Hello. Please forgive the writing but this is my first time on such a message board and i don't really know what to say or do but I was wondering if someone could give me some advice. I am trying to find a suitable dog for a lady friend of mine. She would dearly love a dog but can not leave her house. After some years she is now able to go out into her small back garden, but no further and only for short periods. She would be able to toilet train a puppy herself but could not give it a lot of exercise. She has a few friends and family members like myself, who would be willling to go on vet visits etc, but finding someone who could go on regular walks would be a problem. We were thinking an older dog would be more practical but clearly she could not go to a rescue centre to meet or choose a dog for herself. We have heard that there rescue groups for individual breeds who would come to her house to help match her with a suitable companion. On the other hand getting a puppy would mean it would grow up used to her lifestyle. Any very big dogs would not be practical and she does not like very little dogs. With these things in mind what kind of breeds (if any) do you think may be suitable. I am sure she would be a wonderful 'mum' to her new dog and i'm sure having a doggy friend would benifit her self-confidence a great deal as well as the responsibility of a pet giving her something to get up for every morning. And clearly she would have lots of time to spend with it.We would be grateful for any information that could get are serch started.  Geoff

Very, very occasionally a rescue society will be looking for a home for an agoraphobic dog.  They may want a home that would be prepared to help the dog overcome the problem but perhaps if the dog is older..... who knows?  I don't think a puppy would be a good idea though. 
Sally

Just out of interest,  Someone I know has agrophobia, and it is actually the dog that has MADE her go out. (she has a black lab) I seem to remember she got him after her old dog died(her husband doted on his black labs until he died) leaving his wife. Now I see her every day, and if she is having a bad day, she doesnt take him as far. (although, this situation is different as one of her friends takes the dog out in the evening, and a neighbour in the morning, so he al;ways get 2 long walks a day.)
Sorry not on the topic, but wondered if anyone else had heard of this.
Guest I hope your freind can find a dog. I think she will look after a dog wondefully and may even help her.
Lea :)

Geoff if you email me i might be able to help but would need to meet the lady so it depends where she lives
E.mail@dogs-at-burgau.co.uk

Most larger dogs need and love walks and exercise. I was going to say, Chihuahua until I read that she didn't like small dogs. They don't require anymore than about 10 or 15 minutes a day, which they can get inside, although I take mine with my big dogs and me on hikes several miles long and they love that. But from what I read, they don't have to have it. They're excellent companion dogs, lap sitters and very, very affectionate. Mine are not hyper either.

That said, back to the big dogs....maybe a very old dog, but even my 13 yr. old Lab goes on long walks still. She lives for those walks. They enjoy it so much it would be a shame I think to have a dog locked up in a house all the time.

Is it possible that a dog might encourage and help this friend to get out of the house a little? At least for a walk?

What about a cat? Cat's don't mind being inside if they have something to do, some toys or something and a lap to sit on. Does she not like cats?

Sorry I don't sound more encouraging. But most dogs need exercise and need to run and play outside a little every day.

Carrie

Could she employ a dog walker?

Would an ex-racing greyhound be suitable? They only need a quick run and the ones I've met are couch potatoes ;)

Personally unless the dog will be used inorder to get her out of the house and there are other people on hand to provide the dog with walks 365 days a year, then I think a dog is not a good idea, as the dog will not get the socialisation it needs, let alone excersise.

I think this person would be better suited to owning a Cat.

Id go with Brainless on this one and also suggest a cat . Cats can come and go as they please - some prefer to stay inside anyway. That way your friend still has the company and friendship of an animal :)

Me too Id be worried about a dog as it would be ok at the beginning with people helping but that may drop off and if the lady had a bad day the dog wouldnt get to go out.
Not to say Im un sympathetic I feel sorry for the lady But most dogs even elderly ones like a small walk

I agree with everyone else.Can she absolutley guarantee that someone will be there everyday twice a day to take the dog for a walk throughout it's life which can be anything from 9 to 16 years,it would be a pretty big ask?I dont think your friend is in the position to be choosy about what breed she wants,dont mean to sound unsympathetic but dogs come with huge responsibilities including early socialisation which means going out and mixing with lots of other dogs and people etc. if she cant take a dog out then i would suggest something like a chiahua(sp?) but even they need daily walks,so i dont know what else to suggest??
But it would be totally unfair to keep a dog cooped up in the house forever,even tho the offers of walks are there now,will these offers be there for the life of the dog??What would happen if the dog had an emergency illness in the middle of the night,she wouldnt be able to take it out to the vet,there are SO many things to consider and think about.Maybe getting a dog would give her the incentive and confidence to go out for walks etc.
Guest we need more info. why dont you register and hopefully we will be able to work something out??

christine