Rescue Centres.

[Diflower]

Kate much as I'm sure you'd love one, it's one of very few times when I would say the dreaded words 'at your age', because they really are quite energetic and demanding dogs.
Rescue centres get all sorts after all, don't you think maybe something a bit smaller and possibly a little older might be a better choice?

[JoM]

Just to add to what Di said, there are loads of older dogs who get overlooked because of their age

[Kaz]

I was kind of thinking the same myself - a pup of 6 months is a huge commitment Kate. An older dog might be better xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[KateLMead]

I have thought about this "my age"... Gus has said should I leave this earthly realm she would take Barney or and any other animal I might have if they survived me....I worry about Barney he is quite rheumatic I adore him he is such a gent!!.. He will run like mad on his walks,but lately has become very clingy.. Ruby... Gusty's little rotty is a character, Gus only has to mention the word Grandma and she goes potty, licks the phone if she hears my voice and makes straight for the kitchen when she arrives looking for food!! I dont think another elderly dog would be the answer. But equally I need a gentle natured dog preferably who doesnt need too much training.. Ruby was pregnant at ten months when she and her fellow companion a big Rotty were placed in the rescue centre, it was upsetting leaving her companion and she threw up for three days when Gus got her home obviously missing her mate and feeling insecure
but after a week or so she realised jusy how loved and precious she is and now she ruled the roost even gets on with Gusty's "six cats" most of whom are strays.. One also named Ruby is blind in one eye, all getting old..

[meriad]

to add my two pence... Kate, we obviously all would hope that you'd outlive any lucky dog you'd choose to adopt, but if you did go ahead and adopt the lurcher pup and Gus did eventually have to take on your dogs; I'd be very concerned about the lurcher interacting with Gus' cats.... Lurchers are hunting dogs and very fast and most - admittedly not all, but most - will chase a cat; usually only in play to start with but when the cat runs off the natural instinct comes out and you may have a potential recipe for disaster.

And same goes for greyhounds.....

Good luck with finding your perfect companion pooch - that'll be one lucky dog

[Diflower]

Kate there's a whole lot between a puppy and 'elderly'

[debih]

I do tend to agree Kate.

Millie was completely manic for the first three years (we had her from a pup) and would tear around the house like a little whirlwind.

She has started to calm down now but still wants lots of fuss and attention. We have to make sure that she can't reach any food and that no sweet or food wrappers go in anything other than the kitchen bin - otherwise she will eat it.

Fortunately she is frightened of cats (another of her foibles) and doesn't chase them but shoots off after squirrels and rabbits. And has caught many. I would be very concerned for the cats around us if she wasn't frightened of them. Her catching a rabbit or squirrel isn't a pretty sight!

[fudgie21]

one of the gang here is a lurcher she is lovely, very dainty but can run like the wind, she is also very nervy and her owners say that she often disturbs them during the night as she barks at the slightest noise outside, she is picky as to what she will eat but they are first time dog owners and leave food down for her instead of picking it up after 5 minutes so she can eat whenever she wants to instead of when it's put down. perhaps most of the other things they say she does is down to their lack of dog knowledge too. Having said all that she is a sight to behold when she runs...me and Esme are in awe of her speed and elegance.

[KateLMead]

I am most grateful for you dear ones guiding me.. perhaps a lurcher is not the answer.. I would like a dog that has been neglected before being taken into a rescue centre. really something like a Scotty or one of those dogs that doesn't appear the most beautiful but has a lovely temperament.. Not a big dog.. Oh dear when I saw them in the centre huddled in cages it broke my heart.. Whichever I manage to get he/she will be loved..

[debih]

I am most grateful for you dear ones guiding me.. perhaps a lurcher is not the answer.. I would like a dog that has been neglected before being taken into a rescue centre. really something like a Scotty or one of those dogs that doesn't appear the most beautiful but has a lovely temperament.. Not a big dog.. Oh dear when I saw them in the centre huddled in cages it broke my heart.. Whichever I manage to get he/she will be loved..

Please be very careful when picking a dog that has been badly neglected Kate. Their temperament can be very different to what you would usually expect from their breed. They could be very traumatised and therefore lots and lots of hard work.

Millie came from the rescue centre as a puppy but we had another dog, a Border Collie, before her and she had had a terrible life. Although she was a lovely dog she was very, very temperamental, especially around other dogs and she was very neurotic. She needed so much more looking after than a "normal" dog.