Getting a puppy in your late 50s

[Anonymous]

Do you have to follow through on the sale? I would cancel it since you are planning to travel three times a year. You can still have dogs in your life by volunteering at a shelter.

[Anonymous]

Why do people have pets?

[Anonymous]

Don't travel this summer without your dog Take the time to acclimate and really train your dog.

[Anonymous]

The puppy phase is very short, OP, and then you get a pet who can be boarded or pet sat when you go on vacation. It will go smoothly if you carve out two weeks of time for crate, potty and leash training as soon as you get your puppy. Be strict right from the start.

Observe him like a hawk during the day, tied to you on a short leash, and learn his signal to pee and poo. Before he goes inside, rush him outside and praise him with your voice. Pet and treat. When he has accidents, catch him in the act and use a very displeased tone immediately, and take him outside to finish or at least make him associate that business is done outside. Crate him in a small crate whenever you can't observe him closely. He should be potty trained in under two weeks with that regimen. If you get him pretty young, less than 8-10 weeks, he won't be able to hold it in at night, so you'll need to get up once to bring him outside. All accidents indoors must be thoroughly disinfected (use enzymatic cleaners to break down the scent molecules) otherwise he can go in the same spot all the time.

And then during adolescence, he'll get antsy and rebellious and you will need a second round of training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are getting a 4-month old puppy later this month and we are in our late 50s. What are we getting ourselves into? We never had a pet before.

We are both working onsite, and kids are out of house, how much will this impact our lifestyle? We plan to travel at least two or three times a year internationally. We have friends who said they can help, but with a puppy it’s a lot of work.

That's probably the age my parents were when they got a puppy. My sister and I were out of the house and even though we asked for years to get a dog no dice. Both of them had had dogs growing up, but not in years.

As others have said, when the dog is younger, be prepared not to be able to easily travel on day trips, etc. Dog won't be able to stay alone very long. Recommend crate training. Makes things much easier for both you and the dog if they have their space to go.

I would recommend using a dog sitter or boarding kennel versus relying on friends and as others have said, factor in another $100/day on your trip cost. We have dogs that don't require regular grooming outside of baths, so that's another cost. And, you grow attached as well, so factor in potential expensive vet care as well. We are in the price of a really nice vacation in the cost of surgery for our older dog who is now 13, but that's the decision that we made and are ok with that.

And as others have said, my Mother-in-law adopted a dog when she first moved here and she was in her mid-60s and she just turned 78 this week. That dog has been a godsend - Dog gets her out of the house for walks, she's met people in her neighborhood walking the dog, gives her a reason to get up and moving. And, she knows that we'll take care of her dog if anything happened. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Having a dog makes time away from home so much harder, but having a dog makes time at home so much better. If one of you is more of a homebody, watch for that person to complain that the dog shouldn't be left. They may not want to travel much. Find a good kennel, one you both can be content with. The dog will get use to it. Most will give the dog individual indoor/outdoor space and two 45 minutes walks a day.

You will meet more people when you own a dog. When you can take the dog with you when you go on driving trips, it's usually easy.

If one of you is more of a homebody, watch for that person to complain that the dog shouldn't be left.

[Anonymous]

oops, repeated myself

[Anonymous]

Oh my gosh, OP, ignore the haters! Get the puppy, enjoy the love!

I compete in dog sports (agility, dock diving, disc) and 50 is the most common age to get into it! All the empty nesters are filling the void with a puppy and have time and money to throw at silly dog sports and it is SO fun and such a great social network.

Get pet insurance for at least the first couple years until you know what sort of temperament you have in your dog, lol. I learned I have a bold explorer who wants to eat everything, so it has covered multiple attempts to eat things he shouldn't.

[Anonymous]

Remember they are babies and will take just a couple of weeks past your months of tolerance for their biting and nipping. Teething is real and they will show zero progress despite your distractions and training BUT it miraculously is sinking in every time and one day, they just stop. Potty training is easy enough if you pay attention to their natural signals, just like toddlers. If you are naturally patient, dogs are a walk in the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having a dog makes time away from home so much harder, but having a dog makes time at home so much better. If one of you is more of a homebody, watch for that person to complain that the dog shouldn't be left. They may not want to travel much. Find a good kennel, one you both can be content with. The dog will get use to it. Most will give the dog individual indoor/outdoor space and two 45 minutes walks a day.

You will meet more people when you own a dog. When you can take the dog with you when you go on driving trips, it's usually easy.

If one of you is more of a homebody, watch for that person to complain that the dog shouldn't be left.

My dad walks his dogs everyday. He has made so many friends in the neighborhood who also walk their dogs. It's a huge ice breaker and a good social outlet for people who like to make friends and get exercise.

[Anonymous]

If you’ve never had a dog and you both work outside the home, just curious as to why you’re choosing now to get a dog, let alone a puppy.

Puppies are a lot of work and require a lot of attention. Are you getting a large or small breed? You’ll need to plan for dog walkers much more frequently during the first several months as they can’t hold their bladder too long at a time. For large breeds, you need to make sure you’re giving them enough exercise and stimulation.

[Anonymous]

Hugh mistake if you are retired and looking to be active.

Even if you can afford huge vet bills and boarding finding reliable help is extremely hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a plan for who will take care of this dog should you get sick and die? Late 50s is too old imo unless you are getting a big dog that won’t live 10 years. If you are getting a small dog who could live 18 years, very selfish.
Puppies are like infants. They need to go outside every hour while being trained, and they don’t sleep through the night.

Most of us plan to love beyond 68! Plus many of us have family who love our pets.

I would get a dog at 80, too. I hope to never not have one (or two).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people have pets?

They make people happy. They offer protection. They make people less lonely. They inspire people to exercise. And on and on. Surely you know all these.

[Anonymous]

It’s like having a newborn. Nothing prepared me for it.