Consider Adopting a Senior Dog

Consider Adopting a Senior Dog
by Dawn E.

Senior dogs are often considered unadoptable compared to younger dogs and puppies. People may be reluctant to adopt an older dog because they don’t want to get attached to an animal when they have fewer years ahead of them. Odie, who I adopted at 9 years old and who just turned 18, defies this stereotype! He has lived as many years with me as he did with his first forever family.

Adopting three senior dogs has been a pleasure and a privilege. By choosing to adopt them based on their temperaments and compatibility, rather than their advanced age, I have been able to offer three dogs a loving home and an excellent quality of life. Owners of dogs at any age have to be sensitive to their needs and aware of any changes in their usual routines. Sure I have had to make some adjustments to accommodate their needs. For example when I had my porch stairs built I designed them to be less steep and easier to climb for their arthritic joints. There was a time when dog walks were part of my fitness regimen. Now we can only walk as fast as the slowest dog, so we take our time, stop to smell the flowers (and other things) and visit with our dog and human friends. Senior dogs, particularly when they have arthritis or lameness require shorter but more frequent walks than younger dogs do. And it takes less to tire them out…senior dogs sleep a lot!

In terms of managing their overall health, I have found that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’. I work very closely with my veterinarians to manage their health. Rather than waiting for a health issue, preventative veterinary that includes Wellness checkups, proper nutrition, exercise and companionship, can offset or ease chronic canine health issues that accompany old age. Making time in my busy schedule and making my dogs a priority has been essential to their continued health and well-being. I make sure that I spend time with each of them everyday so that I am aware of any changes in their day to day routines such as appetite, thirst, energy, or vitality.

Things to consider when adopting a pet:

The dog breed: A dogs’ personality, activity level, temperament as well as other traits is partly related to their breed. All dogs need to go for daily walks to sniff, do their ‘business’ and socialize with other dogs. Some dog breeds require more exercise than others, so if you and your family are not physically active it is best not to adopt a dog that requires a lot of physical exercise.

Some dog breeds, particularly pure breds, are prone to certain health problems such as seizure disorders or physical ailments such as hip dysplasia. These health issues can be very stressful for both dog and owner, and often lead to expensive vet bills. Many dogs are put up for adoption because they have a health problem that their previous owner could not handle. Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, many dog health problems can be managed with medicine or ongoing management of the condition.

Also, give some thought to what type of temperament you would like in a dog. Dogs that are bred for guarding are going to have quite a different temperament from dogs that are bred for hunting. Even so, dog temperaments are also influenced by all sorts of other factors, for example a guard dog like a Rottweiler brought up in a loving home and trained to be gentle and obedient may still be a great fit for you or your family. The adoption agency or foster home often conducts temperament testing on their dogs and can tell you about their temperament.

Be sensitive to their history before you and recognize that you may take time to retrain in their new environment.
When considering more than one adopted pet give some thought to their temperament and remember that you are now building a pack.
The best way to ensure that you adopt the right dog for your forever home is to take your time, do your research and find out as much as you can about the breed you are considering adopting.

The age/stage of life of dog: Deciding whether to adopt a puppy, middle-aged, or senior dog is also a big consideration. Small dogs generally live longer (15 or more years) than large dogs (less than 12 years). The attraction to adopting a puppy is obvious; they are adorable, playful and cuddly. Many people worry that by adopting adult or older dogs they will be inheriting someone else’s behavior problems. While this may sometimes be true, it is also the case that dogs are eager to please and will follow the rules in their forever home (notwithstanding a few slip ups here and there!)

Consider where to adopt dogs from: SPCA, rescue, private adoption through the owners, etc.
If you are not sure how to begin the process of choosing a suitable dog to adopt, rest assured you can access the ‘Meet your Match’ program through the SPCA at http://www.hbspca.com/adopt/meet-your-match

Lifestyle: Based on my experience, the most important things to consider when adopting a dog are your lifestyle and resources.

Lifestyle: Consider why you are considering adopting-because your kids would like a pet, for companionship, more exercise, perhaps protection? There are many great reasons to adopt a dog. For me, it was about sharing my home and life with an animal that needed a home. I had already owned a dog before I adopted a dog. I had a home with a yard for a dog to play in and I enjoy lots of physical exercise so l wasn’t worried about adopting a high energy dog. When my dog got older and could no longer go for long hikes, I adopted a second dog who is considerably lower energy as a companion. Our walks are now much slower and cover less ground, although it takes the same amount of time! Time is the one thing that all dogs need from their forever home; time for walks, training, companionship and affection.

Financial: There are many financial considerations to adopting a dog. There is the cost of adoption itself. If you adopt a young dog, there are the initial costs of immunization, spay or neuter and/or sometimes treatment for ailments that young dogs are vulnerable to such as parvovirus. All dogs, just like humans, require regular preventative vet care. When I adopted my shih tzu I didn’t fully appreciate the importance of dental care for small dogs. Both of my small dogs have had to have dental cleaning and extraction that has been costly at time. Also, having never owned a small dog before I didn’t really understand the additional costs associated with regular grooming, although I know many small dog owners who have learned to do their pets’ grooming themselves. Certainly these are not reasons not to adopt a small dog, but a reminder to do your research and think about these issues before you adopt.

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