It makes it doubly hard when they live so long, when they finally are gone, IME.
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I used to tease Dad bc if I pet-sit for him and Mom for some reason, I had more specific instructions for the fish than any of the dogs, cats or horse!
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Unfortunately, no they don’t do well with invisible fences . If something/some critter catches their interest beyond the boundary, they will blow through the invisible fence without a second thought. If physically fencing a smaller area would be an option, that would work too. They don’t really need a ton of room- our fenced area is only about 1/3 of an acre and there’s plenty of room for them to get out their zoomies.
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Tell Mom that Martha Stewart
just got a new Frenchie to add to her other 2 or 3 Frenchies plus she has 2 big Chows.
Martha is 82.
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I doubt that Martha actually does all the day to day care and exercising of all her assorted animals since according to the kitty litter ads, she’s also got a couple of those.
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I have read about rescues that place senior pets with senior owners. They are willing to take the pet back if the senior can no longer care for them. Some will pay for vet care and subsidize food/litter.
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I am really leaning towards recommending the senior dog for senior owner. I know you will think I’m biased but my Mom is such an amazing dog human.
She lives in a beautiful big log cabin. ALONE
. all she really wants is a a living thing to talk to and care for and love.
🤷
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I love your mom and I’ve never met her! When I get to be her age, I hope to get a senior dog for seniors, too. Thank you for this thread.
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Thank you. 
. For your sweet words.
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Another thought while considering greyhounds are the sighthound rescues in Europe. The Spanish galgo is very similar to the American greyhounds. I support Galgos del Sol and have a podenco from them. The treatment from the hunters that use these dogs for the short rabbit season, then literally throw them away, is heartbreaking. GDS works with several greyhound rescues in the US to place dogs here.
I have experience with Greyhounds in Motion, in Florida. Absolutely wonderful people and so, so kind. In their last email, they had gotten several Podengos from Portugal to adopt out here. One senior dog, Lulu, sounds perfect. I had adopted a second Podenco from Spain, but my current pod does not like other dominant dogs of any description. GIM took her back and found a great home for her.
Just a thought.
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My only concern with getting a senior dog is that you may be dealing with health issues and loss. After dealing with a difficult loss, personally I wanted to avoid any truly senior and/or medically needy dogs. YMMV
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Exactly how I felt. I was emotionally drained after my previous dog died.
The good news is there are so many purebreds in rescues and
shelters and many are young like
2 yrs. old.
Both my. rescue/shelter GSD’s
were 2, came spayed, and all shots.
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I am sorry for your mom and her beautiful friend. As you can tell by my profile picture, GSDs are near and dear to my heart. That photo - he looks so expressive and endearing.
A senior dog is a wonderful idea. If your mom is concerned about longevity of life, are you able to work out taking over care of the pet in the event your mother passes? This is what I did with my grandmother.
If your mother decides not to go senior but thinks GSDs are out of the card, I would think Sheltie might be a nice halfway point. They have the loyalty and velcro-obsessiveness of a GSD, and about just as much hair. They are also herding dogs, in a little bit more manageable a size, and enjoy much the same things GSDs do.
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I wondered what breed (s) might resemble the character of the GSD. Sheltie makes sense!
And heartfelt thanks for all the kind thoughtful posts. I’ve reach each and every thought, suggestion, and reservation. So much insightful food for thought.
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If (Dear Lord, please not soon) anything happens to my Mom’s dog, I want to suggest the senior dog idea again. I know why she likes to get a puppy (who doesn’t love cute, no baggage, etc) but I am going to suggest that instead of the relationship being about how long you can have the dog, maybe it is time to focus on how good a life you can give an older dog in its final years.
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This is what my dad thought & it didn’t work out so hot.
It’s nice to give a dog a a good last few years, but don’t discount what you need out of the dog.
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I have had a multi-year saga to try to keep a beta fish alive. I don’t know how many occupants the tank has had. I got another one last month, but what a pain. If she had someone to help start the maintenance, that might be helpful - but they’re the hardest to keep alive IMO (and I’ve had small mammals, lizards, etc.).
Obviously it’ll have to be your mom’s decision and a dog may be too much, but I did think about this post when I saw an animal shelter locally post an older small dog from an owner that passed away. I may hit a point when it’s not responsible, but I think I’ll find it hard to resist a dog.
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Is awfully hard to resist getting one more dog, or cat or whatever when you are old and have health problems and critter will depend on you only for immediate care, exercise, etc. and no one else around.
I think OP’s mother even at 80 is in good shape and can take care fine, right now, but is just one health crisis away from that care being a problem and, is it fair to the animal the disruption that will cause when it’s human is not able or around or gone?
I think that is why some older people won’t go there, hard as it is personally if they always had some animal or other to care for.
I know a lady that her very elderly mother lives by them and lost her last little dog.
Daughter tried to adopt a dog that she would take care of but to stay with her mother, be a lap dog.
First dog lasted 7 months, but kept clawing and breaking skin on her mother, so dog was returned and, I blame the rescue, she picked a high octane little terrier mix puppy " to train".
Lady is taking dog to obedience classes and has her started in agility and dog is learning very well, very nice dog, but is not a lap dog, the practically never quitting unless asleep energizer bunny type, hard to live with in a normal household, wrong for elderly lap pet.
I am not sure her mother really wanted another dog any more, the daughter thinks she needs one.
I think OP is letting the situation decide for itself, is her mother’s life after all, our good intentions should end when final decisions are to be made if to go ahead and get one more.
That should be her mother’s decision and OP is honoring that.
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I really don’t think your mom will be satisfied with a fish.
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@ThreeWishes I was going to suggest a cat with a dog like personality but I see your mother is not a fan of having cats around.
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