What would retirement be without a dog to walk by your side, lick your cheek, and bark when the postman sniffs the mailbox?
Are you seeking for a trekking buddy or companionship? For home security or personal safety? Do you just need help entering and leaving the house?
Ask, “What do I want in this relationship?” Dr. Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, associate professor of veterinary medicine and community practice service chief at CSU in Fort Collins, explains.
Can you test the dog at home? It's probably the smartest thing a retiree can do when buying a puppy to spend time with it first.
Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the U.S. in Washington, D.C., believes shelter dog adopters have a unique opportunity to do this.
3. Can you afford a dog? Dr. Katherine Houpt, professor emeritus of behavioral medicine at Cornell University
College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, N.Y., says this relationship will work best without financial stress, especially for persons on fixed incomes.