Reasons to Adopt a Senior Dog

November 11, 2019

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and our team of dog trainers is excited to share just a few of the reasons to consider adopting a senior dog.

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November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and our team of dog trainers is excited to share just a few of the reasons to consider adopting a senior dog.

You Can Save a Life

When you adopt a senior dog you’re literally saving a life, which is the most rewarding part! Shelters are quick to get overcrowded, and older dogs are often overlooked in favor of puppies, unfortunately making them among the first to be euthanized when the shelter reaches their capacity. Adopting a senior dog will ensure that they spend their golden years in the loving, comfortable home they’ve been craving for so long.

They're Instant Companions

Many people believe that senior dogs who’ve been adopted seem to know how fortunate they are that you’ve given them a home when no one else would. They’ll spend every second from the moment you take them home with you showing their love and gratitude, cementing an instant bond between the two of you.

Senior Dogs Need Homes Just as Much as Younger Dogs

Every dog deserves a home, no matter their age, and senior dogs are just as much in need of loving forever homes as new puppies. Many of them once had some kind of home, but for whatever case they were given up to a shelter and are now in desperate need of a home through no fault of their own. If you’re reluctant to adopt an older dog for fear of a painful loss sooner rather than later, remember that the quality of the time you spend together is much more important than the quantity of it, and the bond that you will form with your senior dog is one that you will cherish forever.

They're Less Energetic Than Younger Dogs

Most older dogs are well past their chaotic stage of never-ending energy and varying levels of destruction. While they’ll still appreciate a daily walk and some playtime, they’re also completely happy to lounge around and curl up next to you. They won’t require the same amount of monitoring and cleaning up after as puppies, so if you’ve been hesitant to adopt due to a busy schedule you’ll find that their mellow temperaments will fit perfectly into your household.

Old Dogs Can Still Learn New Tricks

Though older dogs have likely mastered basic training points, that doesn’t mean they can’t still learn new ones. Dogs can be trained at any age! You might even find that your senior dog will be even more keen to learn than the average puppy would normally be. In fact, senior dogs have a better grasp on attention and comprehension than their younger counterparts, so if they still have a few things to learn they’re perfect candidates for obedience classes.

So many shelters are filled with senior dogs that are repeatedly overlooked and left to continue hoping. When you adopt one of these loving dogs, you’re giving them a second chance at life with a new home and family.

Do you have any questions or concerns? Contact Dog Training Elite today for professional dog training services for your senior dog, we're happy to help!

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