(upbeat music)

[onscreen text] Adopting Senior Dogs;

[onscreen action] Dog behind fence.
Dogs in an animal shelter.

[narrator] Look at that face.
How can you resist?
Surprisingly, there's a lot of older dogs, like Oscar,
who are in need of a new family to love them.

[onscreen action] Woman puts dog into shelter kennel.

[narrator] Most older dogs aren't given up for adoption
because of behavior problems,
or because they aren't great companions.

[onscreen action] Close ups of dogs in shelter.

(soft guitar strumming)

[narrator] A change in work schedule, divorce, or moving
to a location that doesn't allow dogs.

[onscreen action] Two dogs playing.
Woman walking dog.

[narrator] More often than not, it's due
to extenuating life circumstances, such as the passing,
or severe illness of their guardian.

[onscreen action] Woman working at shelter petting dog.
Dog licking woman's face.

[narrator] Yes, the older dogs are often the favorites of shelter staff
and volunteers, not because they feel sorry for them,
but because they can be the most loving, enjoyable
and well-behaved companions you could ever wish for.

[onscreen action] Young girl petting dog.

[narrator] There are so many benefits to adopting an older dog.
Here are just a few.

[onscreen action] Man petting dog on lawn.

[narrator] With an older dog, what you see is what you get.
You won't have to guess how big he'll be,
or what his personality will be like once he's matured.

[onscreen action] Man walking dog.

[narrator] Older dogs can be the perfect companion
for just about anyone.

[onscreen action] Man sitting on bench petting dog. 

[narrator] They usually don't require the time, stamina,
or patience needed to train the boundless energy
of an adolescent dog or puppy.

[onscreen action] Elderly woman walking small dog.

[narrator] Plus, most older dogs are already house-trained,
and are often better walking on-leash.

[onscreen action] Dog performing tricks.
Woman training dog.

[narrator] In fact, a lot of them even know tricks.
Speaking of tricks, you really can
teach an old dog new tricks.
Older dogs typically have longer attention spans, too,
so they'll be more focused when you train together.

[onscreen action] Dog going down stairs.
Dog lying on bed.

[narrator] Now, while every dog is different, many older dogs
will settle in to their new homes quickly,
because they know how to share a home with people,
and understand what is and isn't acceptable in the home.

[onscreen action] Dog greets man.
Girl petting dog.

[narrator] And as far as any questions about bonding
with an older dog, have no worries.
They'll absorb all of the love
and affection you can give them.

[onscreen action] Man playing with dog inside.

[narrator] Older dogs will love you just as much as any dog can.

[onscreen action] Man petting dog on a lawn.

[narrator] Ask almost anyone who has adopted an older dog,
and you'll hear the same thing.
They are the lucky ones.