Planning To Adopt An Older Dog? Here Are Some Pros And Cons To Get You Started!

You might think otherwise, but an older dog can make a wonderful adopted pet. Many people who adopt puppies vow to adopt older dogs the next time they plan on adopting one and there’s more than one reason why.

First off, you need to know that older dogs in shelters are usually well-behaved family pets who lost their homes without wanting to lose it in the first place. It wasn’t their fault they wound up in the shelter. Older dogs are surrendered to shelters for a number of reasons:

1. People didn’t know how to manage them well or care for them,
2. People got divorced, moved or died,
3. People no longer thought they were as cute as they were when they were puppies.

The third point may hit you right in the feels, but sadly, that is the reality. I’ve personally heard a lot of cases where families surrender their older dog for a puppy and that breaks my heart. Usually when pups are between 9 months and 2 years they are surrendered to the shelter because, let’s face it, they are active.

They do develop challenging behaviors, none of which can’t be taught or trained. Instead of training their older dogs, some people opt to give up and surrender them. Therefore, before you decide to adopt an older dog you must keep in mind the pros and the cons so you can be sure that the pup you’re about to bring home would be a perfect fit for you and your family.

Pros of Adopting an Older Dog

• They’re house-trained and so you don’t have to worry about spending a truckload of time and energy to teach them.
• They’ve finished teething, which means they don’t chew or nip of anything, but their own chew toys.
• They already know some basic commands, such as “sit”, “stay”, and “come” and they behave well in the house.
• They’re well-socialized meaning they’re friendly and accustomed to different kinds of people and circumstances.
• They’re not as wild and energetic as puppies and won’t make you run endless for hours!
• They quickly adapt to people and are generally friendly with anyone who takes care of them.
• They have a strong sense of gratitude.
• They can learn new tricks!
• They’re readily available in shelters because older dogs often get overlooked.

Cons of Adopting an Older Dog

• They can have some behavioral problems and some dislike children or other pets – just depends on what they have been through.
• It can take them a little longer to adjust to a new environment, but be patient with them and they will come around.
• Sadly, they are only in your life for a short period of time…

Well, there you have it. If think that you want to adopt an older and you feel confident about handling them then you’re the best! Older dogs deserve a second chance to life, they need YOU to learn how to live again 🙂 They deserve love and happiness just as much as puppies do so we commend you for considering bringing an adult dog home. You are going to change a life! Share this post with your friends too!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay