The gift of love
The end-of-the-year holiday period is a popular time for adding a pet to a household. Why? Maybe it's the image of a cute dog with a bow on its head? Or, is it the prospect of long hikes (or long naps in front of a fire) with a loyal companion to pass the winter months? Whatever the motivation, if a dog is on your wish list this year, or on the list of someone you love, consider the possibility of adopting a mature older dog.
While families or individuals may first think of selecting an adorable puppy, there are countless advantages to, and resultant gifts from, adopting an older dog. Although our senior dog, Whiskers, joined us in the spring rather than at the holidays, our family knows firsthand about the joys of sharing a dog's retirement years.
Whiskers enjoying his retirement years.
Older dog: subtract these concerns
When you invite a senior dog into the family, you get to skip some of the least desirable aspects of dog ownership. Most older dogs are housetrained (or remember that they are housetrained after a short adjustment period). They don't usually need to go out at night.
Senior dogs know that chewing is best reserved for food and toys, and not shoes or furniture. Overall, they need less oversight than younger dogs, especially puppies, do. Older dogs also tend to require less exercise, which could be a welcome consideration if you have a busy, or a sedate, life.
Older dog: add these bonuses
There are many bonuses to having an older dog. An older dog is a known quantity—the personality, preferences, and quirks of a mature dog are usually already known or readily apparent. You won't be waiting and wondering what kind of a dog your rambunctious/fast-growing/high-maintenance puppy will grow into.
If there are any behaviors you want to add to your older dog's repertoire, remember that most older dogs are extremely responsive to training. The training routine comes back quickly, or, if the dog is being trained for the first time, he is seasoned enough to be a quick and able student. New companions are usually very eager to please the family. Learning new behaviors is mutually satisfying—and fun!
While adopting an older dog means that you will have less total time with the dog, the shorter commitment required can be a plus. If you don't have a 10 or 15 or 20-year plan to your life, or if that long-term plan is dog-exclusive, it might be possible for you to be a dog owner right now and for a shorter length of time. That loving, loyal senior you choose will appreciate spending his retirement years with you.
Older dogs that find their last or forever home do express gratitude and appreciation to their families. These dogs know how to fit in easily and are quick to share love and affection. Rescued dogs, especially, tend to bond quickly and deeply with the people who take them home.
Don't discount the tremendous satisfaction that comes from "saving" a senior dog, a dog that might otherwise be the last dog adopted or the first dog to be put down. While providing a home for a dog that might not otherwise have one for his golden years is a wonderful thing to do, often what trumps that feeling is the unexpected gifts the adopter gets in return. Everyone has seen the car magnets that ask, "Who rescued who?"
The circle of life
Despite the adjustments of age our now 13½-year-old dog has experienced, the more significant change has been the growth of his loyalty and love for us and of our commitment and attachment to him. It's mutual devotion, that's for sure. Choosing a senior was the absolutely right option for us, and may also be perfect for you.
We consider it a privilege to have shared the past years with our sweet dog, Whiskers. He has aged gracefully, and we have grown along with him in ways we could not have predicted. While we hope his resiliency keeps him with us a while longer, we plan to offer him our love and support when he needs to go. It will be our last gift to him—and will not come even close to the gifts he has showered on us.
Marie Clougher is the managing editor at Pen and Press, an editorial services and consulting company. She contributes to Karen Pryor Clicker Training in many behind-the-scenes capacities.
