Don’t Limit Yourself to Puppies

Thinking about getting a dog? Consider an adult instead of a puppy. I know puppies are cute and playful, but adults have their benefits too.

When I went to the Humane Society looking for a dog, I had a puppy on the brain. However, I met and fell in love with a one year old black lab named Daisy. When I took her home and she began to settle in, these are the things I discovered…

– Chewing – Daisy was just phasing out of her chewing phase when I got her. She chewed on one book and a shoe, then she was done. The chew phase for puppies can go on for up to a year.

– Focus – There was one unpleasant surprise when I woke up the morning after I adopted Daisy. She hadn’t been house-broken. Silly me, I had assumed that she had. However, unlike puppies who have the attention span of a hamster, all I had to do what catch her in the act once and scold her and DONE. Potty trained.

– Bladder – This brings me to the bladder topic. Puppies’ bladders have not developed yet, so they must be taken out every four to five hours or they have accidents. Those who know me know that I like my sleep. With Daisy this was a non-issue (well except for that first night).

– Size – I wanted a medium size dog. A dog who is naturally bigger, but maybe small for it’s breed. That’s exactly what I got. Daisy is a black lab but 55 lbs, which is unusually small. If I had gotten her as a puppy, I would have never known how big or small she would be.

– Temperament – Puppies that are cuddly and easy-going can become terrors when they get older. Some puppies mellow out. When I went to the Humane Society I asked for a mellow dog, and that’s exactly what I got.

– Cheaper – Puppies can be very expensive in the first years between shots, fecals, neutering etc. Generally an adult dog comes with all vaccinations and is already spayed.

No matter what you choose, a puppy or adult, make sure you have thoroughly thought out your decision prior to adopting. Dogs are a responsibility, and if you are not ready, it’s not fair to you or your canine companion. For tips on adopting a dog go to http://petfinder.com.