Pros And Cons Of Getting A Puppy Vs Older Dog

Posted on April 25, 2022 • 11 min read • 2,188 words

Are You Ready to adopt a Puppy or Adult Dog?

Many consider adding a new furry family member by purchasing a dog or puppy.

Consequently, you start to ponder whether you want to adopt:-

• a puppy
• an adult
• a senior dog

As well as where you should get it from:-

• a rescue organization
• a breeder
• a pet shop

or possibly a shelter

Let’s discuss some pros and cons of Getting A Puppy Vs. an Older Dog.

Adopting a Puppy  

The possibility of getting a brand-new puppy via adoption is a fascinating one. That adorable little ball of fluffiness and charm is challenging to say no to.

Watching them sleep is perhaps the prettiest thing ever, but watching them play is maybe cuter than anything else ever. Staring up at you with innocent puppy eyes has the immediate effect of making your heart melt.

Puppies are incredible little creatures, but taking care of one is a significant time commitment. Often coined as the “crazy puppy phase,” puppies are A LOT OF WORK!

You will need to devote a significant amount of time and attention to the first year of the puppy’s life. During the first few months of their lives, puppies require continual monitoring and instruction from their owners.

You need to:-

• Show them both appropriate and inappropriate places to relieve themselves.
• Show them the places they can go and the ones they can’t.
• Kindly lead them toward constructive ways to pass the time.
• Check to see that they are not getting into any problems.
• Put them through some obedience school (as much for you as it is for the puppy)
• Instruct children in appropriate behavior within your house and outside it.

You will need to guide their actions and personalities as they continue to develop since their growth will need it.

A puppy might be an excellent option if:-

• you have a flexible schedule
• work from home
• spend a lot of time at home
• have family members who are home for most of the day

An adult dog may help keep your sanity intact if this sounds a bit too much.

Adopting an Older Dog  

An excellent option for some folks is to adopt an older dog. You will not have to go through the challenging, time-consuming, and often destructive phases of a puppy’s development, such as housebreaking or teething.

Older dogs are probably housetrained and have already completed obedience training. Many revert to bad potty habits due to the stress of being adopted and moving into a new home. Although not always the case, knowing this can happen is essential.

Once an older dog gets used to you, your family, and your routine, they often feel at ease and take on the role of your new best friend and the rest of your family.

When you adopt an older dog, you will likely not know much about the dog’s history. It may have had a carefree and joyful existence but might have been mistreated or abused. It would be best if you remembered that you inherited the characteristics the dog had acquired up to the point when you met.

You may have to deal with specific behavioral difficulties, for which you must have patience and tolerance until the dog comes to know and trust you, your routine, your family, your friends, and so on.

If you have kids, you should ensure that the senior dog you choose is accustomed to being around people of all ages. Dogs who are scared or just not accustomed to the high energy and fun nature of children might find the presence of children highly stressful. Certain canines just are not suited to interact well with youngsters.

Purchasing Directly from a Breeder  

The choice to buy a purebred dog or puppy from a dog breeder directly is often one that comes with a hefty price tag.

Some individuals feel more comfortable purchasing a purebred puppy because it is easier to accurately forecast a pedigreed dog’s disposition and behaviour than a dog that is the product of random breeding.

Purchasing from a breeder does not ensure the animal will be well behaved or healthy. According to Inga Fricke, a Humane Society of the United States representative, “it’s not like purchasing a washing machine with a warranty.”

The American Kennel Club (A.K.C.) emphasizes the need to locate a trustworthy and responsible breeder if you are thinking about purchasing a dog from a breeder. The American Kennel Club advises finding and collaborating with ethical dog breeders.

• Visit A.K.C. Marketplace: PuppyFinder, the official site for A.K.C. registered litters and puppies.
• Check out the A.K.C.’s Breeder of Merit Program. Breeders of Merit are dedicated to producing well-socialized, healthy puppies that preserve the breed’s characteristics.
• Check out the Bred with H.E.A.R.T. Program. Breeders in this program have continued their education and have met specific health testing standards.
• Get a minimum of two references! Breeders work for you, so be sure to get at least two recent (within the past year) references from previous clients. Ask those references a lot of questions!
• Visit the breeder’s facility in person. Observe the breeder and the dogs.
• Ask the breeder a lot of questions! The breeder should be patient, informative, explain things clearly, and have a good rapport with you.
• Find out if the breeder is in good standing with the A.K.C. by calling A.K.C. customer service at 919-233-9767 or emailing at info@akc.org.
• See the puppy’s parents. Observe their behaviour, temperament, and physical health.
• Get a complete medical history.
• If you purchase a puppy from a breeder, get the documentation of the puppy’s pedigree.

Purchasing from a Pet Store  

Getting a puppy from a pet shop is not only a riskier but also more expensive. After researching the subject on the internet, the general idea and assumption are those pet retailers receive their pups from breeding farms, sometimes known as puppy mills.

When pushed, the personnel at many pet shops may swear that their pups come from reputable breeders, but when asked directly, they may have little to no knowledge of where the puppy originated from or the state of the kennel it was housed in.

According to the website Petfinder.com, respectable breeders rarely sell their pups to pet retailers. Likely since a reputable breeder will want to ensure that their puppies go to loving homes.

