I just wondered as we are all getting older, a fact no one can deny.

I wondered as you do will you change your breed of dog? to something smaller, due possibly to your changing circumstances ie downsizing housewise, to a breed requiring less walking, less strength etc or stay with your present breed?

Take care Karen

never leaving my breed id rather be dog less

I will go larger and stronger, i started with a small yet tough dog, and when i get own home will want multiple doggies- EBT/bullmastiff/dane/munsterlander

then again- i could go down the mini daxie/whippet/boston/wheaten/pugs/chi's route!
too many breeds and too little time......

We had Boxers for 30 years & downsized  to Pugs :D

Barry

Don't think we'll ever change from Aussies & labs...... will just have to breed fresh handlers (grandchildren being conscripted as we speak :D )

See I can't see me changing my breed but my two girls are only youngsters now 3 and 18 months but say they go until average Staffie age 16-17 then I will be in my mid 50's (no where near old) but I will then be banging on (SBT rescue's) door and rehoming older Staffies who find it harder to be rehomed.
So I won't change my breed as such but will become an owner of OAP Staffies.

I hope that you aren't suggesting that people in their mid-fifties can't manage a staffy :D :D

Daisy

Yes I think in my breed it is a must as they are too demanding. So it is something we have discussed often. For myself I think I'll switch to Papillons entirely as they are tiny but still so very trainable and energetic, so you can do whatever suits you, be it short walks or long walks, lots of training or little training. :) May well also have a Sheltie!

I just love borders (terriers) but if I had a bigger house and garden I'd go for a deerhound or wolfhound.  Or maybe I'd have all of them.  But as I get older and in my situation as it is, I suppose a small dog suits more.  Borders first, but I also like fox terriers, parson russells, lakeland terriers and bedlingtons.  Guess which day I always go to at Crufts :D

CG

No, I think I'll stick my Munsterlanders 'til i die. There isn't really another breed i want. I'd rather go dogless, too, but would rather not :D

I'm hoping that by the time I can no longer handle a large active breed I'll have the good sense to go for something more managable LOL.  It makes me cringe to see elderly people who have no-one to help still being towed around by strong dogs. 
And as for those people who breed dogs when they're of the age that the puppies might outlive them and who have no-one to take care of them when they're gone - no thought for the dogs in my eyes IMO.  But I've seen it happen time and time again.  Sometimes a love for a breed and/or breeding/showing just goes too far.
Debs

i am no where near old but i thought about it and i would probs just go to rescue a old dog that needs his last years to be the best s/he has had

Quite possibly - I can't see my knees lasting long enough to keep doing 4 mile walks when I'm ancient, so I'd probably have to find something less demanding physically. Can't for the life of me think what, though!

Actually I've done exactly the opposite - started off 24 years ago with 2 Cavaliers - then a rescue collie/cross weight 23 Kgm - now I'm retired and have 2 30 Kgm labs......:D :D :D

Hopefully not, with Cavaliers then unless my back gets too bad to lift them onto the table, or I can't move at a fast walk, they should be ok to keep for a very long time! I can't imagine life without a couple of dogs draped on my sofas! :-D

OhI have decided I will ahve one of theose sturdy motorised scoters to walk the dogs with.  I think the battery charge is about right for a decent enough walk for mine.

Hi Brainless.

With you all the way! I wonder what one would be like now?
Could walk the legs of them, wouldn't they sleep well. Get a larger battery
Regards
Denese

Don't knock them!  :-)  In my next village we have a 95 year old lady who lives on her own and has two rescue border collies.  She can still walk short distances unaided, but for longer walks and cross-country she uses her motorised scooter!  Has just upgraded to newer model that can do 10 miles plus between battery charges.  You would  be suprised where she gets to....there's not many places that she can't make.  Hope I'm going as strong as her at that age.

I won't downsize but will probably down energy :D :D I couldn't have a small breed ..I am just not a small breed type of person but I will have a large but slower breed ..possibly IW's ;)

Or you can downsize to us

LOL :D :D

Maybe fewer dogs but not a different breed.

Thankfully, I have quite a few years to go before I need to think about downsizing,  but then just about anything is smaller than a Newf :D I'm not really a small dog person either but I have a real soft spot for Spanish Water Dogs...bit like a small Newf really (at least that's how I keep trying to sell the idea to the OH) :D Can't imagine owning anything smaller than that. Otherwise, it'll probably be oldie rescue dogs :)

Not down sizing........
If i ever get a house big enough I would love a blue Neopolitan Masitiff :D
But am only 28 so have plenty of time :D
Lea :)

couldnt imagine my house without a beardie in it!!

