The Benefits of Adopting a Mature Dog

by The K9 Guy, 02-29-08

Yesterday I posted information on imported puppies from oversees. One interesting thing from that story, and my own experience, is how common it is for someone deciding to get a dog to want a puppy. So today, I thought I'd talk briefly on the advantages of adopting a dog that may be a bit older.

Puppies are hard work! Very hard. There's house training, socializing, vet visits, dealing with endless energy, constant supervision, etc. Yes they're cute, and I do think it can be a great experience for a family if done properly. But shelters are full of older dogs in need of good homes, and these older dogs come with some great advantages.

For starters, it's much easier to judge personality and character in an older dog. In a puppy it's very hard. This single factor, IMO, is paramount in finding a good match for your family. By 6 - 9 months old a dog is becoming fairly mature mentally and physically. You simply get to see more of the finished product than a seedling which may or may not grow as you expect.

Also, an older dog is generally all but house trained. With their age and time in the shelter, these dogs usually have excellent control. Once in a new home it's generally a matter of 1-2 days teaching them how to ask to go out and house training is done. For anyone who hasn't house trained a puppy recently, this single item can save you weeks of very hard work.

Since an older dog has mature teeth and a mature mind, chewing problems are usually greatly reduced. An older dog will still chew, but not like puppies who like to explore every single thing in the home with their mouths. This reduces the likelihood of some unhappy moments for many owners.

And finally, you should consider that an older dog is mature enough to begin training. You may not think this is important, but most people actually want this. Many folks get worn down working with puppies who need constant supervision and reminders on house "rules". An older dog who wants to please can be taught your house "rules" very quickly.

Any disadvantages? Well, since an older dog's already past its socialization phase (1st 4 months), if there were problems during that time you may have some work ahead of you. For example, a puppy not socialized to loud noises may be very afraid of thunder. With some training such issues can be greatly improved. Depending on how old a dog you adopt, you've will also have lost some time with him/her. But in the end I would never hesitate adopting a dog because it's not a puppy.

It may be my imagination, but the older dogs also seem to realize just how lucky they were to find a good home.