Adopting Older Dogs

With their cute, wiggly bodies, natural inquisitiveness, and penchant for mischief, puppies are almost irresistible.  Almost.

Puppies are also a huge challenge.  They need house training.  They must learn that “no” means “stop it,” not “keep going!”  As they teeth, they chew everything – your furniture, your favorite shoes, even you – with their super sharp, needle-like teeth. 

If you are ready to do the work and prepared for many setbacks and frustrations, a puppy is right for you.  Some of us are not so adopting an older dog is the way to go.

Gracie was three (we think) when we adopted her.  She was already housetrained.  That was about the extent of her training, though.  She has her own set of challenges which have been chronicled in great detail in this blog.

Brianna, the dog on the front page of our website this week, was adopted by a friend when she was 10 years old.  She had horrible dental issues and has some challenges with housetraining from time to time, given her age.  However, she is a sweet dog who has brought a lot of happiness to our friend.

Adopting an older dog can help you to skip the worst of the puppy behavior.  It is not smooth sailing, though.  You may have behavioral issues to overcome.  You still may need to address the housebreaking issue, although it might be a tad easier.  Dogs older than 1 year have the physical capability to “hold it,” unlike a puppy’s small bladder. 

If you are an active person, you have an almost instant companion.  Depending upon the health of your older dog, he or she may be able to join you on long hikes or runs right away.  Puppies usually are not physically capable of long hikes.  They tire quickly.  As I learned with my Dalmatian, you will then be forced to carry your little buddy back to your house or car.

When you think about adopting your next best friend, consider an older pet.  Unfortunately, a lot of the dogs and cats in shelters are older than one year.  Often, it is not their fault.  Maybe they lost that “cuteness” factor when they were no longer puppies or kittens.  Maybe the family decided to get a puppy, so the 10-year old was kicked to curb.  Whatever the reason, they deserve a second look.  An older dog might fit perfectly into your lifestyle.  Adopt the older dog – and go back to the shelter from time to time and play with the puppies to get your fix.

Rescue Mommy