What age is too old to get another dog? i'd hate to have a life without a dog in it and it crossed my mind at what age would i consider myself to old to get another dog. I've got hopefully a good 12 years left for my youngest dog but when she goes would it be sensible to start again.
my worry would be what if i died before my dogs and nobody wanted them, i'd hate for them to end up in a rescue centre although i know
alot of dogs get great homes after that.
I've got a long while to go with my pack and i'm not too old yet ,so don't know why i'm thinking about this but because i've got a child with special needs you tend to look to the future as you have to have things planned.
What do you lot think? do you ever worry about your dogs being left without you.

I not anywhere near the age of retirement by a long shot but i still think about it sometimes, you never know when our time has come.
Traffic accidents, illness etc can take many of us way too young.
Think you'll have to weigh things up on this.
I know someone now into her 70's who only takes on older rescue dogs from our breed due to the reason you have mentioned.

How long is a piece of string :) One of my neighbours got a young, small rescue dog two years ago and she must be well over 90. She walks it several times a day in all weathers :) The main thing for all dog owners is to have thought about the 'what if' question and have a plan :) :)

Daisy

Tricky one. If I was to live as long as my mum I only have 5 years left with my dogs. :-( If I live as long as my gran (mum's mum) I have another 35 years to go ;-) I will always have a dog in the house. At least one. I have already spoken to my family and friends and have a back-up system in place should anything happen to me. I think it is the only responsible thing to do. The dogs are my companions and I wouldn't be without them in my life, for as long as I am capable of looking after them.

None of us can guarantee that we'll outlive our dogs, especially if we drive a car! But it's true that the older we get the less likely it is. My mother was in her mid- to late-60s when she got a golden retriever puppy; but she only got him on the understanding that if anything happened to her that I'd take on the dog. The dog eventually died at the age of 14, several years ago, and Mother's soon to have her 86th birthday. If she wasn't so disabled she'd love another dog - not a puppy though - but knows that she's too frail to be able to manage one to the standard she'd demand.

I've decided that, at age 66 and OH 69, we are too old to breed another litter.   Well that's not quite correct - but we might be too old to cope with taking back a puppy from a litter that we bred some 10 or so years down the line :(    Although I'm not ruling out another puppy - from a girl bred by me, whose owner/breeder of potential litter has already said that if she breeds/if we want a puppy, she would take it back should the need arise.

I personally feel my grandparents are too old for anothe puppy of a large breed but I wouldnt hesitate that even afew years down the line helping them get another dog, but buying an older resue dog with only a couple/afew years if they wanted another dog.

As for what happends.  Your dogs should be included in your will if you want to make sure what happends to them.  Again my grandparents last will was any old dogs should  be pts, and youngster would be under our resposibility to rehome (agreed I may add)

There is a charity set up I think I recall for elderly which will help rehome the dogs once yor gone should you wish  them too.

What a morbid subject :(  But one that we all have to consider.

> There is a charity set up I think I recall for elderly which will help rehome the dogs once yor gone should you wish  them too.
>

the cinnamon trust

> Your dogs should be included in your will if you want to make sure what happends to them

Yes - this will cover the legal position. However, as I have found, it can sometimes take a while for a will to be found and read so it is much better to express your wishes to a close, trustworthy, family member or friend :)

Daisy

Funny this question shoul come up I have been musing ion this although around 10 years away from retirement and the dogs are only 2 and 1. Have decided that I will def have a couple more one toy breed and 1 flatti after that who knows may have to down grade to only toy breed or perhaps rehome an oldie so we can go gracefully together ! Guess it depends on your health and finances but I agree it is wise to think about who would have them if anything happened.

with regards to making a will, when I did mine the solicitor could barely keep a straight face - he must have been thinking what a weird dog lady!  I have arranged for a set amount for each dog I own for each year of it's life to be paid to someone who looks after them.  the money would be paid yearly until the dog dies.  Who knows how many I will have when the time comes - or more to the point can my estate cope with the financial requirments lol

> or more to the point can my estate cope with the financial requirments lol

The problem with leaving set amounts in a will is that, if the will isn't kept up to date, the value can easily be devalued. Also, if the will contains bequests based on a percentage of the residue (what's left after the fixed amounts) there may not be anything left to give to other people :( ie I leave £5000 for my dogs and the remainder of my estate in equal shares to my two daughters - the daughters could end up with nothing :(

Daisy

>> The problem with leaving set amounts in a will is that, if the will isn't kept up to date, the value can easily be devalued. Also, if the will contains bequests based on a percentage of the residue (what's left after the fixed amounts) there may not be anything left to give to other people :-( ie I leave £5000 for my dogs and the remainder of my estate in equal shares to my two daughters - the daughters could end up with nothing :-(

such is life!  My dogs are unable to earn their own keep so need to be catered for.  Hopefully, depending on their age and ability, any dependents would be capable of earning for themselves but I would hate the thought of having pets put into kennels or PTS because no-one could afford to take them.  That is my choice and I am sure you will make yours taking into account the needs of your daughters :)

I don't have two daughters - it was just an example of what some people might put in a will when they have enough money to leave, say, £5000 to their dogs and then the balance of their estate to someone else :) Over time, or due to circumstances, the residue may shrink or completely disappear :( If you are happy to leave all your money to your dogs that is your choice, I was just trying to point out (which may be of interest to others) what can happen if a specified amount is put into a will :) :) :)

Daisy

We had this topic not long ago.

