Owning a Dog and still being active in TV
 

I’ve always wanted a dog, but never had one while working, as I didn’t think it was fair to a dog to be inside, crated and alone for the majority of the day while I was at work. I always thought that once I retired, I would finally get a puppy, and invest a lot of time with training, and walking several times per day. Well, since retiring to The Villages, and with all my activities, I don’t see how I could fit having a dog into my busy lifestyle. Many of my neighbors who have dogs are not engaged in very many activities here in The Villages, as their dogs seem to take up most of their time. Often times, they have to turn down social and recreational invites, or cut them short, because they have to get back to let their dog out or care for it. Interested to hear from other posters who manage to have a dog and are still very active outside their home everyday here in The Villages. I’m thinking maybe dog ownership will have to wait until I’m older and maybe less active.

It’s similar to having a child. The right breed is important because the dog we had was mixed breed from the dog pound and he would have some anxiety wanting to be on your chest or lap all the time and was not real comfortable in a cage when we would go out for a bit. We enjoyed it for the time we had but I would not want it again (just selfish me though). Also remember if you get a pup it’s a 10 or more year commitment. Your trial run maybe taking the neighbors dogs while they are away as I occasionally see those posts, etc.

Agree, nice to see the OP is thinking it through.

One option is to adopt an older dog that the present owner can no longer care for or who has passed.

I feel the same way. That's why I volunteer at the Humane Society of Sumter County. I get my dog fix and help the dogs walk, socializing, etc. Very rewarding

While we have had several dogs over the years and currently have a Shih Tsu, you are wise to think carefully about adopting a dog. A few points to consider…

1) Each breed has its own temperament. Even a mixed breed dog will have some characteristics from the different breeds.
2) What size dog do you want? Larger dogs will generally need more outdoor time than smaller dogs.
3) Consider the additional expenses. Our dog requires grooming every six weeks at $60-80 per visit. Add in vet bills, food, etc.
4) Training is very important and will help you and your dog handle different situations. Is the dog allowed on the furniture? Will you be feeding it scraps from the table? Read a book on dog training before you get the dog.

Given all that, we love our dog and wouldn’t trade him for the world. When the day comes when he is gone, we (and our friends) will need grief counseling.

The villages is a great place for dogs.

I agree with everything that's been said so far. I might add, the reason why I have two rescues now is because I want to have dogs in order to spend time with dogs. So that's part of my raison d'être.

That said, if you are very active and would like to give a rescue dog a chance at a better life, you can do this. Most dogs from shelters are crate trained, as they live in kennels. Our two came from the Sumter County Humane Society, where I volunteer. Since I walk the dogs, I can tell by looking at their kennel in the morning which ones are housebroken. I know which ones are skittish, which ones are calm, and which ones need a lot of exercise. You can ask all these questions of the shelter staff; I know the staff at Sumter County Humane Society, and they will tell you the truth.

Since I'm past retirement age, I chose dogs I think (hope) I will outlive, which is another reason not to go with a puppy. You have to have a backup plan for the dog if something happens to you. One of ours was brought to the shelter after the owners died and the adult children did not want him.

There is a meme out there that says something to the effect that a rescue dog would rather be lying on your floor waiting for you to come home than sitting in a kennel not knowing what's next.

Good luck in your decision.

OP, ever consider a cat? They are great companions, tend to take care of themselves and I only need to empty the litter box once a day, but I do occasionally have a lap cat when I am trying to work on my laptop.

Yes, I rescued a kitten last year. Great companion. I try and spend some quality time each day in play with her - plus when home, she is always by my side.

Just like having baby, requires your full attention. It you don’t travel much problems are less.

