My parents want to get a puppy

[Anonymous]

My 74 year old father and 68 year old mother want to get a puppy. They’re lonely and would like the companionship. However, I’m worried whether a puppy, as opposed to an older dog, is a good idea given their ages. If the puppy lives 15 years, my dad will be 90! Has anyone been in a similar situation and know some of the pluses and minuses? My parents don’t want to go to the shelter because they have a very specific breed in mind, and given that breed, it would be hard to find an older dog.

[Anonymous]

A shelter might not even let them have a puppy. But ask them if they've considered what happens later. Your mom likely has plenty of years especially. But if they are healthy and active, it's still possible to have a bad fall or something that changes their lives unexpectedly.

[Anonymous]

I hope they're prepared for how hard the first year of having a puppy is. I wanted a puppy for a few years and finally broke down and got one in September of 2018. She was 9 weeks old when we got her. I pretty much stopped everything to raise her, she's super easy as puppies go, but the work! The chewing, those sharp teeth. Of course the work was well worth it now at close to 2.

[Anonymous]

When did they last have a puppy? I did puppy classes recently and was struck by an older couple who was there and seemed a bit overwhelmed by the energy of their dog. If these were my parents, I'd try to help them find an adult dog. There are lots of breed-specific rescues, some of them region specific. Where do they live, and what do they want?

[Anonymous]

If the puppy lives 15 years your mother will be 83. So what?

I think a puppy is a bad idea simply because having a small thing underfoot constantly moving is a recipe for a fall and a broken hip.

Google the breed + rescue.

Those are rescuee groups that rescue the particular breed from shelters and foster them until they can be adopted. That's a way to get a 2-5 yr old dog of a specific breed.

[Anonymous]

OP here - they want a pug and live down south. It seems like most pug rescues have dogs that are seniors or have special needs, which they seem to be opposed to. They really just want a lazy lap dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - they want a pug and live down south. It seems like most pug rescues have dogs that are seniors or have special needs, which they seem to be opposed to. They really just want a lazy lap dog.

I would have said the same about the rescue where we got our dog, because those are the dogs that linger. But there may also be younger, healthier dogs that don't even get advertised. That's what happened for us, and we ended up with an amazing puppy. I'd recommend getting on the wait list for the rescue (they may have an initial application) and noting that they would prefer a lazy lap dog without special needs.

[Anonymous]

I'm around that age and have some health problems. My old boy died last year and I got an eight year old Lab. He's great and our life expectancy is probably about the same at this point. Push for the senior dog, they won't be disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - they want a pug and live down south. It seems like most pug rescues have dogs that are seniors or have special needs, which they seem to be opposed to. They really just want a lazy lap dog.

I have a pug and have had them before. They are anything BUT lazy lap dogs. They are high energy for years. They also require A LOT of indoor exercise anytime the humidity or temps go up. Have you parents had pugs before?

[Anonymous]

I was going to say they should get a Pug. Unlike the PP my pugs have been lazy and the easiest puppies to train (we had labs and ridgebacks before). The first year they are puppy like but slow down pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 74 year old father and 68 year old mother want to get a puppy. They’re lonely and would like the companionship. However, I’m worried whether a puppy, as opposed to an older dog, is a good idea given their ages. If the puppy lives 15 years, my dad will be 90! Has anyone been in a similar situation and know some of the pluses and minuses? My parents don’t want to go to the shelter because they have a very specific breed in mind, and given that breed, it would be hard to find an older dog.

I get your concern but ultimately it is their decision. Unless they are living with you should treat them as capable adults. In 15 years they are going to be older anyway. How would you feel if your parents told you not to go to grad school, get married, have another kid.

It is really none of your business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 74 year old father and 68 year old mother want to get a puppy. They’re lonely and would like the companionship. However, I’m worried whether a puppy, as opposed to an older dog, is a good idea given their ages. If the puppy lives 15 years, my dad will be 90! Has anyone been in a similar situation and know some of the pluses and minuses? My parents don’t want to go to the shelter because they have a very specific breed in mind, and given that breed, it would be hard to find an older dog.

I get your concern but ultimately it is their decision. Unless they are living with you should treat them as capable adults. In 15 years they are going to be older anyway. How would you feel if your parents told you not to go to grad school, get married, have another kid.

It is really none of your business.

The reason I feel it’s my business Is because if my parents are no longer able to take the dog, we’ll have to take it. Also, pets are family members! I want everyone, including the dog, yo be happy

[Anonymous]

https://www.petfinder.com/dog/mikey-48261916/nj/voorhees/voorhees-animal-orphanage-nj54/
https://www.petfinder.com/dog/winky-43042606/oh/dayton/luv4k9s-oh651/
https://www.petfinder.com/dog/eloise-48173036/ne/sidney/high-plains-paw-ne127/

Did a quick 5 min search on petfinder for young pugs. They are out there and need homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 74 year old father and 68 year old mother want to get a puppy. They’re lonely and would like the companionship. However, I’m worried whether a puppy, as opposed to an older dog, is a good idea given their ages. If the puppy lives 15 years, my dad will be 90! Has anyone been in a similar situation and know some of the pluses and minuses? My parents don’t want to go to the shelter because they have a very specific breed in mind, and given that breed, it would be hard to find an older dog.

I get your concern but ultimately it is their decision. Unless they are living with you should treat them as capable adults. In 15 years they are going to be older anyway. How would you feel if your parents told you not to go to grad school, get married, have another kid.

It is really none of your business.

The reason I feel it’s my business Is because if my parents are no longer able to take the dog, we’ll have to take it. Also, pets are family members! I want everyone, including the dog, yo be happy

That does not give you control over whether they get a dog or which one! I never understand how controlling of their parents people on this site are, to the point where mothers are lying about going to the hair salon! They are your parents, not your kids. I had a pug, as did several people in my family. Theyve all been pretty lazy after the first year or so. Mine and my uncles died at 13 from cancer and I think that’s pretty typical. They were great dogs. Love pugs.

[Anonymous]

A small, senior dog is probably better than a puppy b/c an older dog would be most likely to be house trained. Plus more likely to be familiar with walking on a leash—you don’t want a puppy to intertwine a parent’s legs knocking them over. Number 1 reason people go to nursing home is broken hip.