“Older Dogs” are such a wonderful fit for so many people, I think of them as hidden gems. Both of our rescues are now considered to be “older”.
Marina came into our lives when she was one and a half years old. She was still in a “puppy stage” which meant lots of chewing, digging, and constant stimulation and exercise to help her burn off her youthful energy. Now that she is almost ten, she’s content to go for walks, take naps, and guard the yard against birds and squirrels.
Yes, cute fuzzy little puppies with warm puppy breath will turn most people into mush – however they are not for the faint of heart! They require constant care, house-breaking, and a whole lot of patience and consistency! The happiest match is when you’re at a point in your life where you can handle this demand.
Older dogs by contrast are usually very low maintenance. They’re a great fit for someone who is looking for a more mellow companion that just needs a loving home. Fellow Blogger Jeff, at Senior Pooch has a great site dedicated to the benefits and a few challenges that come with adopting an older companion. If you’re debating puppy vs older dog, please post any questions you might have and I’ll be happy to share the experiences we’ve had. Oh – and you really CAN teach an old dog new tricks. We have living proof. 😉
Hi Peggy, thanks for stopping by!
I’m so happy you found each other! It’s always heartbreaking for me to see “older” dogs waiting for a home – thank you so much for giving your Golden a forever home to enjoy. Sounds like you’re already getting the love back tenfold!
We just adopted an 11 year old Golden. I was worried, because I didn’t want to get my heart broken, but no one knows how much time any of us have. We’ve already experienced a lifetime-worth of joys just in the short weeks we’ve had him. And he is enjoying his golden years.
Hi Jeff, Thanks for stopping by – I love your site.
Thanks for being a voice for more mature dogs, they really do make wonderful companions. Petey is getting close to twelve now and when we go for a walk, he still starts out sprinting. He may be older in years, but he’s very young at heart.
The recipe looks great, I’ll have to try it out. It gave me ideas for my own dinner tonight!
Thanks for the shout out. 🙂
I’m the first to admit that prior to adopting my first older dog, I was a skeptic, but having experienced all of the good that they can still have in them even after a rough life, I’ve made it my mission to help get them the respect that they deserve and help those willing to adopt older dogs.