That's a beautiful sentiment, thank you for sharing!

may you have happiness no matter what dog, or not, you choose. i wish more people would consider things like you do before they adopt,-- we'd have less neglected pets in shelters

Dear OP,
I have been a pet owner for much of my life. This said, I have a different point of view. As a retired person your life is pretty much your own now. As said earlier, adopt a pet is like being a parent. Your life will no longer be yours. Your "child" cannot take care of itself. You must schedule your life to fit the needs of your "child". Human children take on certain things on their own (exercise, getting food, etc) which "fur babies" can't do on their own. In fact, in many ways pet owners aren't like parents at all. They are more like care givers for challenged or elderly individuals. You may love your pet, but, unlike a human child, you will never see them grow up and become self-sufficient, productive adults. They go from baby, to young child, to old and elderly.
Now, you are retired. Free! Your time is yours. Do you really want to be 24/7/365 caretaker and watchman, making the rounds, punching the clocks, and paying for the "privilege", financially and emotionally?
As said, I was a pet owner and I lived and loved my pets and would do whatever was needed for them. But now they are gone and I am free. Breakfast happens when I want it. I don't need to leave early to take someone for "walkies". Doctor visits are for me, not the cat/dog(s). And I don't have to carry poop bags for someone else.
OP, think. Do you really want or need that pet? Really?
Good luck! And don't let the pet addicted make you feel guilty if you "just say No" to pet ownership.

You have two options that may help with deciding. There are many rescues near TV, that need someone to Foster pups to adults. Usually it’s to help with over crowding, mostly in TV it’s a temp surrender due to health.

Second you can consider taking a puppy commitment for service dogs. It’s hard after that year to return, but rewarding that You had a helping hand in that training to make someone else’s life easier. They also are always looking for a person who can take that pup for a day or few days while the handler takes a vacation.

Do remember if you work with a Service puppy training company. Your puppy will go everywhere with you, and can. Pickleball, grocery, restaurants, and Even Disney. We were at Disney last month when the seizure dogs were with their new forever child handlers. All wearing their seizure vests, booties, walking through crowds, and only paying attention to their new handlers.

Think reward to a higher level than you could ever imagine. Give you a puppy fix, and may help you decide if full commitment is for you

Our sentiments exactly. My husband and I love pets; but we have reached the pet-free stage of our lives, so now I enjoy the moments when I'm around other people's pets.

We had a dog before moving to The Villages. She's only 2, a shih tzu pekingese mix. We still are active and do have long days on occasion where she's alone but we spread them out and reward her when we come home.

She is paper trained. Never in my life have I had a dog who was paper trained and used to be semi disgusted at the thought. However, I'm very very glad that she is. We can leave her without needing to come home to potty and during bad weather, no problem. It's never fun to try to figure out how to potty a dog in a hurricane. I've done that for years and it's awful. But doing this training would make it so you had to have a small dog.

We do not crate our dog, she hates the crate. Also a first for us, as our other dogs were crate trained. She has a bed and a carrier that she loves, so she will curl up in that sometimes. We leave music playing for her when we are away.

When we come home, we usually take her for a golf cart ride or a walk.

I hope this helps you. You definitely can have a dog and a life but you'll need to find a balance.

Make arrangements with one of your neighbors to take care of their dog in your home while they go on vacation. That will give you an idea of what your life will be like if you adopt a dog of your own. It will also limit your commitment to a week or two and you won't feel guilty about taking a foster dog back to a shelter, since the dog in your home already has a wonderful owner. Your life will change with a dog, I say for the better, but after this experiment you may disagree.

I think you are right in every way. People with dogs frequently have to leave early or schedule themselves around taking care of their dogs. If they don’t, they are abusing their dogs. You are also right that you shouldn’t have a dog at this time.

No question—owning a dog takes a lot of time, and it can cost a lot of money. I had a cute little dog for several years, but it fell in love with my ex-girlfriend’s dog, and when I moved to Florida, I gave the dog to her. It is still with her. The dog it fell in love with died, but it has now fallen for her new dog. I was very fond of my dog, but I don’t really feel temperamentally inclined to get another one.

