Ten
good reasons to adopt an older dog!
10. In a word--
Housebroken! With most family members gone during
the work week for 8 hours or more, housetraining a puppy
and its small bladder can take a while. Puppies need a
consistent schedule with frequent opportunities to
eliminate where you want them to. They can't wait for
the boss to finish his meeting or the kids to come home
from after school activities. An older dog can "hold it"
much more reliably for longer periods, and usually the
Rescue has him housebroken before he is adopted.
9. Intact Underwear.
With a chewy puppy, you can count on al least 10
mismatched pairs of socks and a variety of
unmentionables rendered to the "rag bag" before he cuts
every tooth. And don't even think about shoes! Also, you
can expect holes in your carpet (along with the urine
stains), pages missing from books, stuffing exposed from
couches, and at least one dead remote control. No matter
how well you watch them, it will happen- this is a
puppy's job! An older dog can usually have the run of
the house without destroying it.
8. A Good Night's
Sleep. Forget the alarm clocks and hot water
bottles, a puppy can be very demanding at 2am and 4am
and 6am. He misses his littermates, and that stuffed
animal will not make a puppy pile with him. If you have
children you've been there and done that. How about a
little peace and quiet? How about an older rescue dog?
7. Finish the
Newspaper. With a puppy running amok in your house,
do you think you will be able to relax when you get home
from work? Do you think your kids will really feed him,
clean up the messes, take him for a walk in the pouring
rain every hour to get him housetrained? With an adult
dog, it will only be the kids running amok, because your
dog will be sitting calmly next to you, while your
workday stress flows away and your blood pressure lowers
as you pet him.
6. Easier Vet Trips.
Those puppies need their series of puppy shots and
fecals, then their rabies shot, then a trip to be
altered, maybe an emergency trip or two it they've
chewed something dangerous. Those puppy visits can add
up (on top of what you paid for the dog!). Your donation
to the rescue when adopting an older pup should get you
a dog with all shots current, already altered, heartworm
negative and on a preventative at the minimum.
5. What You See Is
What You Get. How big will the puppy be? What kind
of temperament will he have? Will he be easily trained?
Will his personality be what you were hoping for? How
active will he be? When adopting an older dog from a
rescue, all of those questions are easily answered. You
can pick large or small; active or couch potato; goofy
or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its foster
homes can guide you to pick the right match. (Rescues
are full of puppies who became the wrong match as they
got older!).
4. Unscarred Children
(and Adults). When the puppy isn't teething on your
possessions, he will be teething on your children and
yourself. Rescues routinely get calls from panicked
parents who are sure their dog is biting the children.
Since biting implies hostile intent and would be a
consideration whether to accept a "give-up", Rescue
Groups ask questions and usually find out the dog is
being nippy. Parents are often too emotional to see the
difference; but a growing puppy is to put everything
from food to clothes to hands in their mouths, and as
they get older and bigger it definitely hurts (and will
get worse, if they aren't being corrected properly.)
Most older dogs have "been there, done that, moved on."
3. Matchmaker Make Me
A Match. Puppy love is often no more than an
attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a
basis an which to make a decision that will hopefully
last 15+ years. While that puppy may have been the
cutest of the litter; he may grow up to be super-active
(when what you wanted was a couch buddy.); she may be a
couch princess (when what you wanted was a tireless
hiking companion); he may want to spend every waking
moment in the water (while you're a landlubber); or she
may want to be an only child (while you are intending to
have kids or more animals). Pet mismatches are one of
the top reasons Rescues get "give-up" phone calls. Good
rescues do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and
their applicants to be sure that both dog and family
will be happy with each other until death do them part.
2. Instant Companion.
With an older dog, you automatically have a buddy
that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW.
There's no waiting for a puppy to grow up (and then hope
he will like to do what you enjoy.) You will have been
able to select the most compatible dog: one that travels
well; one that loves to play with your friends' dogs;
one with excellent house manners that you can take to
your parents' new home with the new carpet and the new
couch. You can come home after a long day's work and
spend your time on a relaxing walk, ride, or swim with
your new best friend (rather than cleaning up after a
small puppy,)
1. Bond. Rescue Dog
Bond. Dogs who have been uprooted from their happy
homes or have not had the best start in life are more
likely to bond very completely and deeply with their new
people. Those who have lost their families through
death, divorce or lifestyle change go through a terrible
mourning process. But, once attached to a new loving
family, they seem to want to please as much as possible
to make sure they are never homeless again. Those dogs
that are just learning about the good life and good
people seem to bond even deeper. They know what life on
the streets, life on the end of a chain, or worse is all
about, and they revel and blossom in a nurturing ,
loving environment. Most rescues make exceptionally and
extremely loyal companions.
Unfortunately, many folks
think dogs that end up in rescue are all genetically and
behaviorally inferior. But, it is not uncommon for
Rescue to get $500.00 dogs that have outlived their
usefulness or their novelty with impulsive owners who
considered their dog a possession rather than a friend
or member of the family; or simply did not really
consider the time, effort and expense needed to be a dog
owner. Not all breeders will accept "returns", so
choices for giving up dogs can be limited to animal
welfare organizations, such as Rescues, or the owners
trying to place their own dogs. Good rescues will
evaluate the dog before accepting him/her (medically,
behaviorally, and for breed confirmation), rehabilitate
if necessary, and adopt the animal only when he/she is
ready and to a home that matches and is realistic about
the commitment necessary to provide the dog with the
best home possible.
Choosing a rescue dog
over a purchased pup will not solve the pet
overpopulation problem (only responsible pet owners and
breeders can do that), but it does give many of them a
chance they otherwise would not have. But, beyond doing
a "good deed", adopting a rescue can be the best
decision and addition to the family you ever made.
Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend for life!
NOTE: The author is
unknown. This is from a discussion area about dogs.
