When adopting a dog, many people are drawn to puppies and young dogs, but a large number of the dogs at shelters are actually considered seniors. Dogs typically become a senior at around 7 or 8 years old. All seniors should be considered for adoption. There are many ways that senior dogs actually stand out from young dogs, so even if you have your eye on a puppy, you might want to consider adopting a senior dog instead.
You Could Save Their Life
Many dogs are euthanized and some even pass away before they can find their forever family. By adopting a senior dog, you could actually save their life, as well as change their life for the better. No dog deserves to spend their last few years in a shelter, so by adopting them, you’re giving them the loving home they deserve.
They’re More Easygoing
Younger dogs are typically full of energy, but seniors don’t usually need constant attention and exercise. If you just want to sleep or hang out at home, your senior dog will be perfectly fine with that. If you do want to go for a walk or play with them though, they’ll gladly do that as well. You don’t need to worry about them constantly demanding things because, for the most part, they’re usually fine just relaxing. They have no problem with sticking to your schedule.
Senior dogs also don’t need to be constantly watched over or supervised because there’s a pretty good chance that they’re behaving themselves, unlike an energetic puppy. So, if you prefer a dog that isn’t full of nonstop energy, then you should consider adopting a senior dog.
You Know What You’re Getting Into
With a puppy, there are a lot of uncertainties. You don’t know exactly how big they’ll get or what their personality will be like, so it’s a little bit of a guessing game. However, with a senior dog, what you see is what you get. You know exactly how big they’ll be, what their temperament is like and how trainable they are
They Have a Lot of Love to Give
Most senior dogs have been through a lot. They’ve had a long life and sadly, they’ve either lost a previous family or been abandoned. Regardless of their past though, senior dogs just seem to be able to tell how lucky they are to finally find a forever home. When you adopt a senior dog, they’ll give you an abundance of love, and they’ll never let you forget how appreciative they are.
They May Have Already Been Trained
While every dog is different, most senior dogs already know basic commands. They know how to go to the bathroom outside and how to sit and stay when told. With a puppy, you’d need to spend a lot of time going over all these basic behaviours and commands, but with a senior dog, you can use that extra time to play and cuddle with them instead.
Along with being trained, senior dogs already know basic manners. Many of them have likely been in a home before, so they know a thing or two about how to behave around humans.
You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Contrary to popular belief, senior dogs can learn new things! While they’ll probably know basic commands and manners, there still might be new things you want to teach them. Senior dogs are usually calmer and have a longer attention span, so it should be easier to teach them, as compared to training a rambunctious puppy.
They Need a Home
All dogs need a home. There are so many dogs waiting at shelters and rescues, dreaming of finding a forever family. So, you should consider all the different dogs when searching for a new family member. Just because your heart is set on a younger dog doesn’t mean that has to be your decision. If you’re ever uncertain about which dog is right for you, consider meeting a senior dog instead of a young puppy. If you adopt a senior dog, they could really surprise you and change your life for the better.
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