Adopt Adult DogsWhy would anybody want to adopt adult dogs when they can buy puppies? Here are some reasons to consider. The many benefits of having an adult dog often outweigh the fun of having a roly-poly puppy underfoot. Patience is still necessary with an older dog, but the hard work of puppy-raising has already been done. More Advantages to Adult Dog Adoptions The biggest advantage of adopting a dog older than two years old is that much of the guesswork has been removed. With an adult dog, what you see is what you get.You know how big your dog will be, whether he's high-energy or a couch potato, and whether he's shy or outgoing. Another advantage of adopting adult dogs is that most soundness problems, if they exist, should be evident by this time. Many of these problems may eliminate a dog from competition or breeding, but they don't rule out a completely normal life as a pet. When you adopt adult dogs, you're blessed with instant companionship. You have a canine buddy that can go everywhere and do everything with you now. There's no waiting for a puppy to grow up. An adult dog could quite possibly be housebroken already. If not, he'll be easier to housebreak than a puppy, as he can "hold it" longer. No matter how well you watch a puppy, things will probably still get chewed up--that's just what they do! But an adult dog can usually have the run of the house without destroying it. Where's a Good Place to Adopt Adult Dogs? Breeders may have adult Golden Retrievers for adoption that would love to be pampered pets.They could be adults that were kept to show or compete in field trials but didn't quite make the cut, or ones who have retired from competition or breeding. Sometimes a breeder gets an adult Golden back from a previous litter for unfortunate reasons--possibly divorce, or allergies of a new family member. Such dogs are often already housebroken and obedience-trained. The breeder will evaluate the dog before placing him in another home to prevent another life change for the dog. If you work with a breeder, make your preferences known so the breeder can determine if this will be a good match for both you and the dog. All dog rescue centres have a wide assortment of adult dogs who desperately need homes. Your adoption fee to the rescue group includes getting all vaccinations current, spaying or neutering the dog if that hasn't been done yet, and putting the dog through a complete health check. Such a deal! Are There Any Disadvantages to Consider? Adult dogs can arrive in your home with other people's mistakes in place, but they're usually nothing that can't be dealt with.Many animal adoption centers keep the dogs with a foster family for awhile in order to observe any possible behavior or temperament problems, and even take steps to correct those problems. They can then share that information with prospective owners, so there won't be any unpleasant surprises. Plan on a Shorter Adjustment TimeAlthough they will probably miss their former family, most Goldens are very adaptable and easily adopt a new family. It doesn't really matter how old your new companion is--dogs can form deep attachments at any age. |
In fact, some adult dogs latch onto their new families with an almost desperate intensity.
