or the person, we have just had a relaxing day at the beach, daughter swimming dog swimming after daughter there was only about 4 people on the beach and we had a picinic etc, we noticed that comming along the beach was a lady with a walking stick and walking very slowly and on the end of a harness was a beautiful black and white husky bitch she was lovely all over the place, and then she pulled the lady over the lady just fell onto the sand i put all my lot in a down stay and ran over to help her, i picked her up and brushed her off , she said that oh i often fall over and she jumps all over me, i wish i could get her to be as good as yours i was watching you with yours when i was up on the top road , the pup turns out to be 17 weeks old and was bought for her buy her son to keep her company, i just gently probed if she had huskies before no this was her first dog and she thought that maybe she was a bit to much for her but her son assured her that the dog would calm down as it got older, she then pointed to our chinese crested and said i maybe would of been better off with a smaller dog, and then said bye see you again and walked away.
i just stood and watched and then i thought maybe another rescue case in a few months or an accident waiting to happen with the lady herself,
what can you do though.....
carol

It does make me cross because many breeders, rescue centres etc thought I was not a good candidate for a dog because I work, yet I know that they happily give dogs who have a life span of 15 years to elderly people in their 70's who will probably die before their dog or not be able to look after it properly as their health declines. Where I live there is a man on a disabled scooter who attaches the lead to his handle bars and the dog slowly ambles along. He cant even get off the scooter to scoop up the dog poo. There is also a lady in a wheelchair who does the same thing. The dogs look miserable and overweight. No doubt it is not PC to turn down elderly or disabled people from owning dogs but the welfare of the dogs should come first not human rights! Incidently I now have a gorgeous 14 week old puppy and it will be well looked after even though I (sinfully) work.

I don't think that age should matter particularly. There are a lot of young people who don't look after their dogs and they have no excuse. We have a lady in my road who must be 90. She rehomed a lovely little dog last year as company for her other dog. She is out in all weathers, regularly as clockwork. The dogs keep her fit and give her a reason to get up in the mornings :) They get plenty of company as she is home all day.

Daisy

My grandfather is 84 and has 2 labradors that he had as puppies together.  He's whistle trained them both and easily walks them for miles each and every morning and evening. Age isn't as important as lifestyle.

I think the concern here it that this poor lady has never even had a dog before, let alone a Sibe. And it's not like she went out to get one herself, it was landed on her. She obviously can't cope and as you say, it'll only be a matter of a couple of months before it ends up in rescue. As for age, please don't tell me I wont be able to have dogs when I am old, I couldn't bear that! <<<shudder>>> :(

There is a lady I met walking her Blu merle collie several times a day.  Sadly Lady died,a dn teh owner was telling me how awful it was to be without her, but she was too old t0o start with a pup.

I suggested breed rescue or even the dogs home.

A few weeks later I saw her out with what looked like lady.  It was a Blue Merle rescue bitch of arounde 18 months to 2 years.  She was a bitof a handflu at first and she used a head collar.  she must take her out 3 or 4 times a day as I see her at all differnet times.

Many many years ago when ther husband was alive they had Elkhounds, first a dog then a bitch, and then lafy came along as a rescue.

Sadly, the probability is that it will be both an accident for the lady and a rescue case for the dog.  If she's pulling the owner over at 17 weeks, the lady hasn't a chance as the dog gets older.  As a first time owner, it's unlikely she will know anything about training nor the husky breed and its needs.  Poor lady and poor puppy.  It sounds as if this pup was bought without the son wanting to know what the lady herself would have preferred and would be best for her.  I feel very sorry for both of them :(

it wasnt in south west was it? I see there are two lots of adult huskies ()B&W) looking for homes/being offered for sale in the south west this week :(

Siberian huskys and old ladys don't MIX! A dog bred to pull a sled and a women with a walking stick :)

There is an elderly man that lives not far from me who has a pure white husky. I see him regularly being dragged down the pavement next to a very busy road with the dog on a extending lead pulled right to the end and he is following very slowly almost leaning back walking with sticks. THe dog is quite young about 2 or 3 i think, and is not of the best temperaments. It reeally scares me that a breeder would sell to someone so unsuitable!

:( Poor dog and poor owner - I agree that the poor pup will more than likely end up in rescue in a few months and the elderly lady is going to be very lucky if she doesn't injure herself in the meantime :( Not sure what on earth the son was thinking! I know several elderly people with dogs but obviously not a breed such as a Sibe - the son should really have done some research into the breed beforehand and consulted his mother as to the type of dog she wanted. I can just see the high prey drive kicking in and the poor woman getting badly hurt - this is not a good situation for either of them :(

age does not matter on its own - ability does as Daisy says. However its not just the here and now but what might predicatably happen in the near future. If an elderly person takes on a puppy which is going to live for 15 years the predictable outcome is that the person will not be able to look after it for 15 years, an older dog would be better. I know things can change for anyone but its silly to ignore the predicatable. My point really was that there is a certain amount of prejudice towards working owners but no one generally considers if it is OK to give animals to elderly or disabled people. My view is that the persons individual circumstances need to be looked at not a blanket refusal just because they work or or elderly or whatever.

To be honest though I think its more likely that a lot of dogs end up in rescue because their owners have split up or have children than through their owners dying/sick. We can't predict the future but all we can do is the best for our pets. I agree though that an elderly person would find it difficult to deal with pups but age shouldn't be a reason for not getting a dog at all.

A sibe will be a sibe!

>> age does not matter on its own - ability does as Daisy says.

The OP stated that this elderly person had a walking stick, hence my reply and the assumption that this was an ill advised match.

Yes that was my meaning too if you read my 2 posts!

A dog training book that I like suggested that people might think twice about getting a dog they can't pick up and carry.  As I am usually out in bushy, rural areas and have had the experience, twice, of carrying out 40 pounds of porcupine quill laden springer spaniel, I think it is a good point to keep in mind.

See my post re dogs on public transport - a very good point."Carriable " dogs do make life easier. :-)