Dog blog
Senior Dogs for Adoption: Why Older Dogs make Great Pets
The act of senior dogs for adoption is a noble thing and one that should be encouraged by all to help save more animals in need. Though you might want to consider adopting a senior dog once we show you just how awesome they can be (in terms of pricing and cool “hacks”.)
Older dogs make great pets due to a myriad of factors that come with age, such as the ability to understand commands, being house trained, and having a more relaxed temperament. These factors will likely ensure an easy adoption process, involving little to no fuss in many cases, thanks to the “wisdom” gained in dogs that come naturally with age.
There are so many incredible benefits to adopting older dogs, ones that many NEVER think of, but below we’ll uncover all the tips for you – no more secrets!
You can skip the training process with senior dogs for adoption!
As is the case with many senior dogs, their maturity level and ability to understand commands is likely something that would have already been instilled within them during their younger years. This means that the transition from the shelter to your home could likely be an “easier” process compared to that of a puppy.
According to the American Psychological Association, dogs are smarter than we give them credit for and can understand on average up to 165 words, signals, and even have a basic understanding of simple arithmetic (yes, really!)
What does this mean for you? Well, it means that if your doggo can do 1+1 equations (which they can), then this means it is more than likely that your new senior dog will take kindly to any new such training methods you introduce to them as well (if they need any more training at all.)
I mean, they CAN do basic math for Pete’s sake!
Older dogs are laid back!
With maturity will likely come the experience of your senior dog having a well-versed grip on “life”, something that their puppy counterparts will naturally lack. Older dogs have likely been around the block once or twice and know how things work. Thus an older dog would be less susceptible to overstimulation – unlike a puppy.
This is something to take into account when considering a senior dog. If you’re the type of person who’d prefer to sit back and chill, then you needn’t burden yourself with a puppy, as you can get the same more “relaxed” version with an older dog!
A post by NBCnews.com studied personality shifts in varying ages of dogs. Below is a summary of their findings when it comes to how your dog might change with age and what things may remain stable.
So in a nutshell, if your senior dog was always the active “go-getter” in his younger years, then he’ll likely still possess those traits, but in a more toned-down and refined way.
This means that if you pick the senior dog to go with your personality best, you’ll likely be getting the most (brain development-wise) out of your dog than anyone before you ever has!
Senior dogs for adoption allow you to “hack” your dog breed!
This sounds strange, but bear with us because it’s kinda cool. Have you ever wanted a big breed? A “cool” breed? How about a German Shepherd? Or a Great Dane? Or a Rottweiler?
A thing most forgotten is the fact that you can still get all the “cool” breeds you want, but with less effort – if you go for an older dog. The science behind this shows that with age comes maturity and a sense of “refinement”, along with a declining sense of “curiosity” (if only a little.)
This means that if you’ve ever wanted a big breed dog, but with a little less “oomph”, or one that you could keep up with better – then consider adopting an older big breed dog.
However…
Don’t get a senior German Shepherd and expect it to have the same energy as a lazy Bichon Frise simply because it is “old”, as you’ll be sorely mistaken.
Opting for older breeds will simply mean inheriting all of your dog’s personality traits, albeit in a little more toned done way, giving you the best of your doggo without all (or some) of the lovable “chaos” that will come naturally with owning a dog.
Older dogs need your help way more!
Simply put, older dogs are in less demand and therefore on the clock when it comes to how much time they have left before they must be put down (due to a myriad of reasons.) According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 84 months (or 7 years) is generally used as the recognized benchmark for the beginning of most aging-related medical or behavior symptoms, regardless of species or size, and when animals are categorized as “seniors.”
This is good news for potential owners – as age-related behavior varies tremendously – but bad news for senior dogs at shelters from ages of 7 and up…as this is when their clock starts ticking.
Estimations taken and extrapolated in part from Shelter Animals Count U.S. data sources from 2015-2018 (link to shelteranimalscount.org)
So in reality, doggo’s don’t have as much time as we think, and this means that your adoption could more than likely be saving the wondrous life of some adorable older dog.
And with hundreds of thousands of dogs euthanized each year, it is more than likely that that number will skew more towards the senior population, who have little choice in the matter at all.
If you’re already sold on adopting a dog now, then check out our in-depth guide to adopting rescue dogs right here!
Older dogs make better house buddies instantly!
Did we mention older dogs got class?
This means that from the pound to the “pad” – like a hot pizza – a senior dog has the ability to be in your arms, at home, way quicker than a puppy ever could!
Older dogs have better manners than puppies, and so introducing them into your home will not be as much of a fuss as it would with a “pupper” (as those guys would probably start chewing everything in sight, not to mention the barking all-nighters.)
This is not always the case, and every dog is different of course, however, it is highly likely that a puppy wouldn’t settle in for at least a few days (maybe even more), unlike with an older dog, who would be less prone to acting out or acting out of place.
As older dogs are able to acclimate a lot quicker, essentially. This will no doubt help fastrack the adoption process, making the whole thing way smoother than it ever could be with a puppy.
How expensive is a senior dog?
Senior dogs will cost less than younger dogs, usually between $50-$200 depending on the facility or foster home. The upfront costs will likely include any veterinary care already provided to the senior dog, and additional expenses that come with inevitable age usually even out over time when compared to the total costs of adopting a puppy (and later costs associated.)
As if you needed any more reasons to adopt an older dog!
Due to their age, the years already spent at the shelter (if at all), and the lowered price to attract customers – older dogs (on average) are a lot cheaper than most people think.
This is including cost factors associated with age progression. Even if your senior dog grows older, the money spent on medicine and treatment will still likely even out to the same costs you would’ve spent on a puppy regardless.
As puppies, in general, are known to be a lot more cost cumbersome, due to their energy and un-trained temperament. So save yourself some hassle (and coin), and go gold for “old”!
And speaking of “old”, check out our ultimate in-depth on adopting rescue dogs right here.