Living alone, the thought of me being found dead in the house, and the RSPCA taking my dogs, fills me with horror.  Or it used to.

I made a will back in 2001, and all my dogs go to the Cinammon Trust.  I have a large card to put on the mantelpiece, with easily read instructions should anything happen to me.  My vets details are also on there.  I asked my vet if he would liaise with the trust, as he is best suited to know what sort of home would be suitable for each of my dogs.  Border Collie would need someone interested in obedience, Yorkies would need active family homes.  Chihuahuas less active etc.

Fortunately my vet said that he would pick my dogs up himself - very good of him as there are a lot.  I would hate to think that age was a barrier to owning a dog (as long as you can cope.)  If any of my pups go to older people, I ask straight out what happens if they die.  Some have thought about that, some haven't.  I ask them to sign a contract saying the dog comes back to me. 

I saw a solicitor and have left my home to the trust, which should cover any financial needs of my beloved pets.

I think thats wonderful JeanSW!

I always plan everything years in advance it's just the way that I am, the females in my family todate have always lived to be in their late 80's - 90's, (I hope and pray that I will also be the same :-) ) but I have a cut off date for having a pup, or if indeed a young rescue and my cut off age is 60, (as long as fit and healthy) it then gives me approx 10-15 years to hopefully outlive any dog I have, I won't have a dog after that age, I don't feel it is fair, instead if I live beyond 75 and still have the need and want for an animal it will be a cat and a goldfish :-D at least a cat is easier to pass on to loving relatives, less likely to pine when loosing their owner ( let's face it if you feed and stroke a strange cat, it will move in regardless) and easier to care for than a dog, being much more likely to be taken on.

So, although dogs are my most favourite of all the earths animals looks like I will end my days with a purrrrr rather than a woof! :-D

> let's face it if you feed and stroke a strange cat, it will move in regardless

:-)  :-)  :-)

This is a very helpful thread. The trouble is, one feels the same inside - so, I'm 66 but still feel 16.......:-) However, I do feel it's very important when considering a living animal to not let heart rule head. So, thanks Carrington as always for your admirable common sense - no more puppies for us.....:-(

You contact me & see if I've got a nicely trained adult that needs a loving home ;-)

That's a personal post for Bear not an open invitation I hasten to add :-D

> I made a will back in 2001, and all my dogs go to the Cinammon Trust.

Hope you have better luck than a friend, call her D. who lived on her own.
I helped her register her 2 dogs (1large/hairy wolfhound x and 1 toy puddle) with Cinammon, filled in all forms, sent off, got letter of receipt back etc.
About 18 month later she was taken to hospital 7-8 weeks and then released to nursing home where she died about 10 weeks later. Her sister arranged for dogs to go to kennels, she could not take them as she worked full time. She contacted Cinammon when D went into hospital to ask about their 'foster' scheme' and was told 'Sorry no-one and nothing available'
She then contacted them when D died and got told 'we couldn't do anything for at LEAST next 4 months'. Kennel bill was getting huge after 4+ months, kennel also had full bookings (summer season)  Large hairy was about 11yrs and getting stiff etc and Ds vet advised pts, poodle 8ish was rehomed to family kennel owner knew.
Another of Ds friends cancelled her standing order donation to Cinammon due to their attitude. :-( :-(
Chris

Your experience was very much like a lovely Obedience lady & people trying to help her were asked-how much money has she got to pay for the dogs until she dies ! Instead the Obedience people rallied round & helped her rehome the dogs, one very kind person paid all the kennelling fees & she passed away happy that her beloved dogs were safe in their new forever  homes. The Obedience people have also set up a fund to help people in similar circumstances.

I wouldn't give anything to the Cinnamon Trust, they are not all they seem to be !

We had to make enquiries at the CT once and rang them. We were told that they would ring us back and were still waiting a year later despite having made several further phone calls to them.

For my dogs I have made my own arrangements - they are rescues but my family would take them if anything ever happened to me. I am meant to give them back to the rescue but that would only be a last resort .... as my daughter was living here when we took them on I can't see that it would be a problem for the rescue.

One of my friends had her will made out and it states who will have which dog, this may be the best way to go.