"Every white hair is one day of experience in being the very best friend you've ever had." November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month, which makes this the perfect time to talk about how amazing senior dogs/cats are as pets, especially when you adopt them! There are many reasons to choose a senior pet, but here are five of them.
1) Older dogs usually come trained and understand at least basic commands. Most older dogs are potty-trained and have mastered the basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “down.” Adopting an already-trained dog will save you a lot of time and energy that you’d normally have to dedicate towards training a young dog.
2) Older dogs are calmer and less energetic than younger dogs. An adult dog has graduated from the puppy stage and has an established demeanor and temperament, which will give you an instant idea of how it will fit into your household. Older dogs have all their adult teeth and are out of the energetic puppy phase, which will result in less destruction to your home.
3) Adopted senior pets are grateful for your kindness. Somehow, older pets seem to know you gave them a home when no one else would. Many new owners form a close bond very quickly with their senior dog or cat, because the pet shows them a level of attention and devotion that is unique to older adopted animals.
4) What you see is what you get. A senior pet holds no surprises as to how big he might get, what color his adult coat will be, or whether his hips will be healthy. A senior pet comes to you with his own history, which makes his future much more predictable than that of an 8-week old puppy or kitten.
5) A greater love. Senior dog adoption gives you the opportunity to choose the personality that fits perfectly with your lifestyle. Not only are there enormous benefits to bringing home a senior dog, you can feel great about giving him a forever home in his golden years.
