I am depressed on a daily basis about the amount of dogs needing rehoming that are posted on Facebook; I have a very small amount of 'freinds' on FB and with the exception of obligatory family, they are all breeders/owners.

What seems to crop up with alarming regularity, is the amount of mid life dogs needing new homes because their owners are too old to care for them anymore, and need to go into nursing homes, or just can't cope with the needs of the dog. This week, a 9 year old Pointer bitch is needing urgent rehoming because her 91 year old owner broke her hip, and has to go permanently to nursing care.

The person asking on behalf of the owner, is the dog's breeder, who sold the pup to an 81 year old woman, knowing that Pointers can and do get to 14 and 15, no indication from the breeder that she will take the dog back.

I have said at 53, I won't take anymore puppies, because I'm not sure I have the stamina for all that requires now, and I would be genuinely interested in what you all think about this.

Hi Tracey! I think you have a very good atitude. We have to think about, what will happen to the dogs, once we're not here any more or not able any more to assume our responsabilties.

In my opinion with 53 you are are still young enough to start with a puppy or an older dog. But of course it depends on your health and fitness and the social network you have around you. For this it is difficult to answer the question "How old is too old?"

I am soon 75. When I got my first two dogs I was about 71. Two years later I found two strays, who desperately needed my help. They are 1 year younger than my Pits.

I counted with a life expectancy of the dogs of about 15-16 years. Means my span will have to be at least 86. I'm quite optimistic about that, because I'm healthy and have been sportive during a lifetime. I have no problem with walking the dogs 4 hours a day (1 hour each) and make two training sessions plus swim and/or play with them.

Ok, this doesn't guarantee, that things will go on like this. But I keep myself fit and my dogs keep me fit too. I also have people, who would take them and look well after them, if I should have to say good bye earlier.

Even a young person should think well about this, as we can never know, what will happen (illnesses, accidents...). Sure the risk on the whole is less for younger people.

I know quite a few who are older than I, who bought a dog, because they feel lonely. (Siblings, most fiends already dead, children not willing to take the dog). They think only about their own loneliness and not about the loneliness and misery the dog would have to suffer, if he'd survive them.

No doubt we should think about all these factors, before acquiring a dog. You're certainly not too old, provided those other factors match.

Boy Tracey, if you're feeling old at 53, I guess I'm feeling like I have one foot in the grave at 64. We took on our Mal, Bailey, almost 8 years ago, and quickly decided no more Mals or other high energy large dogs after she's gone. Thankfully, we're hoping she still has about 7-8 more good years in her yet.

I guess I wasn't even thinking about my health declining to where I couldn't take care of a dog. I was just thinking how I don't think I could meet their exercise requirements. Once Bailey's gone, and I truly dread that day, we might just take a break from dogs for the first time in over 50 years or maybe rescue a grown smaller foo-foo dog whose exercise requirements aren't so demanding.

You sure bring up some good points, though. Wish I had it to do over again and be about 25 years younger. Dang, this getting old is hard to accept. Meanwhile, enjoy being a young pup yourself at only 53. I have socks older than you.

Well, I'm 60 and often have the same kinds of thoughts going through my mind. Both my dogs are seniors now, and I know they will be going on to the Bridge in just a few years at most. Do I get another puppy? Like you, Tracey, I often feel I no longer have the energy and stamina to keep up with a puppy. Do I get an older rescue dog? I'm thinking more and more about that option. Of course, you go into it knowing you may only have a limited number of years with the dog, but why not make those years happy and comfortable for them?

Here in the States, we also see a lot of senior dogs turned in to pounds, shelters, rescues, and often it is because their owners passed away or had to go to a nursing home, and nobody else in the family wants the old dog. It's heartbreaking. I wish I could bring every one of them home.

Whether we end up getting a puppy or an older dog, I believe one very important consideration is that either the breeder or the rescue are well-established, responsible, and caring enough to have a provision saying they will take the dog back at any time in its life if the new owner is unable to keep it for any reason, including passing away.

A rescue I volunteer for (and where I got one of my dogs) has such a provision, and still, they are occasionally contacted by animal control, saying they have just gotten a dog in, something happened to the owner, kids didn't want it; but, fortunately, the microchip put in by the rescue always traces back to them, and they are able to take the dog and either find it a new home or care for it for the rest of its life if it is not healthy enough to be adopted out again.

I'll just have to wait and see what comes next for me. Who knows, I may even downsize from the large breed I prefer now. But I don't think I can imagine my life without a dog or two in it.

I've never had less then 2-3, sometimes 4 dogs at a time my whole life and I'll be 71 in just over a month.

I'm down to one GSD now having to put one(Thunder)down a couple of weeks ago.

My present dog Trooper, also a GSD, is 9+ and I think I'll hold at one at a time now but I "WILL" get another......if I outlive this one.........

I was pleased to see the Pointer bitch in question has been offered a home with another young female, so that is a good result for her

I am pretty much decided that when my three have gone to join their ancestors, I will rehome, possibly an older dog, there are too many languishing in kennels through no fault of their own, and breeders keep on breeding!

Greg, you made me laugh, I feel like an old crock when the arthritis plays up in the good old English weather, and with the arrival of each grandchild I swear another grey hair appears but you are right of course, I am not ready for the bath chair yet!

And Bob, you are immortal, we all know that

Hey Greg! 64 and one foot in the grave??? Looking back to that age, I think, you are just fully grown. Apart from this we all live with one foot in the grave, even when 20.

I wish for you, that your Bailey will go on living and challenging you for many many years. But once the horrible day comes, then you will still have the possibility to start new in the way you're planning it. Good luck!

Cheri, yes, why not give some good years to an abandoned dog or shelter dog. But I've got problems imagining what happens afterwards. I have people who'd take mine and look well after them. But they would not train nor walk them.

That's why I stay here in Brazil, although I'd go back to Switzerland immediately if I had no dogs. But I will never leave them behind. They are the only reason why I stay here. I could not take them with me, because in Switzerland we can not leave the dogs outdoors in winter. Indoors we can't because of husband's allergie. So those 4 will be my first and my last dogs. It is sad, but I have to accept the facts.

But you with 60 you have still all chances!

Tracey, your witty! No doubt, Bob is immortal, probably because he simply has to go on living forever, no other choice if he will always have new dogs . It is very true, since I have dogs, I can not any more imagine a life without dogs.

Just in case we are mistaken and Bob might not be imortal , he has a big happy family and doesn't have to be preocupied that they wouldn't take and love his dogs.

But for all the others let's hope, that genetic scientists will discover somethng within an (also for me) reasonable time which will definitally eliminate death once and for all, first of course for dog lovers.

I think that your age isn't as important as having a plan in place regardless of your age.

All my kids and grand kids have already argued (friendly) over who gets my dog/dogs when I'm gone.

Not sure how to take that.

 Quote: Bob Scott

All my kids and grand kids have already argued (friendly) over who gets my dog/dogs when I'm gone.
Not sure how to take that.

Well, that's not a bad problem to have, Bob. I guess all you can do is plan on sticking around for a very long time, get more dogs, train them well, and when your time comes, far off into the future, you can rest easy knowing they will all have great homes.