Love Blooms: The Joy of Adopting A Senior Dog

We have adopted puppies, older dogs, and now a senior-aged dog. Our family always consisted of dogs. We currently have a border collie and our Corgi mix passed away a couple of years ago. Maybe we were ready for another addition.

Our border collie is still with us after 13 years, so maybe we should just leave it at that and just be a one-dog family. He is smart and well-behaved. Easy.

Should we really bring chaos into our lives? If we adopt a puppy…? Nope. I couldn’t do a puppy again. Nope, nope, nope. I do not have the energy for that right now.

What if we adopt an older dog? A senior dog even? Maybe he will have issues? Maybe he will have health concerns. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

If you have had dogs in the past, you probably know this is true of any dog — young or old. Our Great Dane was always at the vet. Our adopted Corgi was a year old, needed 2 knee surgeries. Our border collie came to us at 8 weeks and had bladder crystal issues in his first year.

Age doesn’t really matter when it comes to health issues. We learned that with over 25 years of dog parenting.

And, they are all quirky in their own way.

The Wonderful World of Senior Dogs

I did hem and haw for a while. I followed a million rescues online, went to visit one, and saw all the dogs. Clearly, it was pulling at my heart. A doggie needs a home and we can give it to him.

We should do this!

We got busy. Looked at all the rescue sites and started to save the dogs we felt would be a good fit. Another requirement was a small dog. A dog I could pick up easily.

Our first dog was a Great Dane a million years ago and now we’re looking for a dog like the size of his head!

My husband is always drawn to a puppy. So, he was still looking at those guys. But, I was usually the main caregiver so if we were going to do this it needed to be someone that wouldn’t get us up in the middle of the night or need 400 walks a day.

A senior dog that we could love and that needed a family could be perfect. They have so much to offer!

1. Calm And Relaxed Demeanor: Puppys are fantastic, but we wanted a guy who enjoyed watching movies on the couch and had a good nap schedule while we worked.

2. Appreciation For The Simple Things: A senior dog is the perfect belly rub receiver and cuddler.

3. Unwavering Loyalty And Affection: We weren’t sure if a dog we didn’t raise from birth would love us or connect with us. Boy, were we wrong. Our senior dog is such a happy lover. He never stops wagging his tail. He’s so cute.

Your Perfect Senior Dog Match

Finding the right dog isn’t just about cuteness. It’s also about personality and lifestyle. It’s something that should really be thought about honestly.

Finding the right dog and breed for your family can take a bit.

Discussing your interests with a couple of rescues can give you some helpful guidance.

Are you active? Homebody? Do you travel? Is your house small? Do you have a yard?

These can all come into play when choosing a dog. A senior dog can be the perfect fit for many people.

• Low Maintenance Magic: A senior dog has lower exercise needs and a calmer disposition compared to puppies. Yes! I do not have the energy or time right now to take 3 walks a day like we did with our border collie. And, we went to the dog park every day. Makes me tired just thinking about it.
• Sense of Purpose: I really wanted to do something that had an impact on the world, even though I couldn’t take home all the dogs like I would like to. One little guy was something we could do.
• Giving a senior dog a second chance at a happy life is like finding a missing piece of your heart. Seriously. He fills our days with love and laughter, and we know we’re giving him the golden years he deserves. A home and a happy family he can be part of. Just makes ya wanna run over and hug him! Ok — I just did.
• Wisdom and Calmness: Our senior dog is calmer and less excitable. Though he loves a good walk and still barks at other doggies going by. (I’m pretty sure he’s trying to say hello.) And, he hasn’t once chewed on our table legs or my shoes or torn up anything. One of our well-supervised puppies even chewed on the corner of our house! (Good story now)

The Senior Dog Joy For Us

I won’t lie, the beginning was a little disorderly and unnerving. We went to visit with the first dog and we didn’t look at any others. He was the one and that was it.

We knew he could adapt! But could he? Could we?

It was the hardest for me. I’m the mommy and some people think I’m part dog, so the dogs naturally gravitate to me.

But, my husband was going to be the main caregiver this time. So, he needed some training as well. 😂

It was also a disruption to our life. Of course, we knew it would be, but it’s still a lot. There was some indoor peeing, a little dog arguing, and a little “what was I thinking?”

The difference was, that went away pretty quickly with a senior dog. He has adapted well and quickly. He’s friendly and attentive with us. He doesn’t need a lot of extra attention like a puppy and spends his days napping under my desk.

He is so adorable! And, we have really fallen in love with our older dog. They are a special group and I hope you will consider it when you decide to adopt a dog.

Adopting A Senior Dog: A Guide

Remember what your life is like. Do you hike a lot or stay home more? Consider the breeds that can accommodate your lifestyle. Don’t get a senior dog that can’t fit. You will only get frustrated.

Finding a senior dog is pretty easy. Check out the shelters in your area. You can now select the dogs you think could be a good fit and save them to review again.

The adoption process will be different at every location. A human society will be different than a rescue and each of those will have a different process. Some will ask you to fill out a form, pay, and be on your way, and others will ask you to jump through more hoops.

The rescues that do this, just understand, that they are requiring extra work to make sure they do not get these dogs back. They aren’t trying to be difficult, but if you won’t even do what they ask, just wait until you get the dog home, there will be a lot more to do!

It’s not really an impulse buy anyway. Take the time and find the right rescue.

Discuss any of your concerns with the rescue, do some research, and talk with other dog owners to get tips and pointers to make the best choice.

Enjoy Your Adopted Senior Dog

Your new senior dog will quickly become a loving family member you can’t be without. Adopting a dog of this age brings special benefits. They can be quiter, calmer, and many might already be somewhat trained.

The joy is heartwarming and endearing. Hurray for senior dogs!