answer:I’m not sure I’d adopt an 8-year-old dog unless there was some heartbreaking story attached and no one else would take it. Papillions live, on average, 11ish years. So, I’m not sure I’d get a dog that is pretty much sure to die within the next 5 years. If you travel and have to board the dog a lot, I’d just as soon not have a dog at all. Yes, you can board them, but boarding dogs often doesn’t seem like a great idea. We’ve only boarded Daisy twice, at two different places, and both times she came back as if she’d never been trained. It takes her a couple of days to get back into the swing of things, and it’s hard to guarantee your pets are being treated as they should be in a boarding facility. So, I vote for visiting old Frodo. That way, you get the puppy love without the responsibility or added expense. Best of both worlds.