Dog for elderly relative

SillyMangoX

Hi folks, just wondering everyone's opinions on this! My granny was down for a couple of days this week and was saying how she would love a little dog for company, she's mentioned it before but she seemed quite serious this time. The only thing is she is very "anti" dogs in the house! Now she lives on a farm and would plan on keeping the dog in one of the barns at night, which I wouldn't be too happy about but each to their own. I was just wondering would anyone have ideas of breeds/crosses that would be suitable? So basically a dog that would be happy outdoors and would have near constant human interaction, small and low maintenance, not a huge prey drive as there is chickens and cats pottering around the place, and wouldn't need a huge amount of exercise, it would get walked daily for an hour ish but only at a slow pace as her back is bad! Not fussed on breeds or anything like that, the only thing we have ruled out for definite are jack Russell's as they have killed my granny's hens in the past so she wouldn't trust one. Sorry for the long post, thanks for reading!

muddypaws

I don't think it necessarily depends on breed, but rather on the dog itself. As it is your granny, a puppy might not be a good idea, but an older dog, from a rescue that knows their dogs, and could match the right dog up would be ideal. I'm sure there must be plenty of older dogs sitting out there in shelters or foster homes that would love a home like that. Whilst the dog sleeping outside obviously isn't ideal, and you may struggle to find a rescue that has that policy, I'm sure they would dogs who have lived like that, and prefer to be outside. I'm sure the right dog is out there, its just a matter of finding him or her.

Whereabouts in the country is she, maybe people could pm you with some recommendations

SillyMangoX

Yeah that was the problem I had with going the rescue route, so many policies are strict and wouldn't have an outdoor dog but as you say yourself we may get lucky and find a dog that needs those kind of arrangements! My only thing is I don't know when she actually will be getting a dog, could be next week, could be in two years time! She's in north Clare if anyone has any suggestions for rescues around there

the_syco

SillyMangoX wrote: »

The only thing is she is very "anti" dogs in the house! Now she lives on a farm and would plan on keeping the dog in one of the barns at night

Hrm. Maybe a small dog, such as a pug, would suit her if it was allowed inside? I'm guessing she may not want a dog in the house that would bark? Ask has she ever had a dog stay in the house, and you may find out the reason that she has this idea.

SillyMangoX

No it's nothing to do with barking, in fact she would prefer a dog that would bark for security, she's very set in her ways and her thoughts about animals. She thinks dogs/cats would dirty the house, ruin furniture etc. But no matter how much convincing I do she wouldn't have a pet in the house unfortunately!

sillysmiles

Many dogs happily live outside. This shouldn't really be a sticking point with a rescue especially if a dog has come for a farm/outdoor lifestyle.

FoxyVixen

If she can keep up with its activity, a sheepdog sounds perfect? Plenty of them end up in the shelters when they prove too much to be a pet or too little to be a working dog.

Goes without saying to make sure the barn is weatherproof and comfortable for the dog

SillyMangoX

She always had sheepdogs around the place as well as hunting dogs, her last sheepdog died about 10 years ago and she hasn't had a dog since, but she really wouldn't be able for the amount of activity that they would need to keep stimulated! I think she has her heart set on a small little white dog!

FoxyVixen

If you found an older dog though you'd be set as they'd have a much reduced need for exercise and just seek companionship. I know here they're common place in the rescue.

Our old guy died at 18, but was useless for anything after around 10-12yrs old :pac:. He'd just sit at the back door with the odd inclination to go for a walk down to the river

Tranceypoo

FoxyVixen wrote: »

If you found an older dog though you'd be set as they'd have a much reduced need for exercise and just seek companionship. I know here they're common place in the rescue.

Our old guy died at 18, but was useless for anything after around 10-12yrs old :pac:. He'd just sit at the back door with the odd inclination to go for a walk down to the river

Agree with this and there's so many older dogs (especially collies) in rescues.

I will PM you the name of a rescue I'm involved with, they don't have black & white rules for rehoming and judge every potential home separately.

falabo

another Irish farmer mentality here. a dog should not spend its life outside regardless of the breed. they need human interaction. it's probably Ok for SOME breeds to sleep outside in a shed that's isolated, comfortable etc as long as the dog had human interaction during the day. a dog should not be 24/7 living outdoor, full stop.

