Are we mature? Never!

[Sam I Am]

There has been discussions on getting another Cairn after one reaches a certain age of "maturity". Or when your old best friend dies. After I lost Jock I pondered if I would get another Cairn.( And of course this is a totally personal decision and I respect anyone who makes the decision to not get another animal for what ever reason.) We have Rosie, our Scottie, and I thought well, she is trained, sweet and fills our hearts to the fullest. But I wanted another Cairn...I wanted a companion for Rosie also as I think they really do well having a four legged buddy. My DH belongs to a BMW motorcycle club..mostly "mature" riders. When we decided yes for sure we wanted another Cairn, he excitedly told his bike club friends that we had contacted a breeder and would soon  have a baby Cairn in our home again. He was met with a volley of why would you want another dog, tied down, not free to travel etc. I enjoy travelling and have done a fair bit of it, my DH is more of a home body who is content with home and hearth. He told his friends that the love of a dog all yr round beats the heck out of a few weeks/months of travel. I have to agree with him. Travel these days is very expensive (we are Canadian and get the heck kicked out of our money when converted to US $$) .  So although we are "seniors" (I really hate that word as it insinuates old, frail, eats mushy food) we will always want our four legged companions in our lives. They are in our wills in the event they out live us and will be taken care of.  One has to live in the moment ( a hard concept I know) so for us not having another Cairn is not an option. Thanks to a few of my forums friends who have encouraged me along the way , telling me I am only just a "mature" person and not 110, life continues on and our four legged friends will come along on our life's journey. 

Edited May 18, 2017 by Terrier lover

[hheldorfer]

[bradl]

Being a homebody who's owned five BMW bikes over the years I can only agree with and support the wisdom of your DH  

Also, Not Old.  Although I was shaken the other day when on Senior Discount Wednesday at our local market the clerk ringing me out looked up briefly and without a word entered a 10% discount. Sigh.  

 

 

[Sam I Am]

One of those squirmy pups is our. 

[Hillscreek]

Love those pups. A fun time is on the way. A drive you to distraction time is on the way too!

Got to chuckle at you kids in your sixties or younger! Folks, here is an actual really old person reading this - old, somewhat frail but can still eat more than mushy food though I will say that oatmeal is a favorite breakfast meal

I remember when I was a young 79 meeting puppy Angus and bringing him home with me. There were people who thought I shouldn't do this but my doggy friends and others who knew me well supported me. You may remember how, with help from so many friends on this forum, I raised Angus to be an all around ready to go kind of guy. And when the time came he took his wonderful cairn personality to a home that gives him a much fuller life than I can nowadays. He will be six in September. I hear how he loves his new freedom and how he is loved by his new family.

I am so grateful I had a chance to have a final wonderful companion. And to have one more go at raising a pup - something I have always loved to do. And I am so happy he has turned out to be an equally great buddy for his new family. I miss him of course but, you know, it is more like when my kids grow up and moved out of the house to their new lives. It's not like when my earlier doggy friends died.

But that is my experience. For each person of course it is different. It seems it is not so much age in itself but rather the desire, and ability, to care for a dog that is important. I have seen plenty of younger people discover what a shock it is to be "tied down" by a dog.

And of course no matter one's age anything can happen. For me I say you only get once chance at each day so live it!

 

 

[sanford]

3 hours ago, bradl said:

...on Senior Discount Wednesday at our local market the clerk ringing me out looked up briefly and without a word entered a 10% discount. Sigh.  

Don't sweat it Brad! Remember - the clerks at check-out counters and in theater box office windows are often 18-19 years old. To them, anyone over the age of 30 looks ancient!

[Sam I Am]

I hope I am as lively and spry as you Hillcreek when I reach  my mid eighties! You have done a wonderful job of raising Angus!

[Lynn in TN]

I myself can't imagine not having a Cairn in the house. Would whole lot, rather have my pups, than the freedom to go anywhere. My DH has had bikes in the past and we loved it. We have been thought about getting another, and a side car to go with it. I'm sure the girls would love it. Kelly sure loves the riding mower. 

[Dempsy's Mom]

Exactly - live life - every day there are choices with no guarantees - I will always have a dog in my life - would love a cairn always, but if some little creature at the adoptions grabs my heart before I nab a cairn - well, that will probably mean I will have a cairn on the back burner just waiting for me.  A dog is one of God's greatest creations - and we (here at cairn talk) all know the love of a dog. 

[Kathryn]

Agree with all - hope to have a cairn buddy the rest of my life. If hasn't stopped us from traveling: in the US, Oban comes along and makes the trip more fun. When we leave the country his favorite dogsitter moves into the house. And if traveling meant I couldn'the have a dog, I guess I would stop traveling...we are pretty content here as is with house, garden, friends, books, art and our dog. Our plan, as we age and travel less, is to add a second dog!

So I understand your choice, Terrier Lover. And cannot wait for puppy pictures!

And Brad - I never turn down a discount, for whatever reason!

[Corn Niblet]

At age 60 I know these will be my last Cairns. I will be 75 if they make it to 15!  So glad I made the choice to get a friend for Rocky. He and Gus are still getting along great. I never felt right about leaving my dogs at a kennel or having a pet sitter come in so I have not had many vacations, but I plan to take Rocky and Gus with me since they are small and travel well.  Good luck on your new little one!