This Senior Dog Feels Invisible in a World Obsessed with Puppies
In a world where puppies are in constant high demand, older adult and senior dogs often feel invisible. Senior shelter dogs watch day after day as countless adopters pass them by for puppies and young dogs, not even sparing a glance for the pups with greying muzzles and eyes full of wisdom. Puppies are fun, cute, and exciting, but puppies will eventually become senior dogs, and who will be there to care for them then? (Watch Video Below)
Most people understand that adopting or buying a dog means committing to the lifetime of that dog, which includes their senior years. Sadly, some people do not think beyond the puppy and young adulthood stage, and become bored by their senior dog. Adopters may also overlook senior dogs because they fear not having enough time with them, or are concerned about potential medical costs associated with an aging dog.
All these factors combined make senior shelter dogs hard to find adoptive homes for. What many people don’t know is that adopting a senior dog can be just as rewarding, if not more so, than adopting a puppy or young dog.
Source: @animalfriendsofthevalleys
Senior Pitbull Shows How Perfect Older Dogs Are
Gisele, a senior Pitbull at Animal Friends of the Valleys in Wildomar, California, is a great example of why you should give a senior pup a chance. Gisele spent a large portion of her golden years in a shelter kennel being ignored by adopters despite her incredible personality. Sweet, gentle, and loving, Gisele may be a little slower moving than her younger shelter-mates, but she has all the heart and experience of a dog who has lived a full life.
Thankfully, someone noticed how beautiful Gisele’s soul and her greying fur are and recently adopted her, but there are tons of other senior shelter dogs still waiting for homes.
3 Reasons Why You Should Adopt a Senior Shelter Dog
You’ve probably heard all the reasons people don’t want to adopt senior dogs a thousand times. Instead, let’s focus on the positives and talk about why adopting a senior dog can be so rewarding!
1. Stable Temperament & Personality
Puppies are still growing, and that also means they are still developing what will become their adult temperament. Senior dogs have years of adulthood under their belts and are far less likely than young dogs to show you surprising personality traits. Settled into life, senior dogs know who they are and will show you more quickly than puppies.
2. Less Training Necessary
Senior dogs typically have already had extensive exposure to basic training like potty training, walking on leash, doing basic commands, and so on. Puppies can take weeks, months, and sometimes years to train, which can be stressful and overwhelming. Most senior dogs require far less effort to train, and can typically transition from shelter life to home life with little difficulty.
3. More Peaceful Moments
While puppies can be a lot of fun, they are on the go 24/7. People who have raised puppies and young dogs will tell you that sleeping in doesn’t exist for them anymore, and forget about a midday nap. Senior dogs love naps, and if you’re someone who enjoys sleeping in on the weekends, lounging on the couch, or having peaceful days with short walks, you’ll love the lifestyle of owning a senior dog.
I could go on and on about the benefits of adopting a senior dog, but if you’ve gotten this far, take this as a sign to visit your local shelter and meet some of their residents in their golden years!
