At animal shelters and rescue groups everywhere, there are loving, healthy, senior pets looking for that one special home to cherish them for the rest of their life. These special companions don't ask for much, just a warm place to sleep, good meals, and plenty of love. Here are a few no-brainer reasonsĀ as to why you should adopt a senior dog.
Older dogs are open books. From the start, youāll know important things like their full-grown size, personality, and grooming requirements. All this information makes it easier to pick the right dog and forge that instant loving connection that will last a lifetime. If youāre not so into surprises, an older dog is for you!
Think you canāt teach an old dog new tricks? Hogwash! Older dogs are great at focusing on youāand on the task at handābecause theyāre calmer than youngsters. Plus, all those years of experience reading humans can help them quickly figure out how to do what youāre asking of them.
One of the cool parts of our job is reading stories from people just like you who have opted to adopt. The emails we get from pet parents with senior dogs seem to all contain beautiful, heartfelt descriptions of the love these dogs give youāand those of you who adopted dogs already in their golden years told us how devoted and grateful they are. It's an instant bond that cannot be topped!
Grownup dogs donāt require the constant monitoring that puppies do, leaving you with more freedom to do your own thing. If you have young children, or just value your āme time,ā this is definitely a bonus.
Older dogs have been around the block and already learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack. Theyāll be part of the family in no time!
Your floors, shoes, and furniture will thank you for adopting a senior pooch! Older dogs are likely to already be house trainedāand even if theyāre not, they have the physical and mental abilities to pick it up really fast (unlike puppies). With their teething years far behind them, seniorsĀ are also much less likely to be destructive chewers.
There are those who yearn for a doggie friend of their own, but hold back because they worry what might happen in their lives in the years to come. They are wise to do so! AĀ puppy or young dog can be anywhere from an 8 to 20-year responsibility, which is not appropriate for the very elderly or those with certain long-term future plans. Providing a loving home for a dog in their golden years is not a less serious commitment, but it can be a shorter one.
Couch potato, know thyself! Please consider a canine retiree rather than a high-energy young dog who will run you ragged. Not that older dogs donāt require any exerciseāthey doābut theyāre not going to need, or want, to run a marathon every day.
At shelters, older dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Saving an animalās life offers an unparalleled emotional return on your investment, and youāll feel the rewards every day you spend together.
Need we say more?