{"id":7996,"date":"2019-09-10T10:00:19","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T15:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/?p=7996"},"modified":"2023-10-09T08:42:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T13:42:37","slug":"is-adopting-older-dog-worth-the-trouble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/adoption\/family\/is-adopting-older-dog-worth-the-trouble\/","title":{"rendered":"Debarking Pet Myths: Adopting an Older Dog Isn\u2019t Worth The Trouble"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to \u201cDebarking Pet Myths,\u201d our monthly series that addresses common myths, misconceptions and old wives\u2019 tales about dogs and cats.<\/em><\/p>\n

Many myths exist about adopting senior dogs, especially those that have been surrendered to an animal shelter. The reality, however, is that older dogs make great companions, including for families with young kids. Here, we\u2019ll dispel several common myths about senior dogs and explain why you should reconsider an older dog if you\u2019re looking to add a new member to your family.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s clarify what\u2019s meant by the phrase \u201csenior dog.\u201d<\/p>\n

At what age does a dog become a senior dog?<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s no secret that dogs age faster than people. A dog\u2019s life span depends on its size and breed, although good nutrition and appropriate preventive veterinary healthcare can help promote your pet\u2019s longevity and quality of life. In general, the larger the breed or size of the dog, the shorter the lifespan.<\/p>\n

Like us, dogs age gradually and there\u2019s no exact age at which they become seniors. However, most veterinary experts consider dogs to be \u201cseniors\u201d when they reach the last 25 percent of their lifespan<\/a>. In most cases, dogs can be considered senior when they are between 5 and 10 years old. Giant dogs like Great Danes reach senior status around 5 years old, while small dogs such as Chihuahuas are considered seniors around 10 to 12 years old. If you\u2019d like to know how old your dog is in \u201cpeople years,\u201d check out this chart<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Veterinarians also make distinctions between senior dogs and geriatric dogs. Senior dogs are likely still healthy or just beginning to show signs of aging. They\u2019re mature, not ancient. Geriatric dogs, however, are at the older end of the aging continuum and often \u2014 but not always \u2014 experience more health-related issues.<\/p>\n

So about those senior dog myths\u2026<\/p>\n

Myth 1: Older shelter dogs have behavioral problems that make them difficult to adopt.<\/h3>\n

This simply isn\u2019t true. Senior dogs are surrendered to shelters for rehoming for several different reasons, some of which have nothing to do with bad behavior. Many older dogs that end up in shelters had human companions who died or had to move to an assisted living facility or senior living center that doesn\u2019t allow dogs. Maybe the owner lost his or her job, then the house and can no longer afford the costs that go with owning a pet. Sudden disruptions in lifestyle, such as divorce or serious accident or illness, can lead some dog owners to give up their cherished companions. There are plenty of reasons why pet owners part with their dogs. Many of them are sad; few of them are because of the dog.<\/p>\n

Myth 2: You can\u2019t teach an old dog new tricks.<\/h3>\n

Of course you can teach a senior dog a new trick or two. In reality, older dogs often remain curious, fun loving and trainable. A mature dog may need a little more time to learn new tasks, just like some (older) people. The right motivation is needed.<\/p>\n

While some people may believe a puppy is easier to train, others believe a senior dog may be less difficult. Older dogs may have more focus, patience and self-control than younger dogs. Plus, older dogs come with valuable problem-solving skills gained by experience. And if you\u2019re really lucky, you may find a senior dog that was trained by the previous owner, which means you could have a well-mannered companion.<\/p>\n

Myth 3: A senior dog won\u2019t bond with new owners.<\/h3>\n

Not true. Dogs are social creatures by nature and, although dogs have a wide range of personalities, many of them are people-pleasers. Some senior dogs adopted from a shelter will require some time to warm up and settle into their new home. But others will make themselves at home right away. They can also be more affectionate than young dogs and may be more apt to stay at your side rather than run off to play.<\/p>\n

Myth 4: Senior dogs have more expensive veterinary bills.<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a kernel of truth to this myth. But let\u2019s be clear: Old age is certainly not a disease. However, aging is associated with a number of chronic diseases. Yes, some older dogs may develop or may already have an age-related health problem at the time of adoption. But if the senior dog received routine preventive veterinary care up until the time of surrender, the dog will likely be healthy. A reputable shelter will tell prospective pet parents if a pet has an underlying medical condition. Plus, these shelters work closely with their local veterinarians and may even have a veterinarian on staff to give surrendered animals physical exams. In addition, pets with health issues are treated and their recovery monitored until adoption.<\/p>\n

Remember, too, that puppies require substantial veterinary care during their first year of life in order to be healthy. And puppies can have health problems just as easily as senior dogs. Anyone who adopts a dog, regardless of that pet\u2019s age, must be ready for veterinary bills and medication costs \u2014 that\u2019s just part of owning and caring for a dog.<\/p>\n

Myth 5: You won\u2019t have much time together.<\/h3>\n

With pet ownership, as in life, there are no guarantees. You could have a senior dog for 12 months or 12 years, depending on the dog. Puppies and young adult dogs can be lost to accident or disease before they reach their golden years.<\/p>\n

The fact is, dogs have shorter lifespans than people. Any time you open your home and heart to a pet, you risk heartbreak. That\u2019s just reality \u2014 and it really hurts when it happens. Knowing the unconditional love and companionship of a devoted dog not only fills our lives with happiness, but makes us better people. As author, television personality and dog show host Roger Caras said, \u201cDogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unfair to assume that an aging dog is unworthy of adoption simply because he or she may be less playful, untrainable, too expensive or, worst of all, not have enough lifespan left. When you adopt a senior dog, you\u2019re giving an older dog a second (or third) chance at a happy life and possibly even saving that life. Remember, too, that dogs have a way of finding the people who need them.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to \u201cDebarking Pet Myths,\u201d our monthly series that addresses common myths, misconceptions and old wives\u2019 tales about dogs and cats. Many myths exist about adopting senior dogs, especially those that have been surrendered to an animal shelter. The reality, however, is that older dogs make great companions, including for families with young kids. Here, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8001,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Is Adopting an Older Dog Worth the Trouble?","_seopress_titles_desc":"When you adopt a senior dog, you\u2019re giving an older dog a second chance at a happy life. Learn more about the upside to adding a senior dog to your family!","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29,261],"tags":[134,54,186,326],"class_list":["post-7996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adoption","category-family","tag-diamond-pet-foods","tag-dogs","tag-myths","tag-senior-dogs"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7996\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}