In this post, I will note some of the things you should consider before you adopt a dog. I will also add special considerations you should take before you decide to adopt a senior dog. The first part of each section will be about adopting a dog of any age and special considerations for adopting a senior dog will be listed at the end of each section. This post does not cover everything, but it should help you start thinking about what dog will be best for you.
Before I get into the contents of this post, I have one easy tip for deciding which dog is best for you.
I encourage you to think about your average weekend. Does it involve traveling? Hiking? Sleeping in? Napping? Staying out all day? Having company (people/dogs)? Thinking about this might help you reflect on what's important to you and help you to work through the questions I present in this post.
How much time do you spend at home?
Your answer to this question is especially important in deciding how old your prospective dog should be. You should carefully consider taking on a puppy or a senior dog if you need to leave your dog for 8 hours straight while you work. Healthy adult dogs can usually stay home for up to 8 hours. However, I strongly believe that it is better for dogs to be let out every 4 hours. I go home every day at lunch to let my dogs out, but I understand that some people don’t have that flexibility. There are plenty of people who work full time jobs and own dogs. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask shelter staff/volunteers who spend time with the dog if he/she tends to go potty in their kennel or if he/she can wait and go potty outside. The answer to this is not a definite “yes” or “no” for telling if the dog can hold its potty while you work all day, but it could help you make a more informed decision. It’s also important to remember that dogs typically like for you to be around and you’re adopting a dog because you want companionship as well (hopefully). You probably should not be adopting a dog if you are usually away for 10+ hours every day. It’s not fair to the dog and some dogs are much more sensitive to being alone than others.
Senior dogs: Senior dogs may (but not always) have a harder time holding their potty. For this reason, I strongly recommend that senior dogs are let out at least every 4 hours. This can help prevent discomfort, urinary tract infections, and accidents inside. I find that senior dogs are usually comfortable sleeping while I’m at work but really want my attention in the evenings. Therefore, I try to stay home on weekday evenings to make sure my dog gets enough quality time with me.
How flexible is your schedule?
One of the things that is really important for me and my dogs is whether or not I have the flexibility in my schedule to stay home if they are sick or have a vet appointment. Regardless of age, health issues can always pop up. You don’t need to plan for constant health issues, but you need to be able to provide care or observation if a health issue appears.
Senior dogs: Senior dogs can have more health problems than dogs of other ages. Mostly, these health problems are present and communicated to you before adoption. It’s not a wise idea to take on a sick dog if you do not have the flexibility to stay home on particularly bad days or if you can’t take time off for an urgent vet appointment.