This elderly grumpy one should not get a dog .

"a dog will ruin my house and make it dirty, ruin the furniture" FFS sick of hearing that

Tranceypoo

falabo wrote: »

another Irish farmer mentality here. a dog should not spend its life outside regardless of the breed. they need human interaction. it's probably Ok for SOME breeds to sleep outside in a shed that's isolated, comfortable etc as long as the dog had human interaction during the day. a dog should not be 24/7 living outdoor, full stop.

This elderly grumpy one should not get a dog .

"a dog will ruin my house and make it dirty, ruin the furniture" FFS sick of hearing that

I kind of agree and disagree with you, firstly I'm married to an Irish farmer and both our dogs sleep on the sofa in the kitchen (along with the cat!), but having said that I see an awful lot of dogs on farms and rural areas in general that are outside the entire time, my mother in laws dog is a case in point and whooooooole other post, just this morning I had to drop something off at another farm for my husband and one of their dogs (out of 4) was a collie and had some blue rope round his neck with a piece of wood attached to it, I don't understand the logic behind that one, a lot of those would be working dogs and well looked after but of course sadly an awful lot of them aren't, in general I am terribly frustrated with people's attitude to dogs in this parish/area/country, but again, that's another post.

Also, the OP has said that the dog would be getting an hours walk a day and her granny would be home all the time and in and out of the house and around the yard, I agree it's not ideal that the dog wouldn't be allowed in the house and personally I don't think a small dog would be suitable but it's her choice ultimately.

FoxyVixen

falabo wrote: »

another Irish farmer mentality here. a dog should not spend its life outside regardless of the breed. they need human interaction. it's probably Ok for SOME breeds to sleep outside in a shed that's isolated, comfortable etc as long as the dog had human interaction during the day. a dog should not be 24/7 living outdoor, full stop.

This elderly grumpy one should not get a dog .

"a dog will ruin my house and make it dirty, ruin the furniture" FFS sick of hearing that

Why does it always get mentioned that its farmers who leave their dogs outside with no companionship? From my experience, it's the majority of Irish people, not specifically farmers. Furthermore, most sheepdogs I know get worked sufficiently and have more human attention than most of their counterparts.

My dog (Akita) sleeps outside and has no issue with it. She prefers it as at a certain point in the evening she looks to get out. My understanding is so that she can "keep an eye" to what's going on outside. She gets more than enough attention throughout the day in the house, walked, played with, etc. though she sleeps outside!! If anything I don't get enough attention off her :rolleyes:

Not all dogs are suitable to outside of course, but this isn't what the OP wanted to discuss. I believe there's a recent thread on that than to be bringing "farmer bashing" or the outside/inside dog debate to this thread.

kylith

I'd probably recommend an ex-racing greyhound for her; doesn't take much exercise, low shed, low smell, too big to trip over, eats less than you'd think. Depending on the dog or the rescue they may be able to sleep outside too, racing greyhounds are usually housed in sheds; the only worry would be the temperature. With their thin coats they can't handle the cold.

teggers5

I was going to recommend a greyhound too but probably wouldnt suit with chickens and cats??

SillyMangoX

While I wouldn't be one to agree that dogs should be left outside, I can guarantee that any dog she would have would have a lot better life than many ive seen in indoor homes going mad with lack of exercise! But I'd rather not turn this into a debate about that. I asked her myself last week would she consider a greyhound as i thiught it would be perfect but she said no, not with her hens. She's already lost 6 to a fox so really couldn't risk bringing in a dog with a prey drive!

thegreatgonzo

falabo wrote: »

another Irish farmer mentality here.


Nice sweeping generalisation there. Lets ignore all the dogs that that are left out on tiny balconies in urban areas.

thegreatgonzo

Tranceypoo wrote: »

one of their dogs (out of 4) was a collie and had some blue rope round his neck with a piece of wood attached to it, I don't understand the logic behind that one,

Sorry to take the thread off topic...I'm guessing here but I'd say it is to stop him rambling through ditches without having to tie him up?

sparkling sea

Those small white dogs like a bichon frise, low to no shedding, happy go lucky etc seem to be indoor dogs.

