Hello, asking this on behalf of a friend.
My friend is 72 and OH 73.  They have been dog owners for 16 years, and had three dogs together all from puppies approx 2 years apart.  My friend gave up work 20 years ago so was  always at home with the dogs and the primary care giver, basically they were her life.
Sadly the last of the dogs died a few weeks ago and my friend is distraught and I think becoming increasingly depressed.
Both of the couple are fit and active with no medical problems and still walking 1/2 hours (until the last dog died).
They live in a coastal village surrounded by open fields and a 5 minute drive to the beach.
My friend thinks that breeders would consider them too old to have a puppy, hence my question- would you consider them?
I have suggested maybe a rescue dog but she isnt sure that she would bond with a dog she hadnt brought up from a pup.
Thank you in advance.

I really hope that someone on this forum will message you privately with a solution.
Most reputable breeders will offer to take back a puppy should the worst happen and a dog need rehomed
Doubtless some people will think that your friends are too old but they sound like they have an ideal set up to me .
If they can find a breeder of a similar  age to themselves they might have better luck.
Once they decide on a breed they like , if they could get themselves to a nearby dog show they will I’m sure find someone of a similar age who may be able to help point them in the right direction

I sold a puppy (of my high energy breed that cannot be "just" pets) to a single retired man who had no experience of similar breeds, but he did have a lot of general dog experience and had done his research very well. He impressed me, and he said from day one that one of the reasons for picking me as a breeder was that I will take back a dog that I've bred if the owner cannot keep it, the difference this time was that we knew from the outset that it was more likely to happen than with younger owners, and I agreed.

This owner is now successfully competing in both obedience and rally with the dog - a totally new hobby for him. He's enjoying it so much that he got a second dog of the same breed from a friend of mine a couple of years later. That dog is also competing. The dogs have a fantastic life. Yes he could get very ill or even die before the dogs, but anyone could, at any age, so I felt it was worth the risk. The worst thing that can happen is that I and the other breeder each get a really well trained dog back.

It all comes down to individual breeders and individual buyers. If your friend is able to make contingency plans, such as having an agreement with another family member or friend that they will give the dog a home should it be necessary, or can find a breeder that will accept the higher risk of an adult being returned, then they should be fine.

Thank you Garbo!

Thank you Goldmali!

I'd imagine that as good breeders will have a take-back clause in their sale contract, for the life of the dog, that's the good part of this.   However, as for taking on a puppy, that would totally depend on how active the couple in their 70s are.   I was in my 60s when we took on our Whippet and in all honesty, coping with her 'zoomie' periods could have challenged me had I been the age I am now!!   And this would, maybe, and depending on the breed, be more of a worry for me, than the dogs outliving the elderly. 

When I still had my homebreds (and no children, just my sister) I was always worried about what might happen to them if we died first but now they are all gone, with our current buy-ins, having breeders in the background made that part of this not an issue.   Much as the breeder of one, has 'disappeared' off the scene.

I got  2 puppies separately when I was about that age when the second one came. It was very important to me that the breeder would either have them back and rehome them should anything happen to me. They were the first pups I had had for 40 years but we have been to loads of classes and 2 walks every day. They have a great life.
Louise

> I have suggested maybe a rescue dog but she isnt sure that she would bond with a dog she hadnt brought up from a pup.

Convince her to take a chance, and she will never look back. The bond and love to an adult dog is just as strong, develops just as quickly, there is literally no difference

I personally would not sell a puppy to such elderly couple unless there are special circumstances. That they are active is good, but puppies often require more than that - at least in my breed where the puppies are true terriors. Think about elderly couple raising a small child, often it's very hard and tiring for the couple and ultimately may turn out unfair both to the couple and to the child. The puppy is very similar, it may require tons of patience, energy, and there are days when even despite all that you still feel like pulling your hairs out.

I've sold a puppy to a 70+ lady however she lived on a farm with her adult daughter and their family, knew the breed and had an older friendly dog for a companion to the pup, it worked out well because the puppy's days were packed with adventures of the life on a farm, the older dog as a best friend and his lady owner taking care of him. This I think is different to a more ordinary household where I would definitely advise getting an adult/elderly dog with established temperament, ready and eager to share love and days with it's new owners.

I had an enquiry from a middle aged couple, asking if I would sell a pup to the ladies mum.  I said that I couldn't give an answer until I had met this person.  (For met, read interrogated.)

