Think the only type of dog you’d want to adopt is a puppy? Think again! Here are six reasons a senior dog might just fit better with the lifestyle you live.
They’re already house trained
While shelter dogs come from many situations and backgrounds, there is a good chance that the new dog in your life will already know where and when to do his business. This means no cleaning up messes all over the house or, even worse, stepping in them in the middle of the night as you go to do your own business. If your dog doesn’t come with this prior knowledge, don’t worry: old dogs can indeed learn new tricks!
There are no personality surprises
Senior dogs generally know who they are. While all dogs will act a bit differently in the shelter than they will in a home, you have a much better idea of if a senior dog is mellow or a spaz right when you meet him than you would a puppy. This means you won’t expect a running partner and get a couch potato. For even better results, adopt a senior from a foster situation where they’ve already had a chance to adapt to family life instead of shelter life.
You already know how big they’re going to get
Similarly to the lack of personality surprises, you won’t have any surprises in the size department. When you bring home a puppy, you may take home a 6 pound “Scottie Mix” but what the shelter couldn’t know is that the mix was more along the lines of a Mastiff. You expect at max a 25 pound dog, but he grows into 50. He may be cute as all get out, but that’s not what you expected. For some people with rental agreements with weight restrictions, this could cause a serious problem. You can avoid this whole issue by choosing an already full grown dog.
Senior dogs are happy to just be
Senior dogs are the most laid back dogs. They’re happy to just hang around and go with the flow. When you want to play, they’ll play. When you want to cuddle, they’ll cuddle. When you need to work, they’ll be happy keeping you company and sleeping in the corner. The snoring may be a little distracting, but far less than the begging of a younger dog to throw that ball just one more time (and then one more time after that).
Gray makes them look distinguished
Everyone hopes to age gracefully. Most dogs pull it off beautifully. They get a little gray around the muzzle and wiser in the eyes. Their fur sits a little straighter and they keep themselves well groomed. They are handsome, beautiful, and elegant with a touch of dapper. Puppies are cute, but senior dogs are timeless.
They have lots of love left to give
A dog’s love for her owner is unlike any other love on this earth. Though senior dogs are entering their twilight years, they still can show this love for you every minute of every day. When your days are hard, they’ll be there to cuddle you. When you have good days, they’ll be there to celebrate with you. Their hearts may be broken from losing their family in their older years, whatever the situation may be. But they will be so grateful to you for rescuing them and giving them hope for life again. They will spend their whole lives loving you more than they love themselves and trying to pay you back for the gift of life you gave them.
If you’re ready to add a senior dog to your life, check out our adoptions page. If these traits sound like something you need in your life, but you aren’t in the situation to make a lifetime commitment, check out our foster program.