Tips on Adopting a Senior Dog
Have you ever thought of adopting a senior dog or do you know of someone who has thought of adopting a senior dog? Maybe you have or maybe you have not but we can all agree that there are some things which certainly need to be considered when you are thinking of adopting a senior dog.
We can all agree that when you think of getting a dog you want to get a dog who fits into your home and who is a joy to be around. In like manner when you get a senior dog you want it to be just the same and with any dog you want it to be a seamless and smooth adjustment period.
Firstly, do your homework.
Treat it as a chance to learn fun learning practices and find out what other senior pet owners did to successfully welcome and manage their senior canines. Go to YouTube or Google or Bing and do some research on adopting senior dogs. Research the needs of abandoned dogs if your senior dog-to-be was abandoned and find out how they can be treated for trauma. Read about the experiences successful senior dog owners had and how they adjusted to different situations. Embrace the internet and use it to research what they did for their dogs as well as what they learned from. In short, get your journey with your new pet off to an awesome start.
Secondly, you should have realistic expectations.
Do not expect it to be a bed of roses. Have a plan in place that will help to train your senior canine friend. For example, do not assume that the dog has been housetrained or has passed the stage of chewing. Take the time to also find out whether your dog was living alone or had other pets for company. If your dog was not living with other pets then adjusting to other pets may be a challenge. It may also be a challenge if your dog was living with other pets and now has to adjust to living alone. Take the time too to prepare for all those other things which your dog will need as these things will go a long way in building a relationship with your senior pet.
Thirdly, be mindful of your dog’s physical needs.
This is because senior dogs may be affected by arthritis and they may also be affected by past injuries. These you know can cause a series of problems for your senior dog but what you need to remember is that you need to do all that you can do to make your dog comfortable. Be aware of the challenges they may face such as mobility and moving through spaces. Also what you need to do is to ensure that all the things which your dog needs are there, be it a bowl, a toy, a bed or anything else that he/she may need.
In addition to this, do not be in a hurry. Rather you should be patient. You need to do all that you can to ensure that you and your dog get off on the right foot. It also means that you should spend the time you need to ensure that the dog needs with you. Also carefully introduce your dog to other pets in your family. Give each dog their own space but train them to get along with others and live together. Have fun with them and make every moment count!
With a combination of all of these tips, you will surely be prepared to adopt your senior dog. Enjoy the experience and welcome your senior dog with open arms and lots of love!
JJ Keeler lives in Colorado with a house full of pets. She owns three dogs, two cats, and a hamster she bought as a bribe to get her daughter to ride the school bus. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado and has worked as a professional writer for fifteen years. Her clothes are perpetually covered in pet hair.
