It is common for a person interested in adopting to want a puppy. Puppies are little and cute and very naturally appealing. They possess a huge 'awww' response in most any dog lover. Puppies, however, are not always the best choice, as they are usually much more work and expense initially, as compared to an older dog. Dogs that are at least one or two years old or older, of course, often make a much better match than a puppy for many people. Older dogs often already have some training such as obedience cues, leash walking and some are even house-trained. They usually have been previously spayed or neutered or are current on vaccinations, cutting some of the initial cost of getting a pet. Dogs that are already past the puppy stage are a safer choice where children and elderly are concerned, as an older dog is less hyper, less likely to nip and less likely to be a nuisance. There are fewer or no surprises with an older dog as far as how big, tall, hairy and etcetera he will be. The best benefit of all that comes from adopting an older dog is the salvation of another life.
When taking a closer look at the adult dogs available at an adoption facility or shelter it;s easy to notice how many of them know how to sit, lay down, or even speak. Others may be very accustomed to walking on a leash, riding in a car or are house-trained and used to living indoors. A large percentage of adult dogs looking for an adoptive home have a good amount of training since most of them had a home at one time with people that loved them and trained them to certain cues. A trained or partially trained dog is just what many people desire when they make a decision to adopt. Adoptive homes that don't necessarily have all the know how to train a puppy as well as new or novice dog owners benefit especially from the choice to adopt an older dog with some training.
There are alot of canine companions looking for that special home and family that are already spayed or neutered, making a healthier, happier pet that is much easier to maintain. In the long run a spay surgery can prevent time and expense that comes in dealing with accidental and unwanted pregnancies as well as the possibility of problems like uterine cancers. A neuter surgery can make a male dog a calmer happier pet that does not require extra effort to contain and eliminates the possibility of testicular cancers. Some older dogs are even current on vaccinations and other vet care which will cut some of the expense that goes along with obtaining a dog. A spay or neuter surgery is a fairly expensive pet care cost upfront and along with the yearly vaccinations a dog needs, a new dog owner can easily be overwhelmed. Adoption agencies and shelters have tried to help solve this problem by offering low adoption fees that regularly include these health related necessities.
Safety is yet another benefit that comes in adopting a grown dog. Puppies are very hyper being described as rambunctious or bouncing off the walls and have sharper pointier claws than adult dogs. They also have very pointy, needle sharp teeth as compared to a dog that has adult teeth, which are blunt and slightly rounded off on the tips. Elderly people and children are especially susceptible to a puppy jumping up with its sharp claws and nipping at fingers or hands with their needle like teeth. Many seniors have thinner skin that cuts easily and takes a bit longer to heal than other adults. Children, too, have more sensitive skin that can be easily injured by a hyper pup that doesn't know better. Children can be easily knocked down and hurt by the smallest of pups. Older people can also suffer from a hyper puppy thats underfoot by tripping the person causing a fall or a worse injury. All of these scenarios are avoided with an older dog that don't have sharp teeth and claws. They also know not to nip or chew on hands, not get underfoot and not to jump up on people which touches, again, on training older dogs usually have.
If you adopt an older dog you get to know exactly what you're going to have. A dog adopter gets to see exactly how tall, large or small the dog is going to be. They get to know, from the start, exactly how long the dog's hair is or exactly what the dog looks like. Many times these things are completely unknown with puppies. A puppy has to be with you for, at the minimum, close to one year before you will get to know these things. Often if the pup grows to be too large or hairy for the adopter they will give the dog up. It is quite benefiting, for the new owner to know what to expect in a dog compared to what they can accommodate and for the dog to have the best chance at a lifelong home.
Finally, the basic salvation of another life has to be the biggest most encompassing benefit of adopting an older dog. Some people that work at adoption facilities or animal shelters even claim that when an adoption transpires two lives are actually saved. The one that's getting adopted and the one that there will now be space for. Euthanasia is an all too common end for millions of animal companions every year that marks each and every single adoption as a miracle, for the adoptive owner and the older adopted dog.