My mum has decided she's lost her enthusiasm for golf and thinks now is the right time to get another dog. They lost their last dog 4 and a half years ago. Mum turns 69 in a couple of weeks, but is very fit and active. My dad is near enough invalid. Mum seemed open to any "make" but Dad is adamant that they would only settle for a border collie, having only had "collies" throughout their married life. I was trying to steer them towards an older dog. They were thinking no older than 3. At least Abby (my 6mth old bc)seems to have put them off the idea of a puppy!

I think they're going to be shocked they can't go to a rehoming centre and just say "We'll have that one", and that they'll have to pass a home-check. That's apart from thinking they can still cope with a bc:(

Any suggestions as to what they should go for? Or where from? (That's saying they'll listen to me anyway!).

LynnT

What about an ex racing Greyhound??? They're happy enough walking for miles and miles, or just being a couch potato!!! Here's a good place to point them at for info about what they're like as a pet;
http://www.rgtnottingham.org.uk/
i would definately discourage them from having a BC, and to be honest i don't think a rescue would home on with them they need soooo much exercise and mental stimulation. You could just get them to go to their nearest rescue and ask their opinion on what would be the most suitable breed, they'll get lots and lots of advice :)

Annette

I would second a retired greyhound or similar. My parents are a similar age & my Dad is also a virtual invalid - they approached the local Greyhound Trust for a retired bitch & were approved, but ended up taking a middle-aged Lurcher bitch which the Trust had taken in. She has suited them very well - quiet & well-behaved around the house, happy to go for walks as & when, but not demanding lots of exercise or mental stimulation.

Hi all,

Melody, thanks!:)
Sara, it would help if my parents would acknowledge they might not be around for the full lifetime of a dog, but they think they're going to live forever!
I'd love them to go the route of a greyhound or similar but I doubt they will. I'm hoping something along those lines will catch my Mum's eye when I take her to Wood Green later.
Ah well, keeping my fingers crossed they come to their senses!
LynnT

Lynn what about an older rough collie they aren't as demanding as the Border and so long as your mum could cope with giving one a good brushing twice a week make lovely companions

Perhaps you could ask them to 'babysit' Abby for a long weekend or even a full week so they can "see" what it's like again to have a busy BC?? :) :)

The 'older' folks in my family have naturally gravitated towards smaller and older breeds, so I haven't had that problem. Mine is dealing with my dad's 20 year old moan that "Oh, I might not be around ______ to do THAT!" Insert "In a year": "In 6 months" "In 24 hours" :rolleyes: :P I just shake my head and press on :)
good luck :)
toodles

Hope your mum and dad find their perfick dog ;) :D

Just wanted to say WELCOME BACK Lynn ;)

Mel

Hi Lynn! :)

What about directing them to a border collie rescue org.? If they are honest about what they will or won't accept in a dog they should be able to find a good match!

Hi ya Lynn, Wanted to say Happy New Year but only had your address and not your e mail :D

SO HAPPY NEW YEAR

Gina x

Hi Gina, Happy New Year to you, too:) x

My Dad's dad had a rough collie (with the original name of Lassie:) )who we inherited when my grandad died. I'll bring her up in conversation next time I see my parents and sound them out.

The BC rescue's are on the list. We started with Wood Green today. (Abby should have been in her first show there today but has come into season, I think:() There were plenty of doe-eyed greyhounds and lurchers wagging their tails at Mum but the suitable ones were all reserved. Because she's being quite specific they've suggested she phones a couple of times a week to see if anything suitable comes in. They reckon they take in about 6 or 7 dogs a day, on average:(

Thanks for the suggestions:)
Lynn x

Lynn BC? wow!! I hope your mum and dad can get a dog that suits all good luck to them and paws crossed. Julieann xxx :)

I just hope they don't jump at the first pair of big brown eyes that look up at them!:)
Lynn x

Having been caught off-guard by the ad for the 4yr-old bc last night (congratulations again to Reefer who got in there first:)), my parents are now all fired up to have a look at a young bitch who's been returned to the breeder. I'd only mentioned her as an example to my parents of the sort of dogs they may be able to find that would probably be too young for them. Hubby and I have been working on them all afternoon and evening trying to get them to accept that the dog may be too boisterous, and that they can say no thanks. By the end of the evening we'd got them down to "probably" getting a dog tomorrow. I've wangled to go with them, so I can lower their expectations to "possibly" on the way there! I know I'm raining on their parade but I so want them to get a dog they can genuinely cope with:(

Thanks for everyone's help so far (especially Gillian:)). :D

Lynn x

And how bad do I feel now???????

I do have to say though if it's any consulation to your parents (which I doubt) she does absolutley adore the children, she's been lieing on them, getting herself into a position so they will lie on her, waving her paw at them to stroke her. And she will look for them in the kitchen/hall/study etc she still won't come in the lounge though, early days yet though.

You never know the one they are going to look at today could be laid back? ANd as she is younger would be better suited to people who are at home most of the day?

Let me know how they go today won't you? After all we need to stay in touch I need all the BC aadvice I can get:D

I do hope it all goes well, Lynn :)

Lindsay

Good luck Lynn! Julie:)

Well, when I arrived at my parents to go with them this morning, my mum said, don't be disappointed if I decide not to take her! So our work last night was not in vain.....until she saw Asti! Actually Mum did have reservations when she first saw her doing her kangaroo impressions all over the lounge of the breeder's house! She needs to be walked on a halti, but does quite well on it. And when we returned to the house, she settled at Mum's feet, looking up at her. Dad wouldn't get out of the car and come in so he'll just have to put up with what he gets:(, which was being goosed several times with a ball when he got home:D

They(Mum!) will have their work cut out for them. Asti was taken to training classes for the first six months, then the owners split up and the impression is that she hasn't had the training continued since then. She's 17 months old. I took Ben and Abby too, and considering they were in the confines of the back of the car together for a couple of hours on the way home, I guess it could have been a great deal worse. Asti was not having Abby touch the chew that was in there. I feel changes in the heirarchy coming on again......

They aren't sure about the name Asti but haven't come up with anything else. Her kc name is Tamarsh Strawberry Shortcake, apparently after the doll? I have suggested that I'm sure Mum and Dad will have all sorts of names to call her by the time the weekend's through, but I doubt you could use them in "polite society";)

Lynnxx

Hope they enjoy the challenge Lynn B.C.s all round :D Gillian

I hope so too, Gillian:D