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Nothing beats puppies and kittens for fun. But senior citizen pets offer many advantages. Remember that small dogs and cats often live into their mid- to late-teens or early twenties, while larger dogs remain happy and vital at least a decade. Old fogey pets often have lots of love to share, so think about it. November is Adopt A Senior Pet Month, so what better time to discuss the eight benefits of mature pets?
1. Less Initial Cost
A mature dog or cat has already been spayed or neutered, and had routine vaccinations. Puppies and kittens are magnets for trouble, and suffer more injuries through nonstop play and exploration than sedate older pets.
2. Predictable Health
By the time a dog or cat reaches mature status, health or behavior problems will be apparent. That helps adopters plan and provide ways to keep seniors happy and comfortable rather than being surprised by an unexpected issue. For instance, a Dachshund with a history of back problems can be offered steps and ramps to reach the sofa and a beloved owner's lap. Even with a health challenge, old fogey pets make wonderful companions.
3. Known Personality
Puppies and kittens are works-in-progress and hard to predict adult personality. For instance, lap-snugglers as babies may snub cuddles once they grow up. But what you see is what you get with an adult pet. The senior dog or cat personality has been established, making it easier to match your perfect pet requirements. You can choose a dog-loving feline, an active rugged dog, or a pet willing to lap sit.
4. Already Trained
Older dogs often have already been trained basic obedience. They know how to "sit" and walk nicely on leash, for example.
5. More Polite
The mature dog has fewer urges to act like a juvenile delinquent. They may still have bursts of energy and enjoy playtime. But older dogs won't be as likely to jump up, "hump" your leg, or knock down the kids trying to race them out the door. Mature felines won't be as interested in using your head as a launch pad, or your pant leg as a moveable scratch post.
6. Fewer Behavior Problems
Puppies and kittens only learn by making mistakes. But a mature pet already knows the rules of the house. An older dog knows not to chew the TV remote or your shoes. She's been housetrained and tells you when she needs to "go." The mature kitty understands litter box etiquette, no longer climbs the Christmas tree, or swings from the drapes. He knows not to excavate the potted palm or play ping-pong with the parakeet.
7. Kid Friendly
Older pets that have been around babies, toddlers and young children already know how to interact. They can be a wonderful choice for a child's first pet. Dogs especially may "adopt" your human baby, and shower the infant with attention, gentle play, and protective care. They put up with toddler tail tugs with a patient purr or doggy grin. Countless children have learned to walk while grasping the furry shoulder of a canine friend, or reaching out for that tempting feline tail. A mature pet can offer the child a special friend who listens but never tells secrets, a sympathetic purring or wagging presence that acts as a stabilizing influence. Older pets are less fragile than puppies and kittens and can teach responsibility and empathy for other living creatures.
8. Senior-Citizen Friendly
Many older people have loved and lived with pets all their lives. But they may worry what might happen should they outlive a newly adopted puppy or kitten. A mature dog or cat offers just as much love but a more manageable number of years that can be more attractive to older owners. Mature cats and dogs have fewer energy needs-they won't need owners to take them jogging when rolling a ball down the hallway will suffice. Older owners who have fragile skin can also choose mature pets already trained to be careful with claws and play bites. And the older dog-even if not leash trained-isn't as able to drag the owner around.
Dogs and cats don't know they're old. They only know they are loved. There are many advantages to adopting an "old fogey pet" and these special animal companions return your love in unexpected and glorious ways.
Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet-care books including "Complete Care for Your Aging Dog" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat." Amy also appears on Animal Planet's "Cats 101" and "Dogs 101," writes for About.com Puppies and About.com Cats, and lives in North Texas with a senior citizen Siamese and smart-aleck German shepherd. To read Amy's blog and to order her books, visit Red Room.
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Amy makes some good point. However, I think with the best of intentions she over simplifies the entire issue
1, Amy mentions less initial cost. Well that would depend on where you get your new addition from. For instance lots of rescues ask for reimbursement for medical costs like vaccinations and spey/nueter. Too, many ask for a pretty substantial "donation" That does not include things that many rescue ask from potential adoptors. Things like fenced in areas etc.
2. Amy goes on to talk about possible health issues in puppies vs adults. I would not say that that statement is utter nonsense but it is not entirely true. Older dogs can come with a whole host of issues. Arthritis , dysplasia, cancers that are not obvious as well as other issues all of us have as we get a little older are just a few of the possible health issues that adults might have vs a puppy.
3. Amy talks about what you see is what you get. By way of illustration. Recently a student of mine from a previous class adopted a Rottweiler from a local rescue. The rescue does do temperament tests. However, those tests don't necessarily accurately reflect how a dog might act once s/he begins to relax in his new home. Bear took several swipes at my student's husband as well as her son. Fortunately my student had a fair amount of common sense and Bear just needed to understand where he fits into his new home. Whenever a person brings a new dog into the home it is best to assume that your new dog does not know the lay of the land and so it is important to not assume that what you see is what you get. That's a possible recipe for disaster.
Number 6, Amy mentions behavioral problems. I've been training dogs professionally for over twenty years. I can tell you from experience that adult adopted dogs have just as many "issues" as puppies do. In fact, quite often they have more issues. Not all dogs are turned over to rescue because their poor ailing owners can no longer handle their beloved. Many are turned in to rescue because they have behavior issues. To be true, most of those issues can be dealt with. However, it is unfair to potential owners to offer a pie in the sky view of adoption.
