Old Dog Considered To Be “Grumpy” Gets Adopted

Dogs go through an ageing process and, despite this being a no-brainer, senior dogs often miss out on attention, especially if they’re kept in shelters.

Most dogs enter their senior years around age 7, but this varies between breeds and the size of the dog. Rocky is a greying pug Pomeranian mix who was often overlooked at the shelter he was kept in. That was, until he was given a chance and proved himself to be a joy to be around. Rocky has many distinct features that make him hard to miss; his brown googly eyes, missing teeth, and his iconic hanging tongue are signifiers of his engrossing character. Caretakers at the shelter that looked after him recalled him as the grumpy old man in the kennel.

Unfortunately, Rocky was hardly given consideration for adoption, that was, until a man paid a visit to the shelter. The man, looking to add another member to the family, saw that many of the younger dogs were already selected by other people, that’s when he noticed little Rocky in his kennel with no one waiting to adopt him.

This compelled the man to give Rocky a chance and adopt him, and since then, the two have never looked back. Rocky’s dad often posts pictures and videos of the senior pup enjoying car rides and walks where his entertaining personality shines through.

Regarding the phases senior dogs go through; in their old age, dogs begin to slow down, they’re more susceptible to weight gain and their senses start to dull. Another thing to note is that senior dogs get a lot more anxious and have a harder time handling stress, which can manifest itself in them acting more clingy, isolating themselves, or being irritable. As challenging as these changes in behavior are, a little more understanding and tender, love and care will see them through.