In one of our last posts for 2015, we discussed why dogs should be adopted and not bought. While we’re very happy to see that more people than ever are turning towards adoption instead of purchasing when they’re ready to add a new member to their household, there’s another issue within adoption that we want to focus on.
When people decide to start the process of adopting a dog, they often focus their search on finding a puppy or very young dog. Although we fully support anyone who wants to provide a loving home to a puppy, we want to share a handful of reasons why people should at least consider adopting an older dog:
Less Accidents and Training
Many people underestimate just how much work and patience it can take to train a puppy. If your family already has a fairly busy schedule, giving a puppy the attention it needs to be properly trained may be a significant challenge. By adopting an older dog, you can make the transition to having a dog in your home with far fewer pieces of chewed up furniture.
Fulfillment Knowing You Saved a Life
At most shelters, older dogs are the first to be euthanized when a facility gets too full. By making the decision to adopt an older dog, you may be saving an animal’s life. That will ensure a strong bond between the two of you from the very start.
Can Still Teach Them New Tricks
Not only do older dogs generally know more commands than younger ones, but the old saying about not being able to teach an old dog new tricks is a myth. In fact, mature dogs have a longer attention span than puppies, which means that the training process is often easier.
Just As Receptive to Love
Another misconception about older dogs is that they’re not going to bond with an individual or family in the same way that puppies do. However, based on our experiences and those of people who bring their dogs to our daycare, that’s simply not true. It’s actually common for dogs who have had a harder life to recognize just how good they have it in a new setting and give all their love & loyalty in return.
Perfect for Many Different Types of Individuals and Families
Not everyone wants a hyper puppy running around their home. If you feel that you’re in a place in your life where you want a dog to join your household but may be looking for a more mature companion, we highly encourage you to spend time with some of the older dogs at a local adoption center.
Whether you ultimately end up adopting a puppy or an older dog, if you ever need a place for them to be cared for while you’re away from home, our dog daycare is the perfect option!