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Adopting the Older Dog Can Be The Best Thing You've Ever Done
If you are as yet undecided whether you should choose a puppy or senior dog, please do take some time to consider giving a senior dog a second chance - giving an older dog a home is just such a worthwhile thing to do. My heart goes out to mature dogs that need good homes. They are usually in that situation through no fault of their own and it is heartbreaking to see them just waiting to be taken home and loved. It is a common misconception that dogs end up in shelters because they are perhaps bad, too much trouble or vicious. More than likely they are there because their previous owners did not think things through before getting a dog and therefore ended up abandoning them. They could also be there because they wandered away from home and never found their way back again - can you imagine how awful that must feel? Then of course, there are the sad cases where an older dog's owner has died or been taken ill - thus leaving the dog without it's home. If you are at all in tune with these kind natured animals, you cannot help but notice the sadness and puzzlement in their eyes.
Whether you are looking for a family watch dog, or just a four legged, furry friend to share your home with – relax and browse through these pages - you will get a better idea of what to expect when considering adopting the older dog. Here you will find helpful and useful advice on Then click on the links at the bottom of this page to find out more about the pros and cons of taking on a puppy, the enormous pleasure this can bring and also how it can impact your life with it's added responsibilities, together with many other topics written specially for pet lovers, by pet lovers. You will also find a wealth of information on all sorts of details which you should take into account when thinking of adopting the older dog. Sharing your life with a canine companion for the next decade or so isn't something to be taken lightly - do take the time to follow the links - it's so much better to be safe than sorry when choosing a dog or any other pet for that matter. Don’t forget to bookmark this page so you can come back as often as you need to. You can also subscribe to my Perfect Pets Blog so you have all the newest updates brought directly to you. You can do this simply by clicking on the little orange RSS button in the highlighted light green box along the left margin of this page - and following the directions from there.
Also do not miss the other useful articles available to you – check out the links at the bottom of this page for free information and help with all your pet queries and concerns.
Mature dogs are independent, and settled - well past the destructive stage, make faithful friends and very visibly show their appreciation at being given a second chance. Adopting the older dog is definately the way to go if you are looking to by-pass the hectic "toddler" stage of doggie-hood. They quickly settle into a routine and potty training is a thing of the past (usually!). They are also usually well over the destructive stage by this time in their lives – which can be a real blessing if you are keen on a well kept house and garden - and if you like shoes without holes! All dogs are naturally territorial and very seldom need any additional encouragement to assume the role of your family watch dog. However, if a true family watch dog is what you are looking for, you will need to ensure you pick the right breed when adopting the older dog, as some dogs are so placid they would invite the neighborhood crook right in and show him where you keep the silver! Click on the relevant link below for more information on choosing a dog of the correct breed which would happily assume the role of a family watch dog.
I hate to say it, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't - unless you can be absolutely certain of a mature dog's background, I would not recommend introducing it into a family with young children. Dog Shelters are usually excellent at knowing their dogs' personalities and matching the right dog to the right family - and I would recommend you click here for some helpful advice on what to look for if you're considering getting a dog from a dog shelter.
Mature dogs are ideal for households where there are only adults or older children - and make the most wonderful companions in these situations. Depending on the age of your dog, you do also need to be aware that they may only have a few years left (all the more reason to give them a comfortable home) - and though you've by-passed all the initial puppy immunizations and so on, potential vet bills do need to be taken very seriously. One of the added complications of adopting the older dog is that they can sometimes take awhile to settle in and may keep wandering off in the mean time. Our little rescue Jack Russell kept doing this. Thankfully, we’d manage to find her fairly soon, and she was always so relieved to see us we couldn’t understand why she’d wandered off in the first place! However, she always wore a collar and ID tag, so she quickly became know to all our neighbours and it was not an uncommon thing to have one of them turn up at our door with Lucky in their arms! We'd then end up discussing Lucky's latest antics over a cup of tea. Adopting the older dog can have so many ongoing - and unexpected - implications! Older dogs can sometimes have fairly quirky habits - but so too do most of us ‘mature’ humans! Adopting the older dog which compliments our own personalities means we can comfortably bumble along together - making each other very happy indeed! The right amount of love, understanding and patience usually produce excellent results - I would strongly recommend adopting the older dog and giving it second chance if your home situation is right. Adopting the older dog can be just the nicest thing to do. To help you make your decision, do click here to read Shannon Emmanuelle's book on Choosing A Dog for your Family. She has researced the subject very thoroughly indeed and at it's current cost, it is a small price to pay for additional peace of mind. I have also listed below two useful training manuals for dogs and their families. They would make good reading to fully equip you for what you are likely to encounter when adopting the older dog as their individual training needs can differ so greatly from breed to breed. I have selected two of the best - see which one you prefer:-
Dog Training Made Easy.
Though many of the other factors to be considered when adopting the older dog can be found by clicking on the links below, the potty training situation needs to be discussed here. This is because a mature dog will present you with a few general issues such as safety, etc., but she has already formed her toilet going habits, which you are going to need to address to suit your situation. Do keep in mind that your new dog will be totally confused and maybe even quite scared of her new surroundings. She may have the odd accident or two - and though you shouldn't shout at her - do not give in to her too lightly either. Be gentle but firm, tell her off with a firm "No" and take her to where you want her to potty. It will take a while, but she will get the message. Idealy, you should be able to train your dog to go in a particular place in your garden. This makes it easy to keep clean and also keeps the rest of your garden a relatively people friendly place! Of course, your dog will also want to relieve herself when he is out on his walks - after all, a dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do! You will find a useful range of pooper-scoopers, disposable bags and gloves in your local pet store. I particularly like the lightly scented disposable bags - makes the walk to the doggie bin just that bit more bearable! However, it may suit you best to train your dog to use an indoor litter tray. The following book will help you get through this process with ease.
Click Here to Litter Box Train Your Dog.
There is absolutely no substitute for knowledge and the easiest way to benefit from other people's knowledge is to read..... and then read some more! And, in order to equip you to make an informed and educated decision, I have listed some reading material which you will find most useful. These are instantly down-loadable e-books of some of the more popular dog breeds and give you the characteristics of various breeds, together with their individual training requirements - very enlightening reading indeed! Boston Terriers, Boxers, Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Labradors, Newfoundlands, Pugs, Weimaraners, and Westies.
This section is currently being updated with a wealth of useful top tips to help you ensure you have everything your dog needs - at a price that suits your pocket! Please check back in a couple of days.
A number of other factors need to be taken into consideration when adopting the older dog - and we have carefully researched these for you. Our reason for doing this is so that you OR your dog do not end up as yet another figure on a long list of depressing statistics.
Life with the right dog can be one of mutual respect, companionship and fun - our dogs have so enriched our lives - and this is what we want for you. We are dedicated to helping you in adopting the older dog - one that is perfect for you and your family. Please do click on the following links to find much, much more invaluable information.
Click here to discover why a dog’s breed is so important Click here to choose a dog to fit in with your lifestyle Click here to choose the best TYPE of dog for your family Click here for help and advice on getting a dog from a dog shelter Click here to discover why you should be very wary of buying a dog from a Pet Shop or Store Click here to discover how to choose your perfect dog – be it from a Dog Shelter or a Dog Breeder Click here for help and advice on bringing your new dog home Click here to return from Adopting the Older Dog to our Home Page
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