Sure, getting a new puppy is always fun and you get to witness that beautiful transition period when a pup becomes a grown up dog, but adopting a senior pooch with experience also has its advantages.
Housetraining Avoided
Most adoptable senior dogs aren’t strays, but have been members of someone’s family and are most likely housetrained and already know basic commands.
By adopting a senior dog you get an instant canine buddy that probably won’t chew your shoes.
Instant Gratitude
It feels pretty rewarding to be on the receiving end of that unconditional wide-eyed gratitude. An older dog that finds a new family wants nothing more than to be loved once more.
Fewer Exercise Demands
Senior dogs don’t require as much exercise as younger pooches, so if you don’t prefer the energy of a young, exuberant dog, and would rather like a ball of fur curled up on the couch with you while you watch your favorite TV show, adopting a senior dog is the way to go.
It Feels Darn Great
If you open your kind heart and decide to take in a senior dog, you will experience what it’s like to give a second chance to a dog that has been abandoned. Also, you’ll likely be saving a life.
Puppies and younger dogs in the shelter system find new homes much more easily, while older pooches that are confused and depressed rarely stand out and get adopted, even though these older guys have a lot of love left to give.