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For the Love of Canines... Adults are the way to go!
My husband and I met in dog obedience school. We had both recently adopted adult dogs and wanted to use training class as a way of developing bonds with our pets that would last a lifetime. “Casey” was a 4-year-old golden retriever who had been given up for adoption to the Connecticut Humane Society, in part, because he was too “rambunctious”. He was going to school to get a brush up on his manners. “Brigida” was an 18-month-old Rottweiler/shepherd mix who had been abandoned in her home by her previous owners. They were suspected of being drug dealers and were on the run from the law. She was picked up by local animal control when a raid was conducted on the home. Although she was delightful in so many ways, she had some issues with dog-dog aggression. She was going to school to actually learn some manners. Training Brigida was more difficult than expected because her “momma” was quite inexperienced at the time and because of the additional challenges involved in working with a dog that has behavioral issues. It is these challenges, as well as a shared love of animals and the great outdoors that cemented my relationship with the person who would become my life partner. Ultimately, Brigida overcame all of her challenges and lived a full life of 13 years as a well-behaved, loving and gentle dog. Through consistent training coupled with a high level of patience and compassion, we saved the life of a pet who may very well have been put down due to her breed and her background. Sadly, both of these wonderful dogs have now left this world. When they passed, we were tempted to consider adopting puppies. After all, puppies are extremely cute and we would have had the experience of shaping a life from “toddlerhood”. But at the end of the day, we decided to stick with the adults and ended up with an adolescent Labrador retriever and an adult Australian cattle dog. You see, there is no shortage of loving families for puppies…but there is ALWAYS a great need for people to accept adult canines into their lives. So, when you are sitting down as a family to discuss your wish list for the perfect canine companion, consider the following questions. If any apply to you, think about opening your heart and your home to a dog that is over 1 year old. You may find that you get more joy than you ever bargained for! 1. Are you able to come home from your job in the middle of the day? Are you able to get up in the middle of the night? Because puppies have small bladders and immature muscles, it is extremely difficult for them to “hold it” for more than 4 hours at a time. Housebreaking can speed along more quickly when crate training is used coupled with the ability to give puppy access to the “bathroom” 4-6 times per day. The frequency is usually determined by age and size of puppy. 2. Are you someone who prefers to come home after a long, busy day to a relaxing atmosphere? All dogs need attention, training, exercise and socialization. But puppies require these activities…ten-fold. 3. Are you someone who is living with delicate health, or perhaps advanced age? Active puppies can be and are a potential safety risk! They jump, pull at the leash and get underfoot. For many people, this would be just too much. Calm, adult dogs provide a great deal of companionship and love, without the same risk levels. 4. Do you like a neat, clean home? Puppies have more housebreaking accidents than adults. They chew on anything they can get their little mouths on. They climb where they shouldn’t and can wreak havoc on your yard. Until they are trained, it may be difficult to keep your home as neat as you would like. 5. Do you have the patience it takes to train a puppy? All dogs, whenever they are adopted into your family, should receive training. It helps establish the bond and helps your new dog understand your specific behavioral boundaries. But puppies have shorter attention spans than adult. This means more work to get them to understand and comply with your requests! 6. Are you looking for a companion pet who is likely to live for many years? With the advances in nutrition and healthcare, many dogs live well beyond 12 years old. Adopting a young adult dog will give you many years of friendship before you have to start contemplating your pet’s end of life. 7. Do you have children? Although puppies and kids often grow up together, both require a great deal of your time. It is not uncommon for puppy training to fall by the wayside because of the needs of your children. Many adult dogs have already lived with kids, have some manners, and are comfortable with a busy family. 8. Do you like to avoid excessive risk? Adult dogs are generally more predictable. By one year of age, they are almost finished growing (they may fill out a bit more but will have attained their full height) and have a recognizable personality. 9. Are you ready to pay some significant veterinary bills right away? All living beings require basic preventative health care and stand a risk of emergency care at any time. But puppies will need regular visits to the veterinarian for vaccinations, spay/neuter, follow-up care, and so much more during the first year of their lives. Remember to make shelter adoption your FIRST option when bringing a new canine into your life! |
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