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Adopting an older dog from either a shelter or rescue group can have great benefits. Many people say they don’t want to get an older dog because they must have problems, but that isn’t true.
Many adult dogs are wonderful dogs whose past owners could no longer care for them and to their credit relinquished their dog in a responsible manner.
The truth is, even if you start with a puppy you may end up with a problem dog, there is no guarantees. A dog’s breed tendencies and genetics could mean that if you do everything right, you could still have a dog with problems. When you adopt an older dog, you may or may not have problems, but at least you will know right away and can work through them from the start.
Adopting from a good quality shelter or rescue group is the way to go; they will know your new dog’s characteristics and any potential problems you may face. Good rescue groups and shelters will have taken the dog through a series of tests, seeing how he or she responds to children, scary situations and even normal day to day life. They will provide you a good description of the dog’s basic personality and make sure the dog chosen will blend into your family’s lifestyle.
There are many rewards to acquiring an older rather than beginning with a small puppy. The personality of the older dog is there for you to see. Is he shy, friendly, fearful or just too rambunctious for the previous owners? Many dogs end up in shelters or rescue groups, just because their former family did not realize how much energy and time a puppy would require. Shelters are often full of dogs 1-2 years of age, just because the previous owners were not prepared for the energy of a young dog. By the time you adopt him, he may be at the age that he begins to settle down. Training can be done at any age, so if you find a happy untrained dog in a shelter, this may be the perfect dog for you.
Older dogs have gone through their puppy stage, which includes chewing on everything in the house and difficulty with housetraining. I find that older dogs are often easier to housetrain than younger dogs, because their bladder control is much more advanced than a young puppy. Their energy level begins to slow down somewhere between two and four years of age depending on the dog. So if your family is looking for a couch potato dog, adoption may be the perfect answer for you.
Puppies are cute for only a short time, and it can be difficult to determine the personality of a puppy at a very young age when breeders want to send them onto their new homes. Don’t rule out rescue dogs as an option to adding a new dog to your household.
Tip of the week: Older dogs can be wonderful family pets, the old adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is wrong. Dogs of any age can be trained using positive reinforcement techniques! So choose a dog who’s personality fits your family, then find a positive reinforcement trainer to help you get the perfect dog for you!
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Author:
Susan Sharpe: A Certified Dog Trainer with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a past volunteer board member of the Huntington County Humane Society, Susan is Indiana’s only certified Tellington Touch practitioner (a 2 yr certification course) and continues attending seminars and workshops to further her skills and knowledge. Canine Companion conducts dog training classes in Fort Wayne, Huntington and surrounding communities and behavior consulting nationwide. Along with their combined 30 years experience and endorsement by national organizations, the lead trainers are graduates of Purdue University’s DOGS! Program and have earned the title of Certified Pet Dog Trainer through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
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