Adopting a Senior Dog: What You Need to Know
Adult and senior dogs are often overlooked at shelters with potential adopters largely drawn to puppies or younger dogs. FoMA loves senior pets and believes in giving all pups a chance, and adult and senior pets hold their own special charm!
Why Adopt an Adult or Senior Dog?
- Your house will thank you! Older dogs are often already potty trained and don’t require as much supervision or effort with potty training. Even if their potty training needs a little work, older and senior dogs can learn new tricks! Dogs are able to pick up skills quickly with patience and time. They are also more likely to have learned that furniture or shoes are not chew toys and can be easily trained to prefer plushies and tennis balls.
- They’re fun to relax with! If you want a furry companion that’s more than willing to spend the day watching Netflix on the couch, an older or senior dog may be the perfect choice for you. Older dogs are calmer and don’t have the boundless energy we often see in puppies. So, if you’re not someone who takes extended daily walks or prefers not to make a trip to the park, an older dog will be fine with a few potty walks and to nap throughout the day.
- You have the opportunity to improve their quality of life. Adult and senior dogs that don’t have a chance at a long term home often spend extended time at animal shelters without knowing the companionship and love that comes from having a family. If you decide to adopt an older dog, you’re giving them the chance to feel unconditional love and a sense of security.
- They’re great for first-time pet owners.If you’ve never been a dog owner before, adopting an older or senior dog may work in your favor. Older and senior pups can act as your teacher as you learn the ins and outs of being a pet owner. Puppies are often high maintenance and may require much more work and effort, especially if you’re learning from scratch. Older dogs with more neutral temperaments and some training will allow you to learn without dealing with a lot of the stress that can come with trying to train and teach a puppy!
- They still have so much love to give! Dogs are considered to be “senior” once they reach 7 or 8 years of age, but some dogs can live much longer! Age is often a concern for many potential adopters who want to be able to spend a long time with their new pooch, but don’t let that keep you from adopting an older or senior dog! These pups have so much love to give and sharing that time with an older best friend may be the perfect solution for a low maintenance doggy home and an older pet in need.
How Can I Find a List of Adult Dogs for Adoption?
Finding an older dog for adoption is as simple as visiting our website at fomapets.org/adopt/. Just fill out the “Sign Up to Adopt” form, and we can help guide you to find information on older dogs available for adoption. Visiting shelters is also a great way to find a dog that is the right match for you and your family, especially since a lot of the time what you see is what you get with an older dog. If they have a calm demeanor in a chaotic environment like a shelter, chances are they will act the same once you bring them to a more relaxed environment like your home.
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