November is ASPCA's Adopt a Senior Pet Month! When most people think of adding a dog to the household, they often think of a small puppy and going to a breeder to pick out their favorite from the litter. Most people forget about the thousands of dogs living in shelters, especially the older population of dogs. A senior dog can still bring joy, and laughter to your life, and can often be a better option for your family. If you are adding a new furry family member, consider these reasons as to why you should adopt a senior dog.
Why are they in the shelter?
There is a stigma about why older dogs are in a shelter. Some people think they’re there because they weren’t good dogs, or there was something wrong with them. In most cases, this is far from the truth. Senior dogs can be in the shelter because their owner had a change in their work schedule, they were required to move somewhere pets weren’t allowed, or an owner passed away. All of these reasons could be why a senior dog would end up in a shelter, and in no way reflect the behavior of the dog.
Senior Dogs vs. Puppies
While many want to get a puppy because they’ll have them their entire life, there’s a lot of responsibility that comes along with them that doesn’t come with senior dogs. Senior dogs are potty trained and most likely know basic commands like “sit” “stay” and “come”. You won’t have to pay for first year shots, immunizations, or spaying and neutering. This means you can spend your time with your dog getting to know them, and not worrying about constantly training.
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks
The old adage “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” simply isn’t true. With proper training techniques and care-taking, almost all dogs continue learning their whole lives.
Adjustment to your new lives
This varies from dog to dog, but a senior dog usually adjusts to you and your life pretty quickly, with consistency. When you go to a shelter to adopt, most places have a dog’s history detailed. Shelters won’t put a dog up for adoption unless they have seen them socialize with other dogs and humans. If you already have other dogs in your house, you’ll want to make sure you find a senior dog that does well with other dogs.
Senior dogs everywhere are searching for their forever homes. They’re well trained and ready to come home. If your family is looking for a new pet, consider an older dog to give them their best lives! If you have any questions or concerns about adopting a senior pet, give us a call at (602) 559-5500.