In addition, when you purchase from a pet shop, you will not have the opportunity to view the breeder’s facility, the puppy’s parents, or the dog’s behavior while at the breeding facility. You will also be unable to get references from previous breeder customers. The pet shop probably won’t have any of this information to share with you at all.

Ask about the rearing of the puppy, breeder, breeder facility, the dog’s sisters and brothers, and so on from the pet shop. Be careful to inquire about any form of health or behavior warranties or guarantees, and don’t forget to collect evidence of the puppy’s lineage.

The fact that the puppies were born and nurtured in a puppy factory is not the fault of the puppies; hence this is a regrettable circumstance. In general, I believe that these pups, like all others, are deserving of a loving forever home.

Purchasing from a pet shop and perhaps a puppy mill puppy is potentially putting money into the hands of the puppy miller, which is not a good thing. However, they still deserve a wonderful loving home.

As you can probably guess, at least for me, purchasing from a pet shop presents a significant moral challenge. You will need to consider this option’s benefits and drawbacks to determine whether it is the best option for you.

An excellent essay about understanding what people at pet stores are saying is available on the Humane Society of the United States website.

Adopting A Shelter Pet  

A dog rescued from a shelter or abandoned may be an excellent addition to a family and a wonderful friend.

My experience has shown me that animals are thankful and aware of a second opportunity. Throughout my life, I’ve given homes to four rescued animals, and each one has been an extraordinarily devoted, kind, and fantastic addition.

I can’t imagine my life without any of them!

There are various motivations for owners to give up their animals to a local animal shelter, humane society, or rescue organization. Sadly, some are given up or taken away by authorities because they were neglected or abused. Some are left wandering the streets, given up as part of a litter, given up by a loving owner for reasons of their choosing, or given up because the original owner is very sick or has died away.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (A.S.P.C.A.), “about 6.5 million companion animals enter animal shelters throughout the United States annually.” Around 3.3 million of them are dogs, broken down as follows:

• 620,000 returned to their owners
• 6 million are adopted, and
• 670,000 euthanized

Rescue or shelters often have dogs of all ages, from puppies to old citizens, and sometimes even breeds. You give a dog a second chance at life when you adopt a dog or puppy from a shelter or rescue organization.

There are many beautiful reasons to adopt from a shelter, including the following:

• You are reclaiming, finding, or rescuing an animal’s life that has been abandoned, lost, or given up.
• There is often an extensive range of dogs available, including those of varying ages, sizes, and types (shelters even often have purebred dogs).
• You pay less!
• At the rescue and shelter, canines receive high-quality veterinary treatment.
• You are contributing to the breaking of the vicious cycle of overpopulation. Most rescue organizations and shelters spay or neuter animals before placing them up for adoption, and some even make this procedure a mandatory element of the adoption contract.
• By avoiding supporting the activities of mass breeding facilities or puppy mills, you are contributing to the movement to end inhumane breeding practices.

A shelter or rescue organization often provides advice, which may be a beneficial resource for the duration of your new pet’s life.

If you get a dog from a shelter or rescue organization, there’s a good chance it already has some obedience training under its furry belt, and there’s also a good chance it knows how to use the bathroom outside.

Be aware that a dog can revert to undesirable potty habits after moving into a new home, even if the dog is housetrained before meeting you.

The anxiety a dog has when given up for adoption, throughout the adoption process, and upon relocating to a new home with new people may often lead the dog to display undesirable behaviors. However, with love and patience, these tendencies can be overcome in a concise amount of time.

One disadvantage of getting a dog or puppy from a rescue organization is that the history of the animal is often unknown. The dog may have had a happy life before meeting you and adjust quickly and sweetly to its new home and new routine; on the other hand, you may inherit certain tendencies and concerns the dog has established in its previous life.

Do not let this discourage you; with time, patience, and love, even dogs labeled as having “problems” may become blissfully happy and satisfied members of your family.

If you already have children or plan to have children in the future and are thinking about adopting an older dog from a rescue or shelter, you should try to find out whether or not the dog is used to being around children. Dogs who are scared or just not accustomed to the high energy and fun nature of children might find the presence of children to be highly stressful.

How to Adopt a Shelter Pet  

Petfinder.com is an excellent resource for locating dogs that are available for adoption. Petfinder.com is a directory that includes approximately 14,000 adoption agencies and animal shelters from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. You will be able to see available canines from each of these groups in a centralized location.

Petco and PetSmart are just two examples of businesses that collaborate with neighborhood animal shelters to bring adoptable animals into their retail locations. You may locate a store location near you by visiting either PetSmart.com or Petco.com.

Adopting a Puppy or Dog  

When choosing to adopt a puppy or an adult dog, it is crucial to consider not just your life and lifestyle as they now exist but also the lifestyle and family you may have in the future. It is essential to remember that a dog will be a part of your life for many years if you decide to adopt one into your home. Adding a new pet into your life is a significant choice; as such, you should not make it on the spur of the moment; instead, you should give the matter considerable thought and consideration before going further.

Have you just added a new puppy or an elderly dog to your household?

Tell us about the newest member of your family.