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10) In a Word
~ Housebroken. With most family members gone during the work week
for 8 hours or more, housetraining a puppy and its small bladder
can take awhile. Puppies need a consistent schedule with frequent
opportunities to eliminate where you want them to. They can't wait
for the boss to finish his meeting or the kids to come home from
after school activities. An older dog can "hold it" much more reliably
for longer time periods, and usually Rescue has him housebroken
before he is adopted.
9) Intact Underwear. With a chewy puppy, you can count on at least
10 mismatched pairs of socks and a variety of unmentionables rendered
to the "rag bag" before he cuts every tooth. And don't even think
about shoes! Also, you can expect holes in your carpet (along with
the urine stains), pages missing from books, stuffing exposed from
couches, and at least one dead remote control. No matter how well
you watch them, it will happen --this is a puppy's job! An older
dog can usually have the run of the house without destroying it.
8) A Good Night's Sleep. Forget the alarm clocks and hot water bottles,
a puppy can be be very demanding at 2am and 4am and 6am. He misses
his littermates, and that stuffed animal will not make a puppy pile
with him. If you have children, you've been there and done that.
How about a little peace and quiet? How about an older rescue dog?
7) Finish the Newspaper. WIth a puppy running amok in your house,
do you think you will be able to relax when you get home from work?
Do you think your kids will really feed him, clean up the messes,
take him for a walk in the pouring rain every hour to get him housetrained?
With an adult dog, it will only be the kids running amok, because
your dog will be sitting calmly next to you, while your workday
stress flows away and your blood pressure lowers as you pet him.
6) Easier Vet Trips. Those puppies need their series of puppy shots
and fecals, then their rabies shot, then a trip to be altered, maybe
an emergency trip or two if they've chewed something dangerous.
Those puppy visits can add up (on top of what you paid for the dog!)
Your donation to the rescue when adopting an older pup should get
you a dog with all shots current, already altered, heartworm negative
and on preventative at the minimum.
5) What You See Is What You Get. How big will that puppy be? What
kind of temperament will he have? Will he be easily trained? Will
his personality be what you were hoping for? How active will he
be? When adopting an older dog from a rescue, all of those questions
are easily answered. You can pick large or small; active or couch
potato; goofy or brilliant; sweet or sassy. The rescue and its foster
homes can guide you to pick the right match. (Rescues are full of
puppies who became the wrong match as they got older!)
4) Unscarred Children (and Adults). When the puppy isn't teething
on your possessions, he will be teething on your children and yourself.
Rescues routinely get calls from panicked parents who are sure their
dog is biting the children. Since biting implies hostile intent
and would be a consideration whether to accept a "give-up", Rescue
Groups ask questions and usually find out the dog is being nippy.
Parents are often too emotional to see the difference; but a growing
puppy is going to put everything from food to clothes to hands in
their mouths, and as they get older and bigger it definitely hurts
(and will get worse, if they aren't being corrected properly.) Most
older dogs have "been there, done that, moved on."
3) Matchmaker Make Me a Match. Puppy love is often no more than
an attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on
which to make a decision that will hopefully last 15+ years. While
that puppy may have been the cutest of the litter; he may grow up
to be superactive (when what you wanted was a couch buddy); she
may be a couch princess (when what you wanted was a tireless hiking
companion); he may want to spend every waking moment in the water
(while you're a landlubber); or she may want to be an only child
(while you are intending to have kids or more animals). Pet mis-matches
are one of the top reasons Rescues get "give-up" phone calls. Good
rescues do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants
to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other
until death do them part.
2) Instant Companion. With an older dog, you automatically have
a buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW. There's
no waiting for a puppy to grow up (and then hope he will like to
do what you enjoy.) You will have been able to select the most compatible
dog; one that travels well; one that loves to play with your friends'
dogs; one with excellent house manners that you can take to your
parents' new home with the new carpet and the new couch. You can
come home after a long day's work and spend your time on a relaxing
walk, ride or swim with your new best friend (rather than cleaning
up after a small puppy.)
1) Bond ~ Rescue Dog Bond. Dogs who have been uprooted from their
happy homes or have not had the best start in life are more likely
to bond very completely and deeply with their new people. Those
who have lost their families through death. divorce or lifestyle
change go through a terrible mourning process. But, once attached
to a new loving family, they seem to want to please as much as possible
to make sure they are never homeless again. Those dogs that are
just learning about the good life and good people seem to bond even
deeper. They know what life on the streets, life on the end of a
chain, or worse is all about, and they revel and blossom in a nurturing,
loving environment. Most rescues make exceptionally affectionate
and attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.
*Unfortunately, many folks think dogs
that end up in rescue are all genetically and behaviorally inferior.
But, it is not uncommon for Rescue to get $500 dogs that have either
outlived their usefulness or their novelty with impulsive owners
who considered their dog a possession rather than a friend or member
of the family; or simply did not really consider the time, effort
and expense needed to be a dog owner. Not all breeders will accept
"returns", so choices for giving up dogs can be limited to animal
welfare organizations, such as Rescues, or the owners trying to
place their own dogs. Good Rescues will evaluate the dog before
accepting him/her (medically, behaviorally, and for breed confirmation),
rehabilitate if necessary, and adopt the animal only when he/she
is ready and to a home that matches and is realistic about the commitment
necessary to provide the dog with the best home possible.
**Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased
pup will not solve the pet overpopulation problem (only responsible
pet owners and breeders can do that), but it does give many of them
a chance they otherwise would not have. But, beyond doing a "good
deed", adopting a rescue dog can be the best decision and addition
to the family you ever made. Rescue a dog and get a devoted friend
for life!
"This
article has been modified from its original format. The original
article was written by Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc. Permission
has been granted to freely reprint and distribute this document
as long as LRR, Inc. at http://www.lrr.org
is credited."
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