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We've always had dogs. They provide great companionship and entertainment. They also motivate us to go for walks.
Around 2005, to make a long story short, we ended up with 3 mini-dachshunds.
They are now slowing down and we have retired. I never thought about how they would make travel difficult after retirement. Since they live for about 14 years, we still have a few years to go. We have never thought about any plans other than to keep caring for them until their demise.
Dogs have a lifespan that is inversely proportional to their size, i.e. the small ones live longer:
I anticipate my wife falling in love with a new puppy
Pros: Dogs give companionship, unconditional love, built-in burglar alarm, motivation to exercise, and frequent amusement.
Cons: If you want to travel, you have to hire somebody to come over every day to care for them. And you can expect unplanned, expensive vet bills. They also require daily maintenance; feeding, drinking, pooping, blocking off areas of the house, etc.
Furthermore, if you plan to move to a retirement community, they may not be allowed and they will certainly need to adapt to closer quarters. They would be likely to annoy neighbors with whom you share a common wall or fence. That sets a trap. Here, we're stuck in our way too big house because it includes a fully fenced yard. It's great for the dogs but a pain to maintain.
I think I'm in the camp of no more dogs. The challenge will be getting my lovely wife to agree.
We are entering our 70s and our dog is 12 years old (a cocker). I love him dearly and don't see how I could do without a dog. But, because I don't think it fair to raise another dog after he is gone, I have decided he will be our last dog. We can't stand the thought of leaving a dog as an orphan when we don't have anyone that we know that would want to adopt.
Over the years, I've had both a dog and a cat and enjoyed both. But travel has been costly as I don't like to burden family members with watching my pets - and I've opted to use my local vet to house them and care for them in kennels or a pet sitter. I found it really unfair to the pets to do this. Finally opted to give the pets away and vowed never ever to again get a pet, no matter how much companionship they provide.
The vet bills got kind of high just for routine things but I didn't really mind that to tell the truth. I never had extreme issues to deal with (ie surgeries).
I do think that pets do a great service for single retirees, especially providing companionship as people get old....in my retirement community it seems like every other resident owns a dog or cat. The dogs are of the smaller breeds....really cute to see.
Our community has ample opportunities for volunteers to work at the rescue centers and guide dog training centers which can be fun if you enjoy pets but can't have one of your own.
We are entering our 70s and our dog is 12 years old (a cocker). I love him dearly and don't see how I could do without a dog. But, because I don't think it fair to raise another dog after he is gone, I have decided he will be our last dog. We can't stand the thought of leaving a dog as an orphan when we don't have anyone that we know that would want to adopt.
Good point. When I retire and get settled into my new home in another state, I'll adopt another dog. Right now, my dog has a terminal illness and won't be around to move with me in a few years.
That being said, buying a puppy for me is out of the question. I'll adopt an adult dog probably a senior dog when the time is right. The happiness and companionship a dog brings me far outweighs any cons that may occur.
lol dogs never ruin your life. 99.999% of the time they enhance it.
Op,
personally I cannot imagine my life without a dog. my dog Hobbes, he is 14 has diabetes and is going blind. He is still a lovable, goofball mutt. We know that he is nearing end of life which is sad but the joy he's brought my family is unimaginable.
Anyhoo, yep the cost can be insane. I kick out 140 bucks a month on insulin and needles alone for him. Now it's especially hard to find someone to care for him on vacation because the person has to know how to administer his meds.
We use Rover to find sitters for him and have had great success.
Dogs enhance one's life imo. studies have show also their great capacity for love, why do you think dogs are used in treating all types of issues, from epilepsy to PTSD.
When Hobbes goes to doggie heaven I'll probably take a break but I can't imagine going longer than 1 year without a dog.
...in my retirement community it seems like every other resident owns a dog or cat. The dogs are of the smaller breeds....really cute to see.
I didn't know that. I would think that little dogs who tend to yap a lot would annoy the neighbors. So perhaps many of the dog lovers continue their habit during retirement.
But now that you mentioned it, I think about 75% of my neighbors have dogs. When we take ours on a walk, we hear them barking as we walk along the sidewalk.
Having a dog (or two, for me) is definitely a wonderful thing. We walk nearly every morning and usually one shorter walk in the afternoon. They are incredibly smart, perceptive, sweet, lovable, loyal, and honest.
Enough research has shown that for people who love their pets, having a dog or cat has health benefits as well. If a person does not care to have pets because they are viewed as "burdens" then of course there won't be a health or attitude benefit from having one!
I didn't know that. I would think that little dogs who tend to yap a lot would annoy the neighbors. So perhaps many of the dog lovers continue their habit during retirement.
But now that you mentioned it, I think about 75% of my neighbors have dogs. When we take ours on a walk, we hear them barking as we walk along the sidewalk.
As you get older, small dogs are easier to handle and take care of. I can't pick up a Labrador or larger dog anymore in case he/she becomes sick, can't walk and needs to go to the vet. A 40 - 50 pound dog is about the most I can handle properly by myself. As I get older, the size of the dog will get smaller as it reflects what I can do to care for it.
You can travel with dogs, you just need to travel differently. Go RVing, and take your pets.
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