On another thread the question was asked "would you seriously sell a Puppy to a 70 year old" fair question I guess. Just wondering if you guys think that 70 is just too old to even consider letting someone have a puppy ....?

I don't know if its just because I am getting old, but 70 sounds rather young to me now

I'd probably rather sell to a 70 year old than a 20 year old   I have several friends in their 70s that are still fit and active and walk their dogs 2 hours or more a day, they are all retired so have lots of time for the dog and usually more patience too. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience, thinking of my dog friends here. They tend to spend every evening sitting cuddling the dog on a sofa or going out for dinner with dog under the table. My septuagenarian friends are all fantastic dog owners, better than most younger owners.

Of course they all have plans for what happens to the dogs if they should be incapacitated or worse, I may end up with a very full house should I lose several friends at once! Everyone, of any age, should have clear instructions for future care of their dogs, so that's no different.

So "would you seriously sell a Puppy to a 70 year old" absolutely, once carefully vetted of course, as with any age of owner.

Depends on the breed and how able and agile they are for the breed.
Some people don't like being questioned as I found in that age group who have enquired as to what happens to the dog should something happen to one of them if a couple, are both agile and fit enough?
A large active breed will need a lot more thorough questioning than say for a small sedate breed. Though smaller breeds tend to live a lot longer too.
My father is in his 70's and I wouldn't sell him an active large breed, he's had them all his life but whilst he still works a manual job the actual walking and being active with the dog is a no no for him. If he ever gets a puppy then it would be down to myself or another family member should anything happen if he couldn't look after the dog himself. Hopefully he won't go down that route as will try and convince him otherwise. An older small breed rescue would be better for him.
Hopefully his current oldie has a few more years yet.

Yes and I have done, more than once, and will do again.

People who ask that question are the people that thinks people over 70 should take another driving test.  Also the person who thinks over 75s should pay for a tv license.

There's a chance that refusing to sell a puppy to someone over 70 is in violation of the Equality Act 2010.

Guardedly yes (although at my age I have now stopped breeding - dogs ).    I'd need to know that the individual(s) are fit enough to take on a puppy with their huge needs, and that hopefully they have made arrangements for the dog/puppy should they no longer be able to look after it.   I had a return clause on my Sale Contract too.

yes if look fit enough for the breed. 
I am in my 40s and much as I loved my last 2 dogs- weimaraners - I am now arthritic and not fit enough to handle a high energy big strong youngster so no more weimaraners for us. gone for a smaller easier breed this time- so its not just 70 year olds that have to reconsider which breed if any suits.

I sold 2 chickens to a chap in his late 80s last year as pets- they have a return address with them so if anything happens to him they come back to me if his wife can't cope and those little birds are giving him much joy.

Good post chamsung .each person and situation is individual amd imo should be considered as such

Yes, I've sold a few puppies to 70 year olds and they're all doing great.

I’ve been thinking about the septuagenarians I know with dogs and who do a great job, having lots of time and energy. It occurred to me that today’s 70 year olds are probably fitter and healthier than their equivalents 20 years ago! Sweeping statement, I know but it fits those I’m thinking of who are probably fitter than me!

Depends on the 70 year old, I did get asked to sell litter siblings to a retired couple and refused, a whole other topic but their age didn't deter me.  I also offered to find another litter for them so they could have similarly aged pups, but they were set on litter siblings.

In a few years time, 70 will only be three or maybe even two years past retirement age.

My neighbour got a pup in her late 70s and still walks it twice a day. She is now 85.

>In a few years time, 70 will only be three or maybe even two years past retirement age.

Already it's only 4 years into retirement.

Good point .if people are supposed to be able to work until later in life in most jobs before having a state pension not being able to be considered for a pup if you are  fit and well seems a bit of an imbalance

Not a breeder of course but it would depend on the individual, as to whether a pup would suit.  I've got one on my books who absolutely should not have bought a puppy, and that puppy is absolutely wild with her because she doesn't have the patience or handling skills for her.  I'm genuinely shocked that she's still got the pup tbh (pup is now 11 months)!

But I know others who would be fabulous.

it would depend on the individual, as to whether a pup would suit.  I've got one on my books who absolutely should not have bought a puppy, and that puppy is absolutely wild with her because she doesn't have the patience or handling skills for her.

As others have said ... you get this with the 20s, 30s etc right up to 70s and 80 year olds

Exactly.  Totally down to the individual as to whether they'd be suitable.

Nikita: Totally down to the individual as to whether they'd be suitable.  I have had four 70 & over couples visit to view Puppies,  Two couples made me aware that they had an existing adult Dog so I asked them to being the dog on their visit.  Both were completely out of control with no manners (the dogs that is) and the other could  only provide me with a two year out of date vaccination card so both were a 'sorry no'.  A third couple visited with hubby in a wheel chair and lady on 2 sticks.  again 'sorry no' and the forth was an elderly lady & gentleman who I was considering as on paper seemed like the perfect placement - however I had a call from the lady's daughter asking me not to place the Puppy with them as her father had been recently diagnosed a terminal illness which was never mentioned during the visit.  That was a difficult cancellation phone call to make and I never want to make again.  I feel out of my depth asking individuals about their private medical conditions so I can only go by my own personal experiences as to why I choose not to place Puppies with the elderly.

