We are all faced with difficult decisions in life and some are harder than others, especially family pets.
Our Barney is a wonderful chap and has given us lots of pleasure but at the same time he is a challenging boy for us at our time of life when we are not as fit as we were in our younger days.
It has not been an instant decision, we have considered this option for some time but could not find an appropriate route for Barney to take while in France.
Since arriving in England Barney stayed in a boarding kennels for a month until we got the keys for our new home.
He was well looked after at the kennels but didn’t have the same attention that a dog would have in a home environment. This has emphasised his headstrong nature which was always there and further compounded out realisation that he needs the training and attention we cannot give him.
After much searching we found Spaniel Aid. CIO | Registered Charity No: 1203314 https://share.google/THHtIUPiRUFwKEY6z
Barney has been in foster care for 3 weeks now and is ready for adoption.
We have had many conversations with Spaniel Aid and they are a great organisation with lots of experience.
No dog goes in kennels, they stay with fosterers until adopted and we have been assured that as a young boy he will quickly be taken up by his new owners.
It was with heavy hearts that we said goodbye but we know we are doing the right thing for Barney.
We sent him with the following message:
Barney is a much loved and very precious young lad who needs the stimulation and exercise that we have come to realise we cannot give him.
In February 2025 we lost our faithful friend Alfie. Alfie was a cocker/fox terrier cross and had a long life of almost 16 years. We lasted just 2 months before filling a massive space in our lives that Alfie had left with the arrival of Barney.
I will be 72 in March and my wife 71 next month. We have lived in France for the past 18 years and returned to live in England in December together with Barney.
When in France we had 1 hectare of fenced garden perfect for Barney to explore at his own pace while we were able to go at what we realise now was a much slower pace!
We are both finding walking long distances impossible which of course Barney needs.
Having a pup/young dog is hard work at any age and in our senior years we have come to accept that our age and health issues have caught up with us in recent months meaning we cannot give Barney the life he so richly deserves.
He loves attention and cuddles; please make sure he gets them.
He has never been fed wet food.
He eats Royal Canin Puppy 2-12months which he has done since we had him at 8 weeks old. He currently has 2 meals a day, each of 90 grammes. We will send his food with him.
He has a shelled boiled egg at lunchtime, also 1 dental stick or hide bone per day. He is a cocker and would eat more but we have been very strict with his food and as you will see he is in excellent health.
He has slept in a cage from day one and loves it. We close the cage door at night but leave open during the day. It’s his space and he will often take time out there during the day.
He travels in the same type but smaller cage. We will send both his cages with him which we bought new for him last year. We will leave his covers in the cages, so they are familiar to him. He will also bring his toys.
He eats and drinks from an elevated bowl set which he will bring.
He wears a leather collar and when out and about he wears a harness and his snood to keep his long ears from getting wet/dirty when snuffling around.
We will miss Barney so much, but we know that he has his whole life before him that needs to be full of adventure, stimulation, exercise and most of all love which he in turn will return in bucket loads as he does every day.
We love him dearly and because we do we know we have made the right decision to give him a new start that will give him a life he so richly deserves, which if staying with us he will not be able to fulfil.
He will very quickly become the centre of someone else’s life, and we will become a distant memory but our memories of him will see us through.
Please continue to call him Barney as that is who he is xx
We no longer have Barney and have set up a monthly donation to this amazing charity.
Barney has been assessed by his fosterer who in 3 weeks has made the oerfect assessment of him.
Have a look on the website in the adoption section Barney SA5221.
Sorry to hear that John, but it sounds like you made the right, albeit difficult decision.
Better that Barney goes to a good home where he can get the exercise and attention he needs, than you both feeling guilty that you can’t look after him as well as you would like to.
Also sorry to read your post, but sorrier still that you feel physically unable to deal with the demands of a young dog, when you’re not that old.
In your situation I’d be looking at how best to remain in good physical shape throughout your seventies and beyond. Whether it’s tai-chi, yoga, strength training for the elderly or whatever, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of opportunities in your new location and it could be a good way of enlarging your social cicle in a new place
I watched the video, and it struck me that unless someone is a total novice, he was making things over-complicated (of course that makes the video longer - a common tactic).
However, if one’s using weights, a squat with a kettlebell, where one then stands up and stretches to raise the weight above your head (Military Press) is a simple, effective form of whole body strengthening exercise that’s much better than simple squats.
@JohnBoy - I can imagine that this posting plus the message to the new owner regarding Barney was very difficult to write. I know I would have been crying my eyes out if I had to make the same decision. I applaud you and your wife for coming to a sensible decision about his future. I feel sure that with the help from Spaniel Aid Barney will find a truly loving home which he deserves.
I have read the details they give on their website and they have made a good job of describing him.
Please let us know when Barney has found his new home. I’m sure it won’t be long before someone sees his details and decides to adopt him.
It’s a very good job you didn’t post Barney pics before you crossed the channel. I really do not need or want a second dog but I know that I would have been unable to resist a young cocker !
Well done on doing the right thing for him xx
Thank-you for all your kind thoughts and support that we have done the right for Barney.
It has been an extremely tough decision and we still miss him desperately but we know both he and us will be better for it.
Thanks also to @Porridge and @DrMarkH for the idea of watching Will Harlows exercise regime.
Yes almost 72 years old and hopeful for a few more years to come however performing squats of any description is for me a thing of long ago.
I have worsening stenosis which brings with it a number of mobility problems.
Pen pushing (no animosity intended) probably brings with it much less physical damage to the human frame than a life in building but other than the personal physical effect of my career I would do it over again without a second thought.
@JohnBoy , have you thought of adopting an older dog? A dear friend here adopted a lovely Australian Berger bitch, who had been used for breeding. She’s enjoying a lovely retirement, walking around the town and sunning herself (weather permitting) on his balcony.
Apologies if you’ve already thought of that and rejected the idea: it was just that you seem an ideal animal carer.
Not wishing to push you into anything (certain that I couldn’t anyway!) but I think input from @JaneJones about low impact ways of keeping fit as long as poss might be helpful in your situation.
I agree, that was my first thought when I read the first post, but unlike @cat , no danger here, this is very definitely an old boy’s (or girl’s) house. The other old git and I motor along gently, now and again coming together for a bit of re-assurance, I stroke his head and he strokes my leg.
Within a day of being eligible for adoption he was reserved.
Now the adoption team will assess the suitability of his potential new owners.
I am so impressed with the dedication of all at Spaniel Aid.
In voluntary organisations there is always a passion that money cannt buy.
Such a huge decision for you but sounds like the right one. I would have also been lining up after Cat although his listing says no kids under 16 or cats, so probably not!. I’m leaving the universe open to bring me a little dog one day!
Well @JohnBoy I think he looks a happy and contented dog. It’s so good to know that he has gone to a loving home and I’m sure Barbey will thrive there.
I wish you wouldn’t say things like that, a well known euphemism , but really glad that he has found a home, but aren’t you at least a bit interested in his subsequent life?
PAD, the Dobermann rescue, absolutely encourages follow ups for adopters, some times for many happy years. So much so that I am glad I kept a list of all my transported dogs as they come up in a report after 10 years or more, and I have to search through my list to find them and all the good things flood back from my memory.
But I do accept that a 2 or 3 day fleeting experience with a friend is a bit different from a much loved one who has moved on to another life.
for 
