Dogs bring many benefits to their owners and household. For example, petting and talking to a dog can reduce stress and anxiety, taking your dog for regular walks and spending time outside is great for your mental and physical health, and if you have children, then a dog will teach them respect and confidence when being around animals, plus a number of responsibilities and other important life lessons.
When it comes to introducing a dog into the home, many people are put off the idea of adoption due to myths and misconceptions about rescue dog. The chances of an older shelter dog finding a home are much lower than a puppy or younger dog. Even though they may not live as long, senior dogs have just as much love to give as any other pooch and they deserve a chance. If you have planned to rescue a dog and save a life, here’s how adopting an older dog could benefit your family.
They Have Manners
Unlike a puppy, older dogs have spent many years living with a family and have been well socialised with other people and animals. Depending on their past, an adult dog is more likely to be house trained and may have even received basic obedience training. This means they will be able to adapt to life in a home faster than a younger dog and they will respond to basic commands, making further training much easier. Your children will also have great fun telling their new friend to sit for a tasty treat.
They Will Be Less Destructive
Adopting an older dog means that you won’t have to deal with the difficult, destructive stage, making valuable items in your home safe from your new furry family member. This doesn’t mean that your rescue dog does not need toys and entertainment to keep their minds busy and stimulated, it just means that shoes and furniture may be safe. The staff at the rescue centre will be able to inform you of the dog’s habits, so you’ll be able to prepare yourself for any behavioural issues that they know of.
There Will Be No Surprises
When adopting an older pet, what you see is what you get. A senior pet will not grow any bigger or change colour (apart from getting a bit grey). Their appearance won’t change much more, so if you think they are adorable when you first set eyes on them, then you know that this is how they will look during the rest of their life. Most senior pets are given up by owners (due to death or circumstance). This means that you will be aware of their history, which will make their future much more predictable.
Their Health Is Understood
If the rescue shelter is aware of the older dog’s past, then their health will be understood compared to a younger dog. If the dog you are adopting has been getting sore in their old age, then you can start giving them dog joint supplements. YuMove is a great option if you want to try dog joint supplements. They contain glucosamine and chondroitin, to keep the joints lubricated and reduce stiffness in aging dogs. As YuMove supplements are devised under veterinary guidance, you know they will be safe and effective. Understanding their health will allow you and your family to act accordingly and support them.
They Are Still Very Trainable
There is a common myth that states that ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,’ but this is far from the truth. An adult dog will be much more focused on a task compared to a puppy. If you have adopted an older pet that needs to learn some basic obedience, or you just want to enhance their skills and behaviour, then you should seek comfort in knowing that an old dog is still very trainable. If anything, they will be more attentive and eager to please their owner. They will just get tired a bit sooner.
They Are Calmer in the Home
An advantage to rescuing a senior dog is that they will be much calmer in the home and more relaxing to hang out with. Older dogs won’t have as much energy as a puppy and won’t be so obsessed about nibbling your hands and jumping all over you. Instead, they will save all of their energy for their walks and spend their time in the home chilling out. This can set a great example for hyperactive children and improve their behaviour, because they will learn that their best friend likes peace and quiet time.
Teaches Kids Kindness
You may think that an older dog is not a good fit for your young and noisy family. Depending on the dog, this may be true, but the rescue centre will make sure that your new friend is a good match for your household. If you own a slow and calm dog, your children will learn to be kind and considerate to older pets and people now and in the future. They will learn how to treat their dog gently and with respect. You will need to teach them the correct way to show affection to their new canine companion.
They Form Close Bonds Quickly
The fact that an older dog has loved deeply and lost in the past can put a lot of people off giving them a second chance. This is because they believe it will be difficult to form a bond with a heartbroken hound. However, a senior dog would have spent many years living and being loved in a home. When you take them away from the scary kennel, they will be grateful for your compassion and kindness. Older dogs have a high level of devotion and attention, which means they bond to new owners quickly.
They Have Better Backgrounds
As mentioned previously, the death of an owner or change in circumstance is the most common reason a senior dog ends up in a shelter. This means that they haven’t been given up due to a health condition, behavioural issue or a difficult past – they have just been unlucky. Even though all dogs deserve a chance, a dog that has a bad background or past may not be good for a family with children, but an older dog that has lost their home due to no fault of their own will be a much better fit for you.
You Can Adopt a Purebred
One of the main reasons many people don’t consider adopting a pet is because they want a purebred. However, if you choose to adopt an older dog, there is a higher chance that you will be able to bring home a dog breed that you have always wanted and loved. This is because many rescue centres struggle to rehome older dogs and will be happy for you to take home an older purebred. Each dog breed will have specific traits that may work better for some families than others, however, and so a crossbreed may be a better fit for you.
Before you bring a rescue dog home, you need to make sure you are prepared to invest time, money and training into your new canine companion. Dogs are a lot of responsibility, but unlike an excitable pup, senior dogs will be calmer, more relaxed, better behaved, but just as loving as the rest of them.
Adopting rather than shopping is always better and getting a dog rescued from the street is the best you can do to save a precious life who has lived their entire life being subjected to every kind of cruelty.