> <br />Of course they all have plans for what happens to the dogs if they should be incapacitated or worse, I may end up with a very full house should I lose several friends at once! Everyone, of any age, should have clear instructions for future care of their dogs, so that's no different.

Have been away without internet access, but just had to add to this thread.  If someone ever refused me a pup, I may as well be dead.  Dogs are my life.  I don't do people.

I would adore another Bearded Collie, but I'm realistic, and know I can't have one.  If I had another dog it would be a Toy Poodle.  Years ago I did obedience and tracking with one, and she was marvellous.  Really loved it.  I would buy one now, but can't afford the thousands they want for them now.

Jean SW:  I had a poodle when I first got married over 30 years ago and just like you, I found her to be the most intelligent and trainable little thing as well as having a really beautiful temperament!  There is a thread existing here on CD relating to rediculous pricing and I am as disgusted as you are at the current situation.  Hopefully the bubble will burst soon and breeders like myself who haven't/ doesn't agree with greed will prevail

I was 74 when I bought my latest dog earlier this year.  No questions or comments regarding my age were made whatsoever.  In my favour was the fact that a) I wanted a small/toy dog and b) I had owned 5 previously (mostly one at a time).  When I went to view the puppy it turned out that the breeder used to live next door to the breeder of my first ever pup (some 30 years ago) and she also had pups there from the stud owned by the breeder of the boy I had just lost due to old age.  So, there are people out there who don't see age as a problem, but maybe it would depend on the particular breed/size and how mobile the prospective owner was.

(Again just tagging on to the end.) I have had 3 personal friends who literally dropped dead, no warning beforehand and none were accidents. One was 47, one in her 40s, one was 58. Not old. When my grandparents lost their last dog they said they couldn't get another as it may outlive them. Both my mother and I said that if they got a dog, we would give it a home if ever they couldn't, but they still didn't feel able to. They spent 20 YEARS without a dog, and they were miserable. I remember getting my first ever puppy and my grandfather was admiring him and talking to him. He said something along the lines of "You're so beautiful and lovely but one day you will die as well, just like our dog did." I don't ever want to be part of anyone feeling that way. When my widowed and disabled mother in law lost her elderly dog we gave her one of our Cavaliers. When he died we got her a Labrador from the council stray kennels. When she (the Lab) died my MIL was in her 80s so we let two of our oldest dogs live with her and we did everything, so she had the company of dogs but zero responsibility. When MIL died the dogs became ours again.

A few years ago I was approached by a man in his 70s enquiring about a pup of my large, energetic breed. He had dog experience but not of such specialist breeds/high energy. But he'd done his research and he said straight up that he wanted a breeder who could be trusted to have the dog back should anything happen to him, and I agreed. He's now competing in obedience and rally and tricks and has got a second dog from another breeder, friend of mine, under the same condition. If his dog comes back one day, it will be a well socialised and VERY well trained dog indeed. I'm happy to take that risk.

I've also sold my high energy breed to four disabled people who wanted to train their own assistance dog. One was experienced, two were very experienced, and one had very little experience but spent 3 years researching, meeting breeders etc. All four have so far done amazingly well and the first qualified as an assistance dog. (The other 3 are still puppies.)

If you breed you have to be prepared to take a dog back at any time for any reason whatsoever. If you pick your buyers carefully it only tends to happen when something really out of the ordinary and unexpected happens. Being 70 doesn't guarantee that you will die before the dog and won't be fit enough to cope with it, but neither does being 25 guarantee that you won't. None of us know the future so we can only judge in the now, going with the info and gut feelings we have -plus contracts stating you will agree to have a dog back at any time.

When we had our first weimaraner we were in 20s and our breeder was concerned about what would happen if we had children- she wanted to be certain this was not going to be a furbaby to be discarded once real baby came along.   In my 30s the concern was if I took on more work and could not give so much care.   both breeders were also concerned about whether we owned own home or were dependant on good will of a land lord. 

at least with older people babies are not an issue, housing tends to be more secure, finances tend to be more settled.

Goldmali - Fantastic post.  Great to read!

Heartily agree - a heart warming reassuring post Goldmali

I think as has been said every age has a "what if" People should be looked at as whole a holistic approach I suppose. But also as has been said "no one is promised tomorrow"  human or dog. So you have to I suppose trust your gut instinct and keep in touch.

My in-laws, both in their early eighties, went to a dogs home to come away with something like a small donkey, a mastiff cross they were told, totally unsuitable for them. My mother -in-law has since had a bad fall from the dog getting up in front of her, it's untrained & before it got too fat used to clear off for a time.

The dogs home then posted on their website that she had gone to her forever home, some joke, totally irresponsible.