I recently adopted my first dog, a Chihuahua mix named Rocky who is 3 or 4 years old (or he might be older than that, according to the vet) from the Humane Society of Utah. I can say with confidence now that this is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I would encourage all potential adopters to rescue an older dog from an animal welfare group or shelter. Most people want a puppy, but older pets have so many overlooked benefits and so much love to give.
Tangible Benefits of Older Dogs
Adult and senior canines have advantages over puppies and young dogs because, simply put, they are not puppies anymore. Having outgrown and advanced past the puppy stage, most older dogs have received some training along the way and many are house-trained.
“Puppies are undeniably cute,” concedes the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA. “However, as anyone who has ever raised a puppy knows, these little bundles of joy can be as labor intensive as a small child. If you've been searching for a canine companion, but are not sure you have the time, energy and patience it takes to properly train a puppy, consider the advantages of adopting an older dog.”
Older pups frequently have outgrown annoying puppy behaviors. For instance, there is less of a chance that they will have chewing issues and be destructive. Most are calmer and more independent. Many have been socialized to other dogs (and sometimes cats!).
Adult dogs are a known commodity. The pooches have realized their potential. The Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA points out, “With an older dog you know what you're getting in terms of size, physical appearance, health and temperament. There is no way to know whether the tiny puppy you adopt today will be 90 pounds of hard-to-manage dog a year from now, or if she will shed constantly or fall victim to a genetic disease. An older dog has already gone through the destructive phases of adolescence and puppyhood, and will most likely be more focused and self-disciplined.”
I was a bit apprehensive about adopting a dog since I’ve only ever lived with cats. Since I was inexperienced, I was looking for a dog who was house-trained and good with cats. Rocky was completely house-broken, and has not had an accident in the three months I’ve had him. He also lived in a home with other dogs and cats, so the transition to my multi-cat household has gone smoothly.
Benefits of Adopting an Adult Dog over Buying a Pup
Some potential adopters are hesitant to consider an older dog because they worry that the pet may have been surrendered to a shelter because of behavioral problems. However, dogs are given up for a number of reasons, such as because of a move, divorce, death in the family, their person’s allergies, and so on that have nothing whatsoever to do with the individual animal.
Look at it this way: With a puppy, you can be assured that you are going to have to work through behavioral and other challenges, but with an adult dog, you likely won’t need to work through as many issues.
Rocky was surrendered by his family because they were moving. While it’s difficult for me to understand how they could have given up such a little bundle of love, I am grateful to them for the care they gave to him while he lived with them.
Doing a Little Good in the World
It is a stark reality that 3 to 4 million companion dogs and cats are killed in shelters every year, according to the ASPCA. It is also sad that the demand for “perfect” pure-bred puppies and other animals leads people to buy from breeders, pet stores, and suppliers on the Internet (young animals, who, as a side note, often come from deplorable conditions like puppy mills) while perfectly wonderful and full-of-love older animals languish in shelters.
According to the Senior Dogs Project, “By adopting an older dog, we can make a statement about compassion and the value of all life at all ages, as well as register a protest against the indiscriminate and inhumane breeding of dogs, whether it is for profit or to ‘teach the children about birth.’ And, of course, just as a puppy has his whole life ahead of him, so does an older dog have the rest of his life in front of him.”
By adopting Rocky, I feel happy that I am doing a bit of good in the world even if it’s just by helping one little soul — but what a sweet, loving, and absolutely deserving pup he is. The cliché question “who rescued who?” definitely applies here.
Sources:
- ASPCA, “Pet Statistics” (accessed September 28, 2011).
- Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA, “Benefits of adopting older animals” (accessed September 28, 2011).
- Senior Dogs Project, “ Questions about Adopting an ‘Older’ Dog ” (accessed September 28, 2011).
Aimee Larsen Stoddard - Aimee is a professional writer/editor. She has a BA in English and is currently completing an MS in Theology.
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