Yeah, yeah! Bite your tongue, Carol! One is never too old for pets. But the truth is, the type of pet may need to change as we age and our abilities diminish. Dogs are good for us, but not all dogs are suitable choices for a senior lifestyle. Honestly, dogs and seniors may not always make a good team. If you are thinking about adding a dog to your family, consider these points.
Are You Physically Able to Care for a Dog?
Size Matters
That large retriever you loved at age 35 might not be as easy to control as you grow a bit older. Large dogs sometimes require brute strength to get them to behave.
In my case, the wonderful Great Danes that Jim and I raised would be difficult for us now because large breed dogs require physical strength to handle them during the adolescent training phase. Dogs look to you to be the leader of their pack and that includes being able to physically control them when necessary because just like a young child, dogs can be obstinate and refuse to do as they are told. When our Ginny was about 8 months old, I found her resting comfortably on the off-limits-to-kids-and-pets white sofa. This normally docile and sweet Harlequin Dane ignored me when I ordered her off the sofa. All of the commands she learned in Obedience School went out the window when she gave me the stink eye. The only course left for me was to physically remove her from her comfy napping place. I don’t believe in hitting dogs for any reason, so I grabbed her collar and pulled her to the floor and gave her my sternest lecture. Ginny yawned but moved on to the brown sofa where she was allowed to lounge.
Moral to this story: Don’t take on more dog than you can physically control!
Who Will Exercise the Dog?
Giant, large and even many medium-sized dogs require a lot of exercise. Just a walk around the block once a day won’t satisfy those large-muscled animals. Some breeds, like Border Collies, need plenty of opportunities to run. Can you provide that? Can you run with them? Even small breeds, like the Jack Russell Terrier, need more exercise than the minimum to remain healthy. Plenty of exercise also prevents destructive behaviors in the house. Keep that in mind as you choose a dog breed.
Are you prepared to bend and stretch as needed for feeding your pet? Are you strong enough to control a dog on-leash? No matter how well-trained, any dog can suffer a momentary loss of manners. Our large Weimaraner, an obedience-trained and normally well-behaved boy, spied a squirrel in our yard one days when Jim had him on-leash. Weimaraners are a prey-driven breed and instinct kicked in. Jim was on his face on the ground before he realized what had happened. Be sure you are prepared for the unexpected, because it will happen!
The Downside of Dog Ownership
As wonderful as dogs are, consider these few less-than-pleasant issues that do come with them. If you have become set in your ways and cannot deal with the messes that pets generate, think twice about bringing a dog into your world. Some dogs shed more than others. If that will bother you, choose a non-shedding breed like a poodle or Schnauzer or certain short-haired breeds. Even grown dogs may have accidents in the house. One of our dogs used to squat and urinate the minute one of our sons walked in. There was no physical reason for it. Are you prepared for cleanup when necessary without berating the dog?
Does barking bother you? It’s a fact of life that dogs bark. If you can’t accept that, consider a cat or fish for a pet.
Puppies chew. It’s their nature and they chew more as their permanent teeth come in. Even a stressed adult dog might chew on something inappropriate. Be sure you can deal with occasional upsets of that nature before you bring a dog into your home at this stage in your life.
Who Will Take Fido When You’re Gone?
It’s not a pleasant thought but one day, we are all likely to become unable to care for our pets. A responsible pet owner will establish in advance a designated person to take his or her dog when the time comes. Look for a family member or friend who already loves your dog or who you know will do so. Consider setting up a pet trust to provide for the care of your pet when you are gone. An attorney can help you with this simple task.
Dogs improve the lives of seniors in many ways, from providing companionship to simply giving us a reason to get up each morning. It’s up to us to set the dog up for success and not failure because we took on more than we could handle. Dogs should be loved as family. Please think about this before you adopt or purchase one. After all, dogs and seniors may not always make the perfect team.
