Senior pets usually have a calmer temperament… think of it as a canine retiree! Easy walks, plenty of naps and lounging around make senior pets the mellow choice. Seniors can also inspire you to slow down and ‘stop to smell the roses’. Petting an animal has many medical benefits for humans such as lowering your heart rate…and making you smile!
The puppy phase is over! Senior pets are done with teething, nipping and destroying the furniture. Also, older dogs are likely to already be housetrained—and even if they’re not, they have the physical and mental abilities to pick it up really fast (unlike puppies).
Yes, you can teach an older dog a new trick! Older dogs can actually be easier to train because they are great at focusing on you—and on the task at hand. Plus, all those years of experience reading humans can help them quickly figure out how to do what you’re asking.
What you see is what you get: you’ll know important things like their full-grown size, personality and grooming requirements…if you’re not so into surprises, an older dog is for you!
At shelters, older dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Adopting an older pet so that he or she can live out their golden years in a stable, secure and loving environment is the ultimate act of love… go ahead – be a hero!
