10 reasons why you should avoid a senior dog
If you’re planning to join the pet parent family by adopting a dog, you should know that getting a dog is a conscious decision and the whole family has to be there as having a dog in the family affects everyone and their schedules. When one is about to make choice, it is about choosing the right dog. A major decision in choosing the right dog is why adopt a puppy or why adopt a senior dog. A dog becomes senior officially when it is seven years of age; however, they become senior as in maturity when they turn nine years of age. Although each stage in a dog’s life has its own plus or minus points so, it essentially boils down to what is important to you. Before you start thinking on why adopt a senior dog, let us go through a brief overview:
A senior dog will have many age-related issues that could either be expensive or take up a lot of your time. Health is a major concern.
Training a dog at this stage of his life becomes an uphill task. Though it is possible to teach him new tricks but undoing previously learned behaviour is harder. He may have picked-up some traits which you as a pet parent may not like but he is unable to forget them.
Why adopt a senior dog? This question becomes an imperative one because the relationship with a senior dog would be short lived. Dogs have the ability to wiggle into your hearts but a dog that is ten years old will not be around after some time.
Senior and mature dogs may have acquired some quality or habit which is obviously unknown to you. However, the thing may turn out to be dreadful as it may make them fear-biters or undo weeks of your efforts of socialization.
It is a common fear that a senior dog may not bond with new owners. Some dog breeds are known for being a one man’s dog so they may not gel with an owner who has a family.
There might be some behaviour that you will need to handle such as counter-surfing, biting, or garbage scouring which may be difficult to deal with.
Senior dogs are less likely to retain any energy or vitality and may not like too many outings or exercise which may not suit your lifestyle.
Senior dogs lack the cuteness and playfulness of younger dogs which is what makes them adorable in the first place.
Dogs in their senior years often do not hear what is being said to them, or what you are asking them to do.
The puppy dogs that bounce, the sometimes restless adolescents, and the highly enthusiastic adult are all the stages of a dog’s life that give way to the senior age of a dog. Why adopt a senior dog is to be thought over before reaching a conclusion.
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