The Benefits of an Older Dog

There are many myths and misconceptions regarding bringing home an adult dog. Adult dogs have much to offer and should always be a consideration for your home. Bringing in an adult dog has many advantages over a puppy. Let's dispel a few myths and look at a few advantages of adult dogs.

I can’t get an adult dog, they can’t learn!

All too often it is said that you cannot teach and old dog new tricks. Well this is far from true! Yes, old dogs may have some habits that can take some work to train out, but this does not mean they cannot learn.

As with all training, you have to combine fun with sometimes firm but always fair, consistent training and do many short practice sessions a day. Once you have their trust and respect, they train quite fast if your methods are such that they enjoy working with you! Working with an adult dog can often be easier than working with a pup or adolescent dog.

Puppies are so cute and learn fast!

Puppies are only that small, cute stage for a short time, then they hit adolescence! Puppies have shorter attention spans and puppy behaviors like nipping and jumping that they have to be taught are not acceptable ideally before they hit adolescence. The “teenage” period is often the time when many dogs are given up for adoption. The antics and testing of adolescence dogs are just more than some owners are willing to handle. And adult dog that is out of adolescence may be less overwhelming to work with.

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