My ex-girlfriend’s dogs have among the best of dog lives. She rides and competes on her horses and spends summers in the mountains of New Jersey and winters in Ocala. She has big fenced yards, but the dogs go almost everywhere with her. Most days they go to the barn with her and hang out off-leash, loved by everyone. When she rides her horse for several miles, they run alongside. If she’s not riding, at least she takes them on a walk through the hills for a couple miles, off-leash. If she’s out doing errands, usually the dogs go along in the car or truck. They love it. They sleep on her bed with her.

Lots of dogs here aren’t able to do that, and lots of dog owners can’t, either. I think the real dog people are happy to deal with the restrictions their dogs necessitate.

In the 45 years my wife and I have been together, we have never not had a dog...until now. Our most recent friend passed away in September at the age of 14, and we miss her terribly. But...I have to admit that life is simpler now. And if you enjoy traveling, things get easier exponentially. With pet sitters or boarding services charging $50 a day, or more, taking an extended trip can really add up quickly. While I have no doubt that we will someday have another dog in our lives, for now we'll enjoy the freedom that comes with not having to worry about the needs of a pet when that spontaneous weekend trip comes along.

Without question, there is nothing like seeing the happy face of your little friend when you walk in the door. As they say, you can lock your dog and your wife in the trunk of your car...four hours later, only the dog will be happy to see you! But, at least for now, we're going to enjoy the freedom of being dog-less...we'll see how long it lasts.

A dog isn’t something you try on for size. You are looking at a 10 to 20 year commitment to an animal whose quality of life will depend on you. Search your feelings and choose wisely.

Owning a dog takes away some free time that could have been used other ways, but the love of a dog is tremendous. I have owned a dog for nearly thirty years now. I am on my third miniature schnauzer. When my first and second mini schnauzers died, we got a new one in a matter of a few months. Like it has been mentioned, one must be prepared to come home to feed and take care of your pet, unless you do not go out much. Right now, I will be taking my dog to the groomer, which will be about $100. The vet bills and grooming can be expensive. What I get out of it is his unconditional love for me. My mini schnauzer follows me around and also sleeps in our bed. He is very spoiled. I think he will be my last dog as I am getting older. I would like to travel a little more.

You could get two, so they keep each other company while you are out. I wouldn't leave them for more than four hours a day.

It is good you’re thinking this through. I have some input.

(1) A crate is not a cage as some have called it. Proper crate training establishes it as a place the dog feels safe - not trapped.
(2) Regardless of weather, pad-training a dog is a great advantage - especially with no fence or, our case, with barky dachshunds that cannot be left to their own accord with in/out privileges via a doggie door. We can leave them for several hours and they know where to do their business.
(3) Dogs are like children that never grow up. Expense of care if you want to go on a cruise adds a lot to your total pet care costs.

Thanks for pondering this thoughtfully. So many leap and regret Hence, the rescue center populations.

Disagree with your over generalization.

That's because dogs live in the moment. People live in the past, present and future. Also, people have expectations. Dogs, not so much. They react to what they are presented with moment by moment.

Getting a dog.
 

One thought to consider; dogs are expensive. Besides all the other comments, look into dog insurance. Most companies will not insure a dog over two and a half years old. Routine visits to the Vet are not covered, but, if a major incidence occurs, it can cost thousands of dollars.

As much as I love dogs, and had them all my life, I am now pet free and couldn't be happier. I personally think dogs, and pets in general, are way too much work. Aside from the cost of ownership, you also have to feed them and take them out multiple times a day to go to the bathroom. You should also walk them every day.

If you want to go somewhere for an extended period of time you either have to bring them with, put them in a kennel, or hire someone to come and stay with them. That can get expensive.

It's really is a full-time commitment, which I don't miss at all.

The last half of your inquiry is spot on. Good, active friends of ours swore that their new pup would not interfere with their activities, however, it was not long before they were leaving socials early to tend to the pup, or turned down invites due to the pup, or cancelled activities because the pup needed the vet, etc. Totally changed their lifestyle as it was similar to having a child. It's good that you are giving this careful and full consideration. I love dogs but at this point they just don't fit into what we are doing.

