April 19, 2019 3 min read

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.

1. What You See Is What You Get

Older dogs are open books. From the start, youā€™ll 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 youā€™re not so into surprises, an older dog is for you!

2. Easy to Train

Think you canā€™t teach an old dog new tricks? Hogwash! Older dogs are great at focusing on youā€”and on the task at handā€”because theyā€™re calmer than youngsters. Plus, all those years of experience reading humans can help them quickly figure out how to do what youā€™re asking of them.

3. Seniors are Super-Loving

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 youā€”and 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!

4. Theyā€™re Not a 24-7 Job

Grownup dogs donā€™t 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 ā€œme time,ā€ this is definitely a bonus.

5. They Settle in Quickly

Older dogs have been around the block and already learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack. Theyā€™ll be part of the family in no time!

6. Fewer Messes

Your floors, shoes, and furniture will thank you for adopting a senior pooch! Older dogs are likely to already be house trainedā€”and even if theyā€™re 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.

7. You Wonā€™t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

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.

8. They Enjoy Easy Livinā€™

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 donā€™t require any exerciseā€”they doā€”but theyā€™re not going to need, or want, to run a marathon every day.

9. Save a Life, Be a Hero

At shelters, older dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Saving an animalā€™s life offers an unparalleled emotional return on your investment, and youā€™ll feel the rewards every day you spend together.

Need we say more?