Reasons to Adopt A Senior Dog

When it comes time to adopt a pet, are you the kind who walks in the shelter and waits for one to just hit your heart the right way? Maybe you are looking for a puppy that you can train from the start. What many people don’t realize is that senior dogs are often the ones who make the best pets, but they sometimes get overlooked for the temporary allure of a fuzzy puppy with floppy ears.

Calmer Demeanor

Senior pets tend to be much calmer than puppies. If the hyperactivity of children and other people irritates you, you aren’t going to like a hyperactive puppy. The puppy will calm down in a couple of years, but what are you going to deal with before then? Senior dogs are more relaxed and have slowed down somewhat—a demeanor that certainly has its perks.

Teething Is Over

One of the problems with puppies is that they go through a teething stage that means lots of chewing. Just like human children, this chewing action eases the pain in their gums. The difference is that your children aren’t likely to eat your shoes or credit cards.

Appreciation

Senior dogs appreciate an owner who treats them well. They may have had the misfortune to have been treated poorly, or they may compare you to another master who treated them well. Either way, their loyalty is unquestionable. Since younger dogs don’t have that experience to refer to, they simply can’t appreciate you the way an older dog can.

Senior dogs may not be as cute and fluffy as puppies, but they are often easier to manage and get along with. Not only that, but old dogs really can learn new tricks.