Some people are cat people and some people are dog people. I have known dozens of dogs that I like, but only ever one cat. I wonder if there are any psychology studies about the traits of people that like dogs versus people that like cats?

An option for you if you want to have a dog but not long term would be to either foster for a pet rescue or help with medical service dogs. There is an organization headquartered in Williston called Guardian Angel Medical Service Dogs (I'm not affiliated with them but admire what they do.) They use German Shepherds (some of these dogs have been rescued and were hours from being euthanized.) There is never a charge to the recipient of these dogs. Many of their dogs end up going to veterans and first responders. As I understand it they sometimes need short term fosters for about 3 weeks when they first get the dog and then the dog goes on to training. You might be asked to take the dog with you when you go places, or not. Here's a link to their site if you want to take a peek. Transforming Lives - Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs

I know this isn't specifically what you asked but it could let you have a dog in your home short term. Maybe the best of both worlds?

I am sure there are cat people, and I know I am one. My parents had dogs while I was growing up, the last one almost broke my wrist on a walk, also I had a bad experience with a large dog which makes me avoid these to this day.

My first cat (over 50 years ago) was a totally black kitten that followed me home, we never found an owner and we inherited Snoopy, since then I have had cats, one time 4 at once, and they seem to like me. Of our current group, Maggie a tuxedo is a true lap cat that has bonded to me, and I find their presence very calming.

That is an excellent and helpful post. I would like to make just one teeny, tiny comment, about feeding. If you feed dogs dry dog food, they will SELF-REGULATE and never overeat. You put down a BIG bowl and it would last them ....say one week. Plus have a bowl of water available. Then you only have to walk them and take them to the Vet.
........ I would fill up their bowl sometime when they were sleeping or otherwise occupied. If you feed them daily, they get all excited and can jump up and spill the bowl. I would never feed them "people food" like cookies and cake and other scraps .....they will eat it, but then they get a weight problem. I have seen many dogs around The Villages with weight problems, so I imagine that they are getting too many treats and "people food". Many people seem to feel that the dog or cat loves them because they get fed . I have found that their home environment and having a "MASTER" seems more important to me.
......I think that many people LOVE their pets into obesity with unhealthy (for them) treats. The fact that dogs will eat candy doesn't mean that they should be given candy. Sorry, I may have gotten into RANT mode.

Pretty sure you have never owned a Lab!

That is a good post. I am interested in the, "Sleep on the bed with her". I have allergies to dog fur. I had dogs up north where I had more acreage, so I could keep them outside in a kennel. Here in The Villages I would have to get a French poodle or other breed that did not shed. A person thinking about owning a dog or cat should make sure that they don't have allergies to the particular breed that they decide on. And most dogs shed. I just Googled that Siamese cats shed some, but are better than other breeds for people with allergies.

Yes, the dogs come here to live out their best lives!

Different breeds can tolerate being left alone, others cannot. A Springer Spaniel, for example, would tolerate it better than a German Shepard. A German Shepard needs more activity and attention. They are practically escape artists and can learn how to turn doorknobs. I have seen German Shepards actually climb trees.

Most Dogs inherently prefer a cage or crate because they feel protected. It is like left over traits from when dogs were wolves and wolves like to sleep where they are safe from other predators - in a cave.

I agree with the post. But I think that some retired people (maybe more women, not sure) anthropomorphize their pet dogs to the point of making them "stand-ins" for their grown up children and grandchildren. I am not knocking it. They are retired and should be entitled to do that. Pets probably help people live longer.

Thanks for that discussion. Someone told me that if you pet a cat for a long time, that it will sometimes bite a person because it likes that person. Is that true?

Any dog breed will eat up the WHOLE bowl when FIRST presented to them. In the wild wolves need to gorge themselves because it could be days before their next meal. If you leave the bowl full all the time, eventually they will lose interest in GORGING themselves and begin to SELF-REGULATE. You could check me on this. Years ago, I read just about every dog book available. I know, from experience that it works with German Shepards, which can be very aggressive and protective, at first, about their food.