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Adopting a Senior Dog
Should You Adopt a Puppy or an Adult or Senior Dog?
Sophia is at the Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, Inc. in Altamonte Springs, FL.
The following is an excerpt from Petfinder.com's Adopted Dog Bible
When adopting a dog, one choice you'll need to make is whether to adopt a puppy, an adolescent,
or an adult. It's not always an easy decision, so let's take a look at the
advantages and disadvantages of adopting dogs of different ages.
Puppies are enchanting little beings. They're funny and cute and full
of promise. But puppies, like all babies, need a lot of care and attention if
they are to fulfill that promise.
Puppies Are a Lot of Work
Your puppy will need to be trained so that
she knows what you want her to do and not do. She will need lots of safe
exercise and play so that her body develops properly, and she will need you
to socialize her with other people and animals so that she feels comfortable
in the world. As she learns and grows, she'll get into things, chew,
make messes, and have accidents in the house. All in all, a puppy is a tremendous amount of work — much more than many unsuspecting adopters
realize.
A Puppy's Health — and Size — May Be Unpredictable
Puppies who are available for adoption through shelters and rescue organizations sometimes offer additional challenges because they come from less-than-ideal situations. Chances are good that their parents were not screened for inherited health or temperament problems, or that optimum pre-natal or post-natal care was provided for mama dog and her pups. Shelter and rescue puppies may have been taken from their mothers at too young an age for
optimal emotional development. Veterinary attention may have been lacking
prior to the pup's coming into the shelter or rescue group. Responsible shelters and rescue groups provide medical care, treatment for parasites, and
vaccinations against infectious disease when appropriate; however, sometimes
adopted puppies don't show signs of illness until they move to their
new home.
Does this mean you shouldn't adopt a puppy from a shelter or rescue
group? Not at all -- many wonderful dogs grow from puppies who didn't have
the best start in life. But you do need to be aware that even a young puppy
has a history, and you may need to give her some extra care to make up for it.
Realize, too, that you can't always predict how the puppy you adopt will
mature, especially if she's a mixed-breed. If you adopt a puppy, make sure
you're ready to accept her as an adult, even if she's thirty pounds bigger and six inches shaggier than you expected.
Adult and Senior Dogs Are Already Emotionally Mature
Puppies turn into adolescents at lightning
speed. That babyish furball you bring home will
turn all legs, ears, nose, and energy in another four
months. Adolescence in dogs begins at six months
and lasts until anywhere from eighteen months up
to thirty-six months, depending on the breed.
Small dogs tend to mature physically more quickly
than big dogs do, but all dogs are quite immature
mentally and emotionally until they are at least
two or three years old. They continue to need training,
lots of exercise, and ongoing socialization
throughout this developmental period.
Adult and Senior Dogs Are Great for First-Time Dog Parents
If this is your first dog, or if you cannot devote
the time necessary to train, socialize, and exercise a
young or adolescent puppy properly, an adult dog
could be a better option for you. If you're not sure,
talk to people who are currently raising puppies or
have done so recently to get a realistic picture of
what it's like. If dealing with puppy pee on the carpet
and needle-sharp teeth in your toes for months on end sounds like too
much chaos for your taste, adopt an adult.
You Know What You're Getting with an Adult or Senior Dog
When you choose an adult dog, you have a pretty good idea what you're
getting. You can see her physical traits and get some idea of her basic temperament,
even though dogs in shelters and dogs newly in rescue foster homes
may not always show their true personality right away. Still, with the guidelines
we offer you later in this book, you can select a behaviorally
sound dog who will improve and blossom once settled into your loving
home.
Adult and Senior Dogs Will Love You as Much as a Puppy
If you are concerned that an older dog won't bond to you, don't be. Dogs
are remarkably resilient and open-hearted. Some completely overcome their
pasts in a matter of days; others may take a few weeks or months, and a few
will carry a little baggage for even longer than that. Working with your
adopted dog to help her overcome any hurdles necessary to enjoy her new life
can be an incredibly rewarding experience -- and result in a long-term, loving
relationship.
Next in
Before You Adopt: Adopting a Senior Dog:
The First Days with Your Senior Dog
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