They brought mum.  She was so lonely after losing her husband, and wanted companionship.  I took to her totally.  At her age it was best for her to have a small breed.  I had an accidental litter.  Yorkshire Terrier mum, and dad was a Long Coat Chihuahua.

The lady interacted with my dogs completely, not in the least fazed when I opened the kitchen door and a stampede of dogs ran up to her.  I had to be blunt though, and asked her what would happen when she died, explaining that I wouldn't want a dog rehomed, I would want it back to me.  They agreed that her daughter and son in law would bring the dog to me.

When they came to collect the pup I could see just how happy he made the old lady.  She eventually contacted me to let me know that he had been named Sonny because he had brought so much sunshine into her life.

It was years later that the daughter phoned to let me know that mum had cancer and was living with the couple, Sonny got on well with the resident dogs as they had met plenty of times.  When the old lady died the daughter phoned me asking if they could keep Sonny because he was part of the family, and the other 2 dogs would miss him.  I was only too happy to say yes.

Many thanks to all for your replies.  I will pass them on to my friend and im sure they will give her some comfort and hope. X

A lot would depend on the breed they want and experience in that breed and how mobile they are and able. Some people at that age could be far fitter and healthier than someone half their age. The age in itself wouldn't put me off but i would need to meet them before making a decision. I know many people of their age who are still breeding and showing large powerful breeds and occasionally needing help with running them in the ring and are very able to walk and control them out and about.

I would also consider practical matters. The couple are fit and active, which suggests they probably like to go for walks, places and enjoy life generally. Getting a puppy may put a hold on some or many of their activities, not only by introducing associated chores but also by limitations which the puppy will have until more developed, such as 5 min walk per month of the puppy's age for example.

I always take my dogs for long walks and different places, this is one of my most favourite aspect of owning the dog. But it is very literally put on hold for a good part of the year every time I'm raising a pup, as it's no different to having a baby in the house - there is only so much the baby can do, chores, and once the baby is asleep you have just couple of hours to pop to the shop or just rest your feet before it wakes up and demands your attention and everything starts all over again.

Of course these chores and limitations can in themselves be a pleasurable part of raising the puppy experience, and one could probably get a stroller providing the puppy is happy to sit in it, and so on. But that's where I'd ask the couple a question - is this really what they want? I think the more we get older the more we treasure time and value the life that we lead, and try to spend as much of it as we can on things we love. As in "life is too short"! Would you choose to spend a part of it on cleaning the puppy's mess, trying to train it, dealing with "terrible twos", stress and worries should things seem like not going to plan, and so on. Or would you rather acquire a loving companion, ready and eager to share your life and take part in activities you love, be it long walks, days out, visit to friends, places, etc. Housetrained, settled in temperament, attentive. To me, it seems an absolute no brainer. I would say again if the only thing which is stopping your friend from considering an adult dog is the worry over the love and bond, please ask her to talk to people who had adopted, and I would guarantee each and every one of them would say that the love and bond are just as strong.

Obviously, as a breeder myself I would want to meet this couple and have a good discussion about this.  In many ways an ideal home, always there, time and energy as well as devotion to a puppy at the moment.  They also have the time to train the puppy to be obedient, good on the lead etc to make life easier as they do get older.
I would ask though, should they no longer be able to care for the dog, what plans would they make for provision of the dog, hopefully their health wouldn't deteriorate at the same time, so one or other could manage the walks etc for a long while to come.
They may even be able to manage long term with the help of a dog walker to enable them to keep a dog within the home - we all know how much having a furry friend helps us in so many ways...
Perhaps, in their later years, when they really couldn't cope any longer, they would have family that could take the dog on and take it to visit so they still have contact.
I personally, would hate to not have a dog in my life - if there's a will, there's a way.

I think older retired people often have loads of time to raise a puppy and it's a great time in life to get one - if they are fit and well enough to care for them.

I just did home a puppy with an older couple - about 68 and 72, I think they are - and they are both fit and active.  And I hope that when I'm 70-odd, breeders will still consider me acceptable to place a pup with

I would not consider them old at that age, based on all the people in my breed who are mostly in that age bracket.

Also my Father at 85 is only just slowing down physically, so early 70's should last a dog out, and of course you'd arrange to have the dog back to home should family not do so.

If the were to be first time dog owners I might hesitate more, but people who are well used to the needs and routine of daily walks etc that owning a dog entails, would not give me pause.

Sadly as a friend of mine found even homing to someone considered young (40's) death can happen, and she ended up with the dog in SSPCA care and unable to get him back, despite ten contract with deceased owner.