Adopting an Adult Dog

When most people think of adopting a new dog they think of getting a young pup. While it’s really not too hard to fall in love with a cuddly, fun puppy, it takes a special kind of person, and a special kind of love to adopt an adult dog.

There are actually several great advantages to adopting a mature, older dog. For one, housetraining is usually a non-issue at this stage of the dog’s life. Provided of course that he has been properly trained at some point and not abused in any way.

If you are adopting a dog who has special needs, you’ll need plenty of patience, and be sure to pay a visit to the veterinarian for a complete assessment of their health.

When adopting an adult dog there are no surprises as to how large they’ll get or what type of bark and disposition they might have. While you can’t exactly see into your pet’s past, you can get a good idea of what their life may have been like before you came into it just by observing their behavior. Does the dog seem fearful, or untrustworthy? Or is he accepting and seemingly adaptive to his new environment? In either case, any adult dog will need a period of time to properly adjust to his new home.

As soon as you bring the newest member of the family home, show them around, so to speak. Introduce them to the place where they will be expected to sleep, and make sure to show the dog where their food and water will be.

The next important step is to show him or her the door to outside. Until they’ve learned their new routine, expect a few accidents and mistakes to happen. This is normal, even for dogs that are completely housetrained, especially during the first week or so until they get accustomed to their new environment.

If mistakes do occur during the housetraining process, simply tell the dog in a firm voice “No” and then lead them outside. This should only be done if you happen to catch the dog in the act. Attempting to “correct” a dog for an accident after the fact will have absolutely no effect on them. In fact, doing so will probably confuse the dog who will have no idea why you’re upset with him as even five minutes later is too late.

Overall, adopting an adult dog is a rewarding experience rich with love, affection, and companionship. Besides gaining a loyal and faithful friend, you’ll also be giving a home to a deserving dog who may have been otherwise ignored, unloved, and unwanted.