November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month! If you’re considering a new addition to the family, why not adopt an older dog? Animal shelters are full of lovable senior dogs in need of a forever home. Here are the top 10 reasons you should adopt a senior dog.
10. No house training required! Most senior dogs are already potty trained, unlike young puppies. If your new pet requires a refresher course, house training an older dog is much easier the second time around!
9. You can teach an old dog new tricks. In fact, it’s less difficult than teaching a puppy! Senior dogs have longer attention spans and are better at figuring out what humans want.
8. Senior dogs are low maintenance. Puppies require constant attention, while older pets can entertain themselves. Pet parents who want a dog but can’t make the commitment to a puppy should adopt a senior dog!
7. Need a walking partner? Senior dogs enjoy watching sunsets and long walks on the beach – everything a pet parent could dream of! Younger pets require lots of exercise: sometimes every day. Light exercise is better for older dogs, whose joints can’t handle more intense activities.
6. You’ll have a loyal companion for life. Shelter dogs are extremely grateful that you’ve saved their life. Senior dogs have lots of love to give and are eager for a pet parent to give it to!
5. Having an older dog is mess free! For the most part, senior pets are very well-behaved. Unlike puppies, they won’t chew on everything and will respect house boundaries.
4. No surprises. From the start, you’ll know your new pet’s full-grown size, personality, and behaviors! Puppies are constantly changing and growing; with an older dog, what you see is what you get.
3. Senior dogs feel right at home. Puppies take a while to settle in. An older pet knows household routines and will easily fit in.
2. Kids and senior pets go hand in paw. Older pets are much more patient with children’s antics than puppies. When you adopt a senior dog, ask the shelter if the pet has been in a home with children. Always ask about a pet’s behavior if you have children at home; some dogs aren’t cut out for kids.
1. Adopt a senior dog, save a life. In animal shelters, older dogs are passed over for puppies. In overcrowded shelters, senior pets are often euthanized because they can’t find a home. When you adopt a senior dog, you’re saving a life.