4. Older dogs come already trained? On this I really have to strongly disagree. It is true that some dogs who end up in rescue are trained. However, the vast majority of dogs end up at rescue because of behavioral issues. If you want to test that theory out call up most any pound or rescue and ask to see the owner drop off sheets. You might be surprised to see things like " dog is too wild for me" Dog gets loose too often" Dog trashes my house" "dog needs more space to run". The truth is perfectly well trained dogs generally keep their home or if a new home is needed a family member or friend will often be thrilled to have such a nice dog in their house.
5. Older dogs tend to be more polite. At what age are we talking about? I've seen many a lab who at three or four take great delight in jumping on both family and friends. Same holds true for an untrained dog who sees something he wants. Children may get tossed like so many pick up sticks by a mature dog as well as a young one
7 I don't imagine many moms thinking, I know! I'll go buy a puppy so that I can have a puppy and infant at the same time.
Added to that, Amy makes a big assumption when she says an older dog has been around and will be tolerant of tots. Many older dogs do not want to be bothered by a small child.
I want to make it clear, I have no issue with adopting a dog. In fact as Amy points out ,there can be benefits to doing exactly that. However, Amy makes the issue too black and white. There are shades of gray. There can be real negatives to adopting an older dog. The key is to go in with your eyes open. Probably your eyes should be open even more than your heart when it comes to deciding where, when, and from who one should get a dog.
Just some food for thought. Wherever you get your new dog I wish both you and your new loved one a long and happy life together.
On my God. Older dogs are a dream compared to a small puppy. Puppies piddle all over the house and chew everything They are like a two year old with the same energy Get an older dog, PLEASE they languish in kennels and shelters very sad and lonely. Dogs are desperately in need of being social A dog sitting in a back yard alone constantly is a dog abused Please adopt a dog Save your table scraps and get a reasonable priced dog food and The animal will give you great joy and conpanionship When you go away have the neighbor kid feed it Please consider an older dog
Dude!!!...OMG, nobody's going to read a post that resembles a TOME!
I know I did'nt....too damn long.
Anyways.....After getting puppies for many years we decided to rescue an older dog. This was the BEST thing we ever did. She is so precious and rreally seems to understand her second chance on a good life. She's happy all the time, in turn makes us very happy. My advice...go rescue an older dog...you'll be pleasantly surprised and enriched.
My husband and I adopted two rescue dogs who were approximately 12 years old - we adopted them together when they were about one year old. We had to put to sleep one of them this summer and our other dog, who had lived with her "sister" her whole life, was so depressed for weeks and it broke our hearts. We decided to adopt an older dog for her because we didn't want her to be lonely and we figured they might pass away at about the same time (hopefully, many years in the future!) so neither would have to be lonely again. Our "new" old dog is so great - they get along so well going on the same shortened senior citizen walks and then sleeping all day taking time to play a little here and there. It's worked out really well for us.
I've had both.. It's impossible to know.. One dog @ any age is usually a pet that will come around. The problem lies in when you have more than one.. Any dog can change the dynamic of ones already in residence.. Prepare to be patient and it usually works out.. Just know it is not always easy..
My husband and I have adopted may animals throughout the years some older some younger but always from shelters and rescue groups. Everyone should adopt rescues instead of buying dogs or cats. Rescues need good homes there are so many that need the love and attention they deserve. Please adopt from a shelter or rescue group you will save lives.
We adopted a 2-year-old male cat in April 2009, and in April 2011 we adopted a petite female kitty who the rescue group estimated to be 6 to 8 years old. The cats have very different personalities, but it has worked out very well for them and for us! We are child-free, and we keep the kitties indoors for their own protection, as we live on a busy street. Also, we have seen foxes and coyotes in our yard! We love our cats, and they are both very playful. I encourage everyone to adopt an older cat from a rescue group or shelter. There are so many deserving kitties who need a forever home! Our male, Max, had been abandoned in a cellar, and our female, Fluffy, had to fend for herself outdoors after her elderly owner passed away. Their stories just broke my heart!
1) There are 9 dogs in this country for every available home. If you take one that has already had a home, 8 will die who didn't. Why take an older dog when a perfectly healthy 2 year old is going to die if you pick the geezer?
2) Your heart will break that much quicker, without the vast number of good times you get over the 10+ years with a younger animal.
3) Rescue groups lie, fib and hide the truth about the condition of animals. Their only goal is to get the dog off their hands. They are terrified of euthanasia. Many people get a pig in a poke. The group knew the animal had problems but kept their mouth shut and hoped you wouldn't find out until your heart was wrapped around your new, older dog.
4) You are as likely to get someone else's behavioral problems as actually getting an obedient dog. The vast majority of dogs are surrendered because of behavioral issues.
Basically, number one says it all. If you take an old dog, 8 young ones will die. Maybe not at that shelter or rescue, but the stats are nation wide and can be disguised, but not evaded. Remember - 1 home for every 9 dogs. The rest die somewhere. If a "slow-kill" shelter doesn't perform euthanasia, they hide the reality by not accepting dogs if they are full. Some actually take their excess to other locations and dump them on full service shelters. If they have an adoption, your local county pound has one less adoption. So, make up your mind. My advice after 30+ years working in and around this business is that it's a buyer's market. Pick the best and the brightest, otherwise the best and the brightest wind up dead and the old, halt and lame get the slot.