I have musterlanders but when I get older I would like a papillon as they are gorgeous. I don't think if i live to a ripe old age I would be able to manage a munsterlander and give them the life they need. Maybe but i cant see it as I am a wreck now!!!

I hope that I'll stick with my Spanish Water Dogs, yes they are an active breed but maybe by the time I'm old I wil be able to have an electic catapult attached to my zimmer frame so that I don't need a throwing arm for the tennis balls :d 

I have 2 afghans at the minute....and I know that with increasing age I will find the coat care too tough. All that bending and bathing and drying. Either I will get old rescue affies and keep them clipped, or I quite fancy a whippet. Sometimes the idea of a breed that can be wiped down with a chamois leather is really rather appealing! :D

I can't imagine life without a Belgian, but may have to consider it at some stage. I'm not quite sure what i'd do ...

Lindsay
x

Lindsay maybe we need to develop a TEACUP Belgian!!!!! ;) ;)

    :P

Can you imagine...!!!

Lindsay
x

Oh, I don't know - when I'm a little old biddy, a Tibetan Mastiff could come in quite useful instead of a motorised scooter.

Seriously, I think I'll always stick with the shar-pei as they're not too demanding in any way. Or if I had to go small, I think a Tibetan Spaniel might fit the bill nicely.

I'll probably get a couple of retired greyhounds just to potter around with - or go into something smaller if I still want to show - perhaps Japanese Spitz - Belgians are so high octane that I can see a time when they'll just be too much dog to handle - but won't life be BORING then !! ;)

Yvonne

I couldn't imagine life without St Bernards, but when the time comes you never know.i'd probably go for rescue dogs as when i'm old i probably won't be able to show as much.I do like shelties though and jack russels, but i think i'll always have at least 1 saint.

I'm well aware that handling dogs is more down to technique but there's also an element of physical strength required.  I don't like to see old grannies walking German Shepherds no matter how well behaved they appear to be.  I'll change my breed when the time comes.

I fully intend to carry on with Goldies and hopefully grow old disgracefully together :D

Steve

I've promised myself a Westie when I'm all wrinkly - but as I've never had more than 1 and a half of any breed at any one time, it probably doesn't count as 'changing your breed'.

This old wrinkly (62) owns and walks a German Shepherd (2 years old). We do just fine. She does not pull (lots of training to achieve this). My health improved greatly by getting Gabi (more exercise). My daughter has agreed that should Gabi outlive us that she will play Mum. Lots of thought needs to go into the decision to get a large breed but for us, having always owned Shepherds, did not even consider a smaller dog. 

i think i would "upsize " when i get older !! as i have mini dachsies i suppose i could only downsize to a chi, however when my 82 yr old grandma comes to visit she always stands on my poochies coz she says she cant see them coz they get under her feet !! so maybe in my case, "bigger " might be better !! :)

Gaby, 62 is not old and wrinkley

Started off in our 30s with rough collie, wheaten terrier in our 40s, now Löwchens in our 50s.  Classic downsizing :)

I really don't know! THeres so many breeds i would like to own but can't imagine not having a collie. I would possibly downsize to a sheltie or a pomeranian or possibly a westie or border terrier. An american or english cocker would be nice, but they still need lots of exercise so possibly still not good for an older person. But if i really can't cope with a small dog then probably a greyhound. Thankfully i have many years left until i have to think about it!

When I'm old and need a good iron, I think the Leo's will sadly be downsized to a cavalier. Big dogs in little bodies.
This is the breed that I first owned and will definatley own again.

I expect to be doing just fine with my big breeds too when I'm 62 Gaby ;)

Without a doubt. When I'm ancient I won't have the energy to provide a good home for a Goldie. I think it will be a Cavalier KC to keep my arthritic old knees warm!

I can't envisage life without my current breed and would hopefully be in a position to take in older rescue dogs who needed a more sedate lifestyle and lots of TLC - sort of second chance for both of us :)

regards, Teri   

i can't see me changing from labs. I've been around them for 26 years, so i'm stuck in my ways! I could be tempted by a GSD or dane though-as well as labs........

I know what you mean Jwilson, my Cav boy has no idea of his size relative to an Elkhound or a Bullmastiff!!

They are excellent lapwarmers though! :-)

I really can't see me ever being without a vizsla..smooth or wire..latter being more likely.  I like a dog that is a decent size, I'm WAY too clumsy to have wee dogs running around the place, they need to be robust enough to withstand my feet :D

I realize my breed will become too much for me one day. Hopefully this day lays far ahead into the future. Can't really see myself without my dogs. I've always wanted to own a Greyhound, but don't because of the "off leash issues". So maybe it will be Whippets for me in my old age. The ones I've met and know are lovely dogs, big personalities in  beautiful bodies.
Karen