When adopting a dog, one choice you will need to make is whether or not to adopt a puppy or an adult. This is not always an easy decision, but adult dogs have many advantages that are not always seen right away.
Older Dogs Have Manners
Unlike puppies, many adult dogs have spent years living with a family and being socialized to life with humans. They may have even received obedience training and respond to popular commands such as Sit, Stay and Down. Many older dogs are house trained as well, which means it will take a matter of hours or a day or two to help them learn the potty rules in their new home.
Older Pets are Less Destructive
Most older adoptive dogs are well past the search-and-destroy phase. This means you won’t need to worry so much about finding your favorite pair of shoes or a table leg chewed beyond recognition.
What You See is What You Get
An older dog holds no surprises as to how big he or she might get, what color his or her adult coat will be, or whether his or her hips will be healthy. An older pet comes to you with his or her own history, making his or her future much more predictable than that of an 8-week old puppy.
You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Adult dogs can focus on the task at hand, unlike many puppies. If your adopted older dog needs to learn a few things in his or her new life with you, not to worry. You can simply enroll him or her in an obedience class, contact a trainer or go the do-it-yourself route. Older pets are much more attentive than puppies, and more eager to please their humans.
Older Dogs are Calmer than the Average Puppy
Think about getting a puppy as having another baby in the house. Puppies need constant care, watch and attention, which can be extremely time consuming and exhausting. Even when they have grown out of that initial puppy stage, their energy level matches any rambunctious two-year-old for the first years.
If you would like to add a pet without around-the-clock care, an adult dog can be an ideal choice. Older dogs tend to be less hyperactive, while still providing the same amount of love and affection to any household.
You Save a Life
When most people adopt a dog, they go straight for the toy-sized pooch, overlooking the obedient and calm senior ones. When a shelter has too many dogs up for adoption, the older dogs are typically euthanized first since they are less in demand. Adopting an older dog will give these pets a second chance at life with a loving family.
There are numerous reasons an adult dog could have been put up for adoption, which oftentimes has nothing to do with the personality of the dog itself. More than likely, an older pet has already had experience with families and just wants to be a companion to any person willing to take them in.
Puppies are definitely cute, but adult dogs have their many advantages and should not be overlooked during your search for the perfect furry friend for you. Don’t hesitate to contact All Pets Veterinary Medical Center with the link below for more information!
