Hi there

We have a friend who has just been made redundant (he is 60 or thereabouts).  I think he has accepted he will not get another job or if he does it is likely to be something a dog can go with him to.  He has never had a dog before and spoke to us about a collie.  I think I have steered him well clear of a border collie as that is definitely not right for him.  I think he wants a reasonable sized dog and will do a regular and reasonably distanced walk each day with it.  He is happy with a cross but I also suggested he considered breeds and looked at the rescues for those breeds; and also contacted his local rescues. 

So my question to you is any ideas which breed I might direct him to?  I am wondering a goldie or lab - I think not a GSD (we have always had pet GSDs). 

Although I'm no expert, as an owner of a Goldie and a Border Collie I would definately say a Goldie and a rescue one at that if possible. They have a very gentle nature, very people friendly and would make a lovely loyal companion to a mature gent. The dog could almost become his 'job' with regular excercise for the dog and the gent, it would be good for both of them. The Collie, I would say not a good idea for him and probably not best for a Collie too.

what about a rescue greyhound? they are a nice size, big without being huge, very gentle and sweet dogs who would love to spend all day with a retired gent.

Greyhound is a good idea too, and don't need tons and tons of excercise.

I'm thinking lovely breeds you have suggested for your friend but still on the large side?  I would think a dog under 20 kg in weight would be better- a cocker spaniel or terrier mix would suit the older man. Neat little dogs with no possibility of dragging their owner over. Also even if getting a mongrel I was quoted the other day over £40 a month for insuring him where my bitch who is 17kg is only £20 a month for the same breed and same age.  

Suz

Before I came back on here and saw these replies, I had said to hubby a greyhound. I am going to ring him tomorrow and suggest that, and let him have a number.

I immediately thought rescue greyhound too :-)

>Also even if getting a mongrel I was quoted the other day over £40 a month for insuring him where my bitch who is 17kg is only £20 a month for the same breed and same age.

I have 2 dogs (one crossbreed, one pedigree) of over 50kg each and I pay less than £20 per month each in insurance for an excellent policy so I don't think you can connect weight with cost of insurance...most policies are based on breed, age and postcode as far as I am aware.

i think it would be ideal! whereabouts are you in the country? we always know of a few needing homes through my work, i work in glasgow :) if size is an issue, ive known a few bitches who are on the smaller side, such lovely dogs. unfortunately my boyfriend doesnt like them :( says theyre lovely natured dogs but doesnt like the feel of them, too skinny for him?  i would have a few rescues if i could.

Try Tesco's for dog insurance, they don't discriminate on age or ask weight that I recall, we have 5 dogs insured running from 28kg Goldie down to 5kg Sheltie, total bill is about 65 quid a month.
They pay out promtly if you have to use it (hope you don't).

Our Goldie had X-Rays for her shoulder and treatment for Arthritis, over £500 just paid the excess £60 I think, she also had a lump removed from her side, again £400+, all sorted no problem. She's nearly 10 and so's the Collie, we've been insured with them for about 4 years and we've had no problem and definately our monies worth.

Hi ShaynLola
would it poss to let me know who your doggy insurance is with?
I have my Tinkerbell with pet healthwise so got a quote from them for her brv Starsky and they quoted me double! EEK

What about a Rough Collie.  I know we haven't been in them for years but when my parents used to own them they had great temperaments loved a walk etc.  I think I'll always stick with my Spanish but if I wanted a breed that's slightly less on the go I'd go back to RC's I think.

Greyhounds are great dogs, but they're not for everybody. I would definitely suggest he considers a lab. They can be head strong and need quite a bit of exercise, but if he is prepared to put in the time ne would reward him with exactly the kind of loyalty and adoration that I suspect he is looking for. It may sound silly, but if he isn't a doggy person, I think a lab pretty much sums up what he had in mind when he first thought of getting a dog.

Yes I was thinking rough collie,I always had roughs befor the GSD and Daxi ,ours were always vey gentle and easy to live with.Oh how I wish I could have another one .My GSD is great but has boundless energy.He doesnt want a small dog ,but I love the companionship I get from my Daxi she is a mini but how about a standard they are of medium size,never had a standard,so dont know if the temperament is the same as a mini.

Rough Collies do need a lot of grooming to keep their coat in reasonable condition & they do have health issues in some lines. Why not suggest a visit to Discover Dogs ? then he can speak to people who have dogs there for him to meet up close & personal

Try wiccaways rescue for an older rescue collie, that would suit both the older gent and the older collie, there not all hyper hyper some are quite calm, older and need loving and company. Some on there have eldrely owners that have passed away and are trained just lonely and need some loving. Jake goes on site with OH most of the day, and is office based for the rest. We still fit in a 3 mile walk into the office, back again and I do lunch times with our two!! up the local park When OH takes him out I know he will stop in a park somewhere to take JAke for a ball chase once or twice as well a good break for them both.

> have 2 dogs (one crossbreed, one pedigree) of over 50kg each and I pay less than £20 per month each in insurance for an excellent policy so I don't think you can connect weight with cost of insurance...most policies are based on breed, age and postcode as far as I am aware

i was going to say... £40 sounds very expensive- my boy is less than £25

I did some investigating and now have a quote from tesco for both dogs for only £13 ! thats better! :-)

I love this site :-)

I'm shocked at the low cost of insurance people are paying. My one dog costs £54p/m. Which is the top one which covers all health problems for the life of the dog.
I think personally that the breed i have has a huge factor in the cost.

> I'm shocked at the low cost of insurance people are paying. My one dog costs £54p/m.

I pay £37 per month for 1 dog, it covers £6k vet fees per year, this total renews each year and covers on-going conditions (the top cover with unlimited vet fees would cost me over £65  per month). I know I can get cheaper insurance but our vets are happy to deal direct with these insurers which means I only ever have to worry about finding the excess.

I did have a much cheaper qoute elsewhere (£12 per month) but the cover was only £4k per year and my vets had never had any dealings with them, so I couldn't find out how reliable they are for pay-outs.

If you are happy with your policy, the level of cover/benefits it offers and thier effeciency with pay-outs then don't worry about how much/little other people pay :)

> I think personally that the breed i have has a huge factor in the cost.

really? how come? are bernese suseptable to many things? i'd always thought them a really healthy breed (not sure why though). i know they are big but so are mastifflovers and mine...

>are bernese suseptable to many things?

Unfortunately they're a very short-lived breed. :(

The differences are fantastic- when I was with pet health wise they quoted me £160 a month for my 9 yr old EBT and number 3 dog Starsky £40 per month, so I put snoop in for tesco and came back £23 !! bit of a difference.

The cover is only £2,500 in the first year excess is £60 which suits me fine. So cross with myself for not investigating in the beginning of the year because snoop as easily cost me over £800 in vet fee's this year.  If I had known I would of done him but didn't because just assumed he would be loads per month.