We are a home with a love of animals (well half of the home loves all animals and the other half just loves dogs) and after being in our house for 4 years we decided it was time we spread the love. After numerous discussions about whether to get a puppy or a rescue dog we decided to go with rescues. Puppies are awesome family members but they are a handful and need a lot of attention which is something neither of us can provide as we both work full time. The other consideration we made is to be fair to the dog, they are sentient beings who show a lot of love, compassion and loyalty which owners should treat with respect and as a gift, not something to be taken for granted. Based on this and our discussions we then went looking on the internet.

There are numerous great organisations and charities out there including the RSPCA, Bluecross, Battersea Dogs homes, Last Chance Animal Rescue and Dogs Trust who all have a great infrastructure, great people and great support structures for new pet owners which can be vital in making the transition from home to home.

Having looked through the various websites what became apparent was the sheer number of dogs looking for a new home. The next step was to investigate what breed of dog would suit our lifestyles most. Personally I love working dogs with Bassett Hounds firmly sitting at the top of the list but they are notoriously stubborn once they have a scent, can be a challenge to train and can be known to be drool factories – all characteristics I find awesome but the mrs isn’t too keen on. We decided we wanted good natured dogs, good with children, good with other dogs and up for a walk in the countryside. Armed with this we started our search and quickly found Ben and Daisy. We hadn’t thought about having two dogs or how old we wanted the dogs to be so kept them in our minds as we continued our search.

We saw dogs from around the country online but focused on our local homes and finally made the decision after 3 months of looking to go and visit them to see if we could rehome a dog. We had read that some people were turned away from homes before and wanted to discuss our suitability with the centres So off we popped and had a good discussion with the staff, pretty much the same info as you have just read. They told us despite our full time work status and being first time dog owners (we both had dogs when we were younger) we could have a look around the home and pick 5 dogs we would be interested in.

Out of the 5 dogs we were told 3 of them wouldn’t suit our lifestyles or were already being adopted which left us with a dalmatian and Ben and Daisy. We took Ben and Daisy for a walk around the centre and from that point on we knew they were the two for us. The Dogs Trust were brilliant and gave us a full medical briefing on each dog, insisted on 3 more mandatory visits to socialise us with the dogs and vice versa and finally a new owner briefing session before taking them home.

Adopting old dogs has some very cool pro’s and also some cons to be aware of. The cons are that old dogs often take longer to train (the old adage that old dogs can’t learn new tricks isn’t true they just take a bit longer), they generally need the vets more and therefore are harder to insure. Again the Dogs Trust were brilliant recommending insurance companies, they provide full coverage for any health issues already identified and help with any questions you may have. These issues pale into comparison to the enjoyment and adventures you can have them.

One of my favourite things about older dogs, especially Ben and Daisy, is that they came fully trained but without a manual. They are very obedient and sit and have good recall (when treats are involved) and someone has put a lot of time into training them, our challenge is to find the right commands. This first time we snapped our fingers when they were in the room instigated an unexpected behaviour and has led us to go through numerous behavioural nouns, adjectives and verbs to see what works which definitely keeps life interesting.

So now we have two dogs which have been in our lives since May bank holiday 2013. This is Ben now……

and Daisy………

The decision to get older dogs was definitely right for us and as they came as a pair they keep each other company when we are at work. We are happy we could give them a nice home in their latter years and they have made an equally big impact on us. Without these two we wouldn’t have seen as much of the stunning English countryside as we have and would have spent far more Sundays on the couch than exploring our local area.

They will be helping with some pet related reviews on the blog in future so if you’re a fan keep your eye out.

If you’re interested in adopting an older dog then visit one of the good rehoming centres around the UK who can give you all the advice you need. We would recommend it but only if you can give them the time and love they need. For me dogs are the only creatures on the planet who’s pack bond supersedes their individual status (they love their family more than themselves) which is truly special and should be celebrated with a special bond between all those involved.

Daisy and Bens Peak District walking holiday