Desperate Senior Dogs Also Need A Home And Love

Why a Senior Dog

Adopting a senior dog can be much easier and more rewarding than buying a puppy. Most people are likely to pick a cute, cuddly, constantly moving puppy when they start looking for a new dog. There is nothing wrong with that. However, most people fail to appreciate that senior dogs make great and grateful pets.

Older dogs may not stay with you as long as a young puppy, but senior dogs also need love, attention, and caring companions.  Most will become your steadfast friends.  Giving a home to an older dog is the best thing you can do as a true dog lover. 

Why Senior Dogs Are Overlooked

There are many misunderstandings about adopting an older dog. Besides its shorter life span, an older dog is a potential financial burden because it may require more medical attention.  Older dogs are more susceptible to developing diseases, but being playful and young does not guarantee perfect health. And even young dogs will someday be old dogs.

Senior dogs are incorrectly believed to be less capable of bonding with their new owners. While this may be true for some unique cases, such as dogs that have been badly abused,  it is not necessarily the case for all aging dogs. Even abused dogs will often grow to be affectionate pets.  An older dog will only take a little time to build a close bond with someone who loves them. Once you have established trust and confidence,  you and your dog will develop a close bond. And bond very tightly, indeed.

Why Adopt A Senior Dog

For one, you can save yourself some training headaches. Old dogs have already exhausted the energy of very young, crazy puppies. Many senior dogs, seniors being seven years old, still have several years of energy left to spend. But, with senior dogs, you won’t have to buy a new couch or suffer through months of cleaning up pee and poop.

Senior dogs make great pets for children and older people alike. They do not demand as much attention as a puppy. They can tolerate the antics of small kids and provide the company adults are looking for. They know better than to bark at everything or jump up on people.  And they have, more or less, outgrown any aggressive tendencies. They will quickly adapt to your routine and lifestyle.

Senior dogs seem to understand that they have been given another chance at a good life. And they will be eager to reward you for that. They tend to be very loyal and dedicated to their owners.

Senior Dogs For Senior People

A senior dog offers an ideal solution for seniors who feel they shouldn’t commit to the years-long responsibility a puppy will bring. Because older dogs have a shorter remaining lifespan, their senior owners don’t have to worry about someday leaving their older dogs behind for someone else to adopt.

Where to Find A Senior Dog

Finding a senior dog to adopt may be the easiest thing to do.  All you need to do is visit your local rescue shelter.  There you will find dogs of all ages and descriptions.   Many bulletin boards, and most newspapers, and websites will have ads from people who need to find a new home for their dogs.

Adopting a senior dog is a selfless act of love. All dogs deserve a loving home, but senior dogs are especially entitled.  Adopting a senior dog is, without a doubt, a rewarding experience. Not only will you get a very loyal companion, but you also get a dog that will stick around with you for as long as it can.