I think you might find it hard to get a dog who is a constant companion but is theh happy to sleep outside; they'd get too used to being indoors and with the nanny. She'd probably end up leaving it sleep at the end of the bed

FoxyVixen

Op, what about a Shetland Sheepdog?
I've no experience with the breed, but from what I've read up, they'd be similar to a collie but with perhaps a lower mental/physical requirement. A small dog but with a decent coat to be in a warm barn? If you get one that's well socialised you should have no problem around the chickens, though of course supervision would still be necessary.

kylith

teggers5 wrote: »

I was going to recommend a greyhound too but probably wouldnt suit with chickens and cats??

SillyMangoX wrote: »

While I wouldn't be one to agree that dogs should be left outside, I can guarantee that any dog she would have would have a lot better life than many ive seen in indoor homes going mad with lack of exercise! But I'd rather not turn this into a debate about that. I asked her myself last week would she consider a greyhound as i thiught it would be perfect but she said no, not with her hens. She's already lost 6 to a fox so really couldn't risk bringing in a dog with a prey drive!

That's a fair point, I should have thought of that.

Knine

FoxyVixen wrote: »

Op, what about a Shetland Sheepdog?
I've no experience with the breed, but from what I've read up, they'd be similar to a collie but with perhaps a lower mental/physical requirement. A small dog but with a decent coat to be in a warm barn? If you get one that's well socialised you should have no problem around the chickens, though of course supervision would still be necessary.

That decent coat needs a hell of a lot of grooming, something which an older lady might find difficult.

SillyMangoX

Yeah a sheltie would be perfect if it wasn't for the grooming, she really wouldn't be able for the daily maintenance of their coats!

falabo

I didn't say it was only farmers who tend to have that mentality. I just didn't include others. Having said that, I agree that LOADS of people in urban areas or living in an apartment don't even bother walking their dogs

anniehoo

SillyMangoX wrote: »

how she would love a little dog for company,

I'm going to be honest. Your heart is in the right place but I think you know as well as I do that NO dog is going to fit the bill in this scenario.

I'm going TOTALLY against the grain SillyMango because of above and recommending that she doesn't get a dog at all.

I've been in the same predicament as you. Family members asking me about getting a pet for my Gran and every single time, I've said "no!" Arguments galore followed !:o

Why? My Granny is 84 and totally with it mentally (eyesight is awful though). She loves animals and loves hearing about my pets,but has fallen over too many times to mention. .

Sillymango we know you well enough now to know you're a cat lover.If your Gran "needs company", a dog is the last thing I'd suggest tbh,nevermind suggesting a breed,unless she wants one. The indoor v outdoor debate doesn't matter as long as you feel she's able to care for a dog fullstop!!!??

Do you feel she's able to look after a dog?

FoxyVixen

Erm, if she'd like company and there's no compromise to the "perfect" dog scenario, you could get in touch with Irish Therapy Dogs and see if they have any volunteers in the area? Would give her something to look forward to as well as providing canine companionship even if for a few hours?

SillyMangoX

Thanks for the honest opinion anniehoo! I honestly do think she is capable, she's in very good health, both medically and mentally, other than a bit of a stiff back. On an every day basis she is looking after her cats and hens and helping my uncle with the cattle, so yeah I would think she would be well able for a dog! Even after all this on thread discussion which I am going to relay to her, she may still decide herself not to get a dog, I just wanted to gather information here that I can help her with, but even myself I am leaning towards her not having a dog!

A therapy dog would be a great idea but she lives very remotely so I doubt there would be any services like that available, I will check it out though! She does meet dogs on a daily basis at her neighbours houses when she goes for her walks so even if she doesn't get a dog herself she can still go and say hi to one!

anniehoo

SillyMangoX wrote: »

I just wanted to gather information here that I can help her with, but even myself I am leaning towards her not having a dog!!

Karl Stein

Cat. Catfalp.

njs030

One of the Galway rescues have 2 gorgeous dogs that are 'older' but not old and are used to sleeping outside I a kennel. Would she be interested in a set of best friends?

boomerang

If I had a penny for every adopter that was adamant at the outset that the dog wouldn't be on the furniture and would sleep in its own house outside... and subsequently had the dog at the end of their bed every night and the dog became their whole universe...