Once you’ve made the decision to adopt a dog, you have a few things to think about. One of which is: Puppy or adult?
If you’re like most people, you probably think you want a puppy.
But… really? Are you sure?
For the most part, out of all the people who come to the shelter to adopt dogs, it’s the newbies who want the puppies. The first-time dog owners. The experienced dog people usually go, “uh, no thanks. I don’t want a puppy. Give me a grownup dog.”
And the reason? Puppies are a pain in the ass.
Yeah, I know they’re adorable. But there’s a reason they’re so adorable.
Survival.
It’s so you don’t toss them out on the street or sell them on Craigslist when they eat your phone, or pee on your carpets, or bite you with their needle-sharp teeth.
As a general rule, the cuter a puppy is, the bigger a pain in the ass he’s going to be. I mean, if puppies actually looked like the little gremlins they truly are, there’s no way that anyone would put up with them.
Now, adult shelter dogs are awesome. And terribly under-appreciated, if you ask me. When I come to the shelter, it’s the grownups who get my attention. These guys have personalities, they’re fun to hang out with. They’re the ones that I fall in love with and want to take home. The puppies are alright, but they’re basically furry pooping and biting machines. Kinda boring, really. Once you’ve seen one litter of puppies, you’ve seen them all.
People often say that they want to get a puppy because you can shape a puppy into a dog with the qualities you want. And that’s kinda sorta true, to some extent. But what these people don’t realize is that it’s really hard to “shape” a puppy’s behavior when you don’t know what you’re doing. Usually, they just end up shaping a dog with a lot of bad habits. Not that I speak from personal experience, or anything.
If this is your reason for wanting a puppy, my question to you is: Why not adopt an adult dog who already has the qualities you want? Shelters and rescues are full of dogs who are well-mannered, housetrained, good with kids and dogs, sweet, loving, protective, whatever. Look hard enough, and you will find your dream dog.
But won’t an adult dog have a hard time bonding with a new family?
Nope.
Ask anyone who has adopted an adult dog, and they’ll tell you that bonding is not an issue. Yes, the road may be longer. Yes, it may take a while for a rescued dog to settle in to his new home. But anyone will tell you that the whole process is worth it.
Enough about me and my opinions. Let’s talk about you.
How much time, energy and patience do you have?
Raising a 2-4 month old puppy is definitely more work than most people comprehend. Between the potty training and the socializing and the puppy classes, it can be a full time job. So if everyone in your household works or is at school for eight hours a day, you should not get a baby puppy. Maybe an older, adolescent puppy, but not a baby.
Speaking of babies…
If you have a baby or very young children, please, I beg of you, do not get a puppy. People who try to raise a puppy and a baby at the same time figure out pretty quick that they’re in over their heads. The situation usually ends badly for the dog.
So what dog should you get?
You might make a good puppy parent if:
- You like a challenge
- You’ve got plenty of time, energy and patience
- You’re not afraid of scrubbing pee out of your carpets
On the other hand, if you’re lower-energy or you’re looking for a mellow companion dog, you might want to consider an older adult or senior.
For most people, I’d recommend a young adult in the 2-4 year range. These guys have lots of enthusiasm and they’re easy to train, but they’re starting to mature. You don’t have to deal with the puppy insanity.
When you make the decision to get a dog, there’s obviously more to consider than just age. And we have just what you need! 3LostDogs has a new free ebook/PDF report thing that you can download when you join the 3LostDogs email list. It’s called “How to Adopt the Perfect Shelter Dog.” It’ll walk you through the entire adoption process. Click here to get your copy.
