I have always had dogs in my life, from childhood onwards, and often two or three at a time. However, six years ago, our last remaining dear old dog went over the Rainbow Bridge. As my married children live 300 and 400 miles away, I have been staying with them at regular intervals in order to help with their babies and toddlers, so it was just as well I didn't have a dog at this time. Now my youngest grandchild is about to start pre-school, suddenly I am not needed nearly so much.
I find for the first time in years I can actually think about having a dog once more, and sharing the joys with my grandchildren whose parents do not have the time or money to have dogs of their own.
I am beset with the worries of 'starting up' again, and wonder if other readers of grandmotherly age have had the same concerns.
In the years I have not had a dog, so much has changed. The tragedies of inbreeding have come to light, the pros and cons of immunising, the jump in vet bills, the cost of insurance, so many areas becoming less than dog friendly, and - I find my biggest worry is about potential allergies!
My daughter always said she thought it was the Peke's undercoat that caused her streaming nose, and my daughter-in-law has various intolerences/allergies, is frightened of dogs and doesn't like them at all! My older grandson says he wants a dog, but I notice he is extremely wary of them, not to say terrified - ever since a collie grabbed a tennis ball from his hand when he was only two.
I think I'll have to restrict myself to the list of breeds I have been given that are less likely to cause allergic reactions, none of which I am familiar with at all!
Although the Tibetan Terrier is on the list, my info on that breed says they do have an undercoat and do moult. They may also be too bouncy for little ones and nervy adults. The little Lowchen may have been a good choice but their gene pool is so small I worry I might be buying into a lot of ill-health, expense and ultimately, much sadness. I wondered about the tried and tested 'low allergenic' Poodle, with such a choice in size, but they seem to have quite a potential for being or becoming nervy themselves. It may not be good for a Poodle to have the house to himself for stretches at a time, and then to have three or four grandchildren sharing it with him, and being very boisterous and wild.
I go round and round in circles, and wonder if I will ever take the enormous step required to get back into my doggie world, and introduce my grandchildren to their delights. Having
Dogs Today to read throughout my dogless years has been a great mainstay. Suggestions/ideas gratefully received.
Lois Taylor, Winchburgh, Scotland
