It has been over 16 months since Petunia the Chi went to the Rainbow Bridge ... and looking at choices of mini-schnauzer (sp?) or Yorkie size and somewhere in the 2-4 yr range ... Any info would be appreciated ... know there are breed-specific health problems, and would love a mini-dachshund, but would have to be something different than Greta, who 20 yrs ago died at the vets doing emergency procedures and was dear to Hubby.Am concerned about puppy training including house breaking .. not sure want to do that again. This has been the first time in 40+ years which have been without a pet dog.Will be awhile before we decide, so any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Just went thru this .........Last August we had to let our 14 YR. old Border Collie Mix go.We BOTH said that was it.....just too heart wrenching and she was one of a kind.Feb, 2016 we BOTH admitted that 'secretively' we had been checking out what was out there in Rescue Centers (LOTS of Pit Bull/Mix)So we widen our search area......Easter Sunday we drove 300 miles round trip and came home with smaller Border Collie Mix-------roughly 7-8 yr old.She fits in just perfect for US---active but NOT overly energetic, loving but not needy and house broke.You just need to decide on WHAT you are looking for and then search.THEY are out there by the 1000'sGood Luck!

Depends a lot on your condition and what you are willing to take on. We lost both of our larger dogs, that we had raised from puppies and who were well into their teens. In our late teens also, (mid-70s) we did not feel that we were up to another large dog, nor into getting a puppy started that would probably outlive both of us. We found a retired toy show dog, equiavalent to our own age, and are giving him a loving home as our companion. He is an grouchy old fart just like me, so we tolerate each other. We all three travel together pretty well.

After our 16 yr old Cocker we got as a puppy died, we adopted a 7 yr old Golden rescue. When she died at age 14, we adopted a 6 yr old Golden rescue who is now 11. "Golden oldies" as they are called. The big advantages of adopting older dogs is not having to do the house training, worry about chewing things not to be chewed, they are past the hyper puppy stage, among others. I love puppies, but would probably never get another.

RoadXYZ wrote:It has been over 16 months since Petunia the Chi went to the Rainbow Bridge ... and looking at choices of mini-schnauzer (sp?) or Yorkie size and somewhere in the 2-4 yr range ... Any info would be appreciated ... know there are breed-specific health problems, and would love a mini-dachshund, but would have to be something different than Greta, who 20 yrs ago died at the vets doing emergency procedures and was dear to Hubby.Am concerned about puppy training including house breaking .. not sure want to do that again. This has been the first time in 40+ years which have been without a pet dog.Will be awhile before we decide, so any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.Are you asking about the mini-schnauzer or the yorkie? Or getting a dog in the 2-4 year range? Or the general should we get an older dog?Older dogs are great. Older rescued dogs are even greater. Having done rescue work for years, I'll tell you that an older dog KNOWS that you have rescued him/her and saved his/her life. An older dog will thank you every day for saving him/her and will be eternally grateful. Puppies are great, but they never grow up grateful and always think that you were put on this earth to do their bidding.

The best dog we ever had was a little Havanese about 6-7 year old when I adopted him in Rifle, Colorado. Sweet, loving, well-behaved and was the neighborhood favorite. We had six great years with him until he "got old" and had developed a brain tumor. I think of him every day!

Decision : to get an older dog or not ? | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

IDman
Explorer
Jun 25, 2016
The best dog we ever had was a little Havanese about 6-7 year old when I adopted him in Rifle, Colorado. Sweet, loving, well-behaved and was the neighborhood favorite. We had six great years with him until he "got old" and had developed a brain tumor.

I think of him every day!
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jun 25, 2016
RoadXYZ wrote:
It has been over 16 months since Petunia the Chi went to the Rainbow Bridge ... and looking at choices of mini-schnauzer (sp?) or Yorkie size and somewhere in the 2-4 yr range ...

Any info would be appreciated ... know there are breed-specific health problems, and would love a mini-dachshund, but would have to be something different than Greta, who 20 yrs ago died at the vets doing emergency procedures and was dear to Hubby.

Am concerned about puppy training including house breaking .. not sure want to do that again. This has been the first time in 40+ years which have been without a pet dog.

Will be awhile before we decide, so any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Are you asking about the mini-schnauzer or the yorkie? Or getting a dog in the 2-4 year range? Or the general should we get an older dog?

Older dogs are great. Older rescued dogs are even greater. Having done rescue work for years, I'll tell you that an older dog KNOWS that you have rescued him/her and saved his/her life. An older dog will thank you every day for saving him/her and will be eternally grateful. Puppies are great, but they never grow up grateful and always think that you were put on this earth to do their bidding.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jun 25, 2016
After our 16 yr old Cocker we got as a puppy died, we adopted a 7 yr old Golden rescue. When she died at age 14, we adopted a 6 yr old Golden rescue who is now 11. "Golden oldies" as they are called. The big advantages of adopting older dogs is not having to do the house training, worry about chewing things not to be chewed, they are past the hyper puppy stage, among others. I love puppies, but would probably never get another.
Johno02
Explorer
Jun 25, 2016
Depends a lot on your condition and what you are willing to take on. We lost both of our larger dogs, that we had raised from puppies and who were well into their teens. In our late teens also, (mid-70s) we did not feel that we were up to another large dog, nor into getting a puppy started that would probably outlive both of us. We found a retired toy show dog, equiavalent to our own age, and are giving him a loving home as our companion. He is an grouchy old fart just like me, so we tolerate each other. We all three travel together pretty well.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jun 25, 2016
Just went thru this .........

Last August we had to let our 14 YR. old Border Collie Mix go.

We BOTH said that was it.....just too heart wrenching and she was one of a kind.

Feb, 2016 we BOTH admitted that 'secretively' we had been checking out what was out there in Rescue Centers (LOTS of Pit Bull/Mix)

So we widen our search area......
Easter Sunday we drove 300 miles round trip and came home with smaller Border Collie Mix-------roughly 7-8 yr old.

She fits in just perfect for US---active but NOT overly energetic, loving but not needy and house broke.

You just need to decide on WHAT you are looking for and then search.

THEY are out there by the 1000's

Good Luck!

Forum Discussion

Decision : to get an older dog or not ?

15 Replies

About Pet Owners

Related Content

RV decision

Decisions decisions

Decisions

Truck/Trailer Decisions.

Help with Refrigerator Decision