Should people in their senior years take on a pet? There are many adult dogs looking for wonderful homes that are in pet shelters. As we age, many question whether or not we have the ability to deal with a puppy or a full grown dog. In many instances, one has to ask him/herself whether or not the benefits outweigh the challenges.
Stanley Coren, a PH.D, when writing in Psychology Today about the human-dog bond, stated that the benefits of pets for seniors are not just psychological, but also physical. Seniors who are living with pets use medical services less frequently, follow recommended health suggestions more closely, and seem to suffer from physical ailments associated with or aggravated by stress to a lesser degree. In one study which looked at men aged 55 or older who had suffered from their first heart attack, researchers found that one to four years down the line, individuals that lived with a dog were more likely to still be alive.
Dr. Coren indicated that pets not only bring joy and comfort to an elderly individual, but also provide order and structure to that individual’s life through constant care, feeding, walking, grooming and the other responsibilities that accompany a dog. It gives an individual a reason to get up in the morning, to dress, to move about, and to go outside. Over time, there is psychological pain associated with sitting alone in a room with nothing but bare walls and furniture, with nothing alive to interact with or take comfort from. A pet gives life to a home, and gives seniors a reason to enjoy life when they are isolated, missing their families, or lacking companionship.
Right before this last Christmas, our ten year old Irish Setter, Reilly, became very ill. He could not move without what looked like excruciating pain, stopped eating and drinking, and was lethargic. My husband and I panicked; we had gotten Reilly just after getting married 10 years ago and had nurtured him through significant behavioral issues, including engaging the services of a dog psychiatrist when he was a puppy because of nervous and experienced temperament problems. It turned out that the breeder that Reilly had come from was despicable, and many of Reilly’s siblings were rescued by an animal rights group. From then on, we always considered Reilly a rescue dog.
Making the decision that every loving dog owner has to make when their beloved pet has been diagnosed as terminal was not easy, as our hearts did not want to let go, especially during the holidays. We took Reilly to an emergency veterinarian’s office on the Sunday before Christmas and held him while he took his last breath. The aftermath was exhausting and my husband and I were devastated.
After coping with our loss, the inevitable question arose: Should we get another dog? At the time, we also had a four year old English Setter named BarneyBloom, a magnificent, well behaved, easy going (after much training) dog. Living in a villa in The Villages, with dog doors and a fenced backyard, life with one dog seemed incredibly easy. One walk a day at ‘Doggie Do Run,’ a good meal (with some of our own food, of course), a treat, and a couch and our dog was content. He never barked and we could not ask for a better, gentler companion.
However, our house felt empty. We had gone from three dogs (we also lost a 95-pound rescue Irish Setter quite a few years ago) to the two dogs, and now one. We have always liked a vibrant home, and prior to marrying my husband, Bob, as a married and then single person, I had three children of my own, along with 55 special needs foster children that I cared for over a period of years. Then I met Bob who had his own two children – needless to say, there was lots of activity and energy needed for this job and that’s what I thrived on.
After much discussion and a long decision-making process, my wonderful husband and I agreed to get an AKC registered Gordon Setter puppy. The puppy became available from a breeder I had been talking to in Kentucky. On one of the coldest weeks in recent memory, we packed up BarneyBloom and drove to Paris, Kentucky to get our new canine kid.
Everyone, even those who are not dog lovers, cannot help but smile and find joy in looking at a litter of 8-week old puppies. That puppy breath smell, their little yappy barks, wagging tails, and kisses bring warmth to your heart. What joy to look at them and then hold the chosen puppy (now known as Brodie). The breeder of Brodie is an amazing woman who lives on 50 acres in Paris, Kentucky and she slept in the heated puppy room in the barn every night since their birth to ensure their safety. A brigadier general, she was injured in Iraq, shot at, and abused as a prisoner. Just meeting her was impressive, and seeing her love and care of the puppies was reassuring that they were well cared for.
For two days, my husband, myself, BarneyBloom and Brodie ventured back to The Villages through the Atlanta storm and freezing temperatures, ice and snow. Brodie was mellow and sat on my lap the whole way home.
Once home, he became what one would expect, but may forget when it has been a few years since having a puppy. He possessed the high level of energy that puppies do, had lots of in-house accidents, razor-sharp teeth that he used to chew on everything (including hands, feet, and furniture), and would cry in the middle of the night to go out. This is all behavior we had seen before, but this time there was a difference: We are older, home a lot more often, and we know how to avoid experiences that we had with BarneyBloom and our other dogs when we worked full time and they had run of the house.
With our crate training of Brodie and our constant vigilance watching him when he is free to play (with over 50 dog toys because Reilly’s dog psychiatrist told us that is what puppies need), there is no lack of entertainment for Brodie. Friends love to come pick him up while it is still possible (24 pounds at 12 weeks), and one cannot help but fall in love with his sweet face, floppy ears and bouncy movements.
When thinking about getting a dog, it is important to think about where one might be 15 years from now. Is it better to get a smaller breed that can be picked up and managed after turning 70 or 80? Is it easier to walk a smaller dog now than it would be to walk a larger dog later? Is there a fenced yard available or will walks on a leash at regular intervals throughout the day and night be required? Can the dog be house trained? Is traveling away from the house with regularity going to be an issue? I equate having the puppy to having a baby as it requires almost our full time and attention, and I love it! But I know not everyone does and many people do not want to think about having such a lively responsibility when they are in their 50’s and older.
In my opinion, I would never trade the joy and laughter I receive from having Brodie and BarneyBloom in my life. Even when I am frustrated from saying “no” to the puppy for any myriad of reasons, he cracks me up with his antics.
What I known how, as I am living this experience, is that Brodie will most likely be my last puppy. I have a lot of energy, I do not need a lot of sleep, I can chase him when he steals something, and I can clean the floors multiple times if needed during the day. I do not think I will want to do this in 15 years. When I am in my 70’s, I might choose to get an older dog that I know has a gentle demeanor and has some discipline so that I can spend time enjoying my pet as opposed to raising it. There is a time and a life situation for starting out with a new puppy, and a time for adopting a full grown dog.
For now, I am experiencing puppy love. And what a love it is!
For questions or comments, please contact Jane Bloom, The Other Daughter,425 299 6020; email janeinthevillages@gmail.com and website www.theotherdaughter.org
