Kennels and Rescue groups often hear a variation of this conversation. Many
prospective dog owners are just not convinced that owning an older (i.e.,
6 mo.+) "pre-owned" dog is better than buying a puppy. But there are a
number of reasons why adopting a more mature dog can provide an even better alternative. Here are
the
"Top 10 Reasons You Should Consider a
Mature Dog."
1) Bond. Dogs who have been
uprooted from their happy homes
are more likely to bond very completely and deeply with their new
people. Those who have lost their families through death, divorce or
lifestyle change go through a terrible mourning process. But, once
attached to a new loving family, they seem to want to please as much as
possible to make sure they are never homeless again.
2) Instant Companion. With an older dog, you
automatically have a buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with
you NOW. There's no waiting for a puppy to grow up (and then hope he
will like to do what you enjoy.) You will have been able to select the
most compatible dog: one that travels well; one that loves to play with
your friends' dogs; one with excellent house manners that you can take to
your parents' new home with the new carpet and the new couch. You can
come home after a long day's work and spend your time on a relaxing
walk, ride or swim with your new best friend (rather than cleaning up
after a small puppy.)
3) Matchmaker Make Me a Match. Puppy love is
often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of
a basis on which to make a decision that will hopefully last 15+ years.
While that puppy may have been the cutest of the litter; he may grow up
to be superactive (when what you wanted was a couch buddy); she may be a
couch princess (when what you wanted was a tireless hiking companion); he
may want to spend every waking moment in the water (while you're a
landlubber); or she may want to be an only child (while you are intending
to have kids or more animals). Pet mis-matches are one of the top
reasons Rescues get "give-up" phone calls.
4) Unscarred Children (and Adults). When the
puppy isn't teething on your possessions, he will be teething on your
children and yourself. Rescues routinely get calls from panicked parents
who are sure their dog is biting the children. Since biting implies
hostile intent and would be a consideration whether to accept a
puppy or not, Parents are often too emotional to see the difference between biting and nipping as the result of teething; but
a growing puppy is going to put everything from food to clothes to hands
in their mouths, and as they get older and bigger it definitely hurts
(and will get worse, if they aren't being corrected properly.) Most
older dogs have "been there, done that, moved on."
5) What You See Is What You Get. How big will
that puppy be? What kind of temperament will he have? Will he be easily
trained? Will his personality be what you were hoping for? How active
will he be? When adopting an older dog from a rescue, all of those
questions are easily answered. You can pick large or small; active or
couch potato; goofy or brilliant; sweet or sassy. (Rescues are full of
puppies who became the wrong match as they got older!)
6) Easier Vet Trips. Those puppies need their
series of puppy shots and fecals, then their rabies shot, then a trip to
be altered, maybe an emergency trip or two if they've chewed something
dangerous. Those puppy visits can add up (on top of what you paid for
the dog!).
7) Finish the Newspaper. With a puppy running
amok in your house, do you think you will be able to relax when you get
home from work? Do you think your kids will really feed him, clean up
the messes, take him for a walk in the pouring rain every hour to get him
house trained? With an adult dog, it will only be the kids running amok,
because your dog will be sitting calmly next to you, while your workday
stress flows away and your blood pressure lowers as you pet him.
8) A Good Night's Sleep. Forget the alarm
clocks and hot water bottles, a puppy can be very demanding at 2am and
4am and 6am. He misses his litter mates, and that stuffed animal will not
make a puppy pile with him. If you have children, you've been there and
done that. How about a little peace and quiet? How about an older dog??
9) Intact Underwear. With a chewy puppy, you
can count on at least 10 mismatched pairs of socks and a variety of
unmentionables rendered to the "rag bag" before he cuts every tooth. And
don't even think about shoes!
Also, you can expect holes in your carpet (along with the urine stains),
pages missing from books, stuffing exposed from couches, and at least one
dead remote control. No matter how well you watch them, it will
happen--this is a puppy's job! An older dog can usually have the run of
the house without destroying it.
10) In a Word--Housebroken. With most family
members gone during the work week for 8 hours or more, house training a
puppy and its small bladder can take awhile. Puppies need a consistent
schedule with frequent opportunities to eliminate where you want them
to. They can't wait for the boss to finish his meeting or the kids to
come home from after school activities. An older dog can "hold it" much
more reliably for longer time periods, and usually the Rescue has him
housebroken before he is adopted.