the same general family as many dogs developed solely as companions and lapdogs, such as the Bichon Frise, Havanese, Bolognese and Coton de Tulear. The Maltese and its related breeds (as well as cross-breeds with these breeds in them) are incredibly attentive and tuned in to their owners. As one of the smallest breeds on this list, Maltese are also the most portable — and fragile.
Thinkstock
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
If you’re on the more active side, and comfortable with a dog who’s smart, determined and strong-willed, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi might be a good fit. Long known as the dog favored by England's Queen Elizabeth (who also fancies her Dorgis, a double dose of short-leggedness that’s the offspring of a Corgi and a Dachshund), the Corgi’s strong will is kept somewhat in check by the limitations of those little legs.
They don’t seem to be aware of the problem, though, which means you have to do your best to keep your Corgi from injuring that long back. That means stairs for the bed or couch, and ramps for the car. And yes, lifting: Although the Corgi is a relative small dog, he’s no lightweight, especially if you don’t watch his diet. But a better companion for an active life is hard to find, which is why Corgis are the darlings of the equine set, along with the hard-charging Jack Russell.
Again, these are just some general suggestions to get you thinking before you choose a dog who’s no longer a good fit with your current circumstances. We all age differently, with different abilities and expectations, and just as there will be people who take up mountain climbing in their sixties, there will be people in their seventies who do just fine with German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers. But most of us will probably be happier with a smaller, less demanding dog to keep us company in the final decades of a dog-loving life.
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He is adorable!! How do you post pics though?
LOL. Mine does too.
My brother's greys take their retirement very seriously. LOL!
When he first got them, they would chase a thrown tennis ball. Now, all they are interested in doing is trotting around and smelling the smells.
What food do you feed yours?
Racers at the track are usually fed a raw meat diet.
My brother's dogs were transitioned to a dry food diet before he got them. Afterward, he decided to transition them back to a raw meat diet.
Processed dog food causes a few problems in dogs, such as tartar on the teeth which in turn causes unhealthy gums. It also causes anal sac problems.
A raw meat diet takes care of all of these because the bones and tendons give their teeth and gums a good cleaning with every meal and the hard poops do the same for their anal sacs.
His dogs get fed things like chicken quarters, turkey legs and necks ox tails, etc. He will also sometimes suppliment meals with raw eggs and even sardines.
We have had retired racing greyhounds and a few little pups since 1980 and never had anything else but cats along with the greyhounds. Since we haven’t kicked the greyhound habit and are pushing 70, you know there has to be something special about them. LOL
There are plenty who are cat and small dog safe, along with child safe. Just about every adoption group profiles their dogs before placement.
Ours bark when someone comes to the door, but they are not barkers.
Some hounds don’t like to walk on hard floors but most adjust just fine. Area rugs and runners will eliminate any hard floor problems. And yes, dog beds are fine with them and yes, they will lie down on hard floors if they have too.
The only negative I can think of is their tender skin. Because there is so little fur/hair to protect the skin they get cut more easily than other dogs if there is roughhousing and exposed nails anywhere. A small price to pay for a beautiful, sweet dog. :)
Hope this helps.
Here's a web page that my brother set up for his dogs, Greta and Frannie.
Greta is still alive, but alas, he had to put Frannie down when she broke her back one day while he was at work.
First, the photos need to be on a server somewhere, like Photobucket.
Next, use the following HTML:
<img src="http://Image-URL.jpg">
Replace Image-URL.jpg with the image file name.
Here's a pic my brother's dog, Greta, enjoying the 4th of July fireworks show. (Can you say, 'low-key personality?')
<img src="http://gretagreyhound.com/dan/thumbs/CIMG3186_t.jpg">
;
He never slept outside again or anywhere else except a warm comfortable bed.
Is that an arugula pizza?
Thank you for replying. “PFL” should have been obvious to me.
I worked in my home so that the dogs were sometimes alone. They do like attention, either positive or negative although they never saw any negative attention around here. They do like to bark a lot but I loved it! When they wanted attention they would bark at me! However, the two that we have had were equally happy to be home alone on those occasions when I had to leave the house for a job. They are typical dogs in that they will bark at you when you leave the house then bark at you when you get home!
We would run around the house, bark at and chase each other. One time my wife hollered, “Would you two take that out into the backyard? I am trying to think!” LOL We settled down but then the dog came back out into the computer room and started picking a fight so that we started running around the house and creating all kinds of noise. The wife then hollered, “I don’t have a husband and a dog! I have two kids!” ROFL
We inherited the first one from a friend who passed away. No one in her family nor any of her other friends wanted the dog. The second we bought from a local breeder, not a ‘puppy farm’. A local lady who was actually interested in the animals. The Sheltie we got from the breeder was AKC registered and had won many agility contests. Both were female and both were absolute sweethearts. We loved both of them. However, they will try to rule the house! We were kind of old for the first one and didn’t care. We let both of them pretty much herd us around. ;-)
We used to let the back door opened when the weather permitted so that they could come and go into the back yard as they pleased. They both would run along the back of the fence for hours, getting their exercise.....on their own.
Good luck in your search! ;-)
“2. A “senior” in the large breed such as a Great Dane or German Shepherd”.
I met an elderly man a few years back walking a HUGE GSD. We had one at the time so we struck up a conversation. He had recently lost his GSD and wanted another dog so contacted a GSD foster group. The man told me that having this dog kept him young and healthy. He walked him (albeit slowly) and had a buddy to watch television and eat ice cream with at night. He was widowed and his kids lived far away. The GSD group asked him if he was sure he could handle such a large dog and he just grinned. Made my heart feel good. In a way.. the two somewhat rescued each other. The man rescued the dog and gave him a home. The dog rescued the man from being lonely.
I love my 2 labradoodles-—very little shedding, very easy to train, and they are the queens of the doggie park.
They are quiet and well behaved in the house (we don’t have a yard we can fence in) and are the perfect companions for people like me who are 2 years older than dirt.
We didn’t know you could pick out a dog. We thought you had to wait and see what limped up your driveway and sat shivering on the porch. So far we have a Chihuahua and a Beagle. Could not have gotten two better dogs if we had gone out and bought them. Can’t wait to see what turns up next. :-)
B.S. My Yorkie is perfect.
They range in size from a smallish 18 pounds to a largish 35 pounds. A little soft (they are after all Spaniels) but not a frou-frou dog despite their small size. Friend of mine owned the HRC high point Boykin, GRHRCH "Mule", who passed away this past summer at the age of 12.
Basically, they are an undersized Chocolate Lab with dreadlocks. That's my undersized Chocolate Lab Shelley on the right, sharing a joke with her good friend Hooch:
" . . . and then the Traveling Salesdog said . . . "
Dobermanns until I die.
:)
Thumbs up!
Thanks, Salamander!
EXACTLY! What keeps me getting up at 5:30 in the AM so I have enough time to walk and feed him? A dog! What makes me look at buying a house with a HUGE back yard? A Dog.
I have had German shorthaired Pointers which was my favorite,I now am a proud owner of a dog that I took in when my dad passed away. My dad owned a Schnoodle, so here I sit with him. Sam is 9 years old. I want to get him a brother or a sister which will be (Lord Willing) A German Shepard Pup!! If that doesn’t keep me young/Nothing will!!
I can vouche for everything you have said having rescued three retired racers. Our latest is fast asleep in the bed next to me right now.
Someone in this thread mentioned a raw meat diet. I have never heard of a rescue having such a diet. I know at the track, they are fed horse meat, mixed with vegetables, Gatorade and multi-vitamins.
But we feed our grey kibble dog food with a little bit of organic yogurt to keep her regular.
And yes, they lounge/sleep 16 hours a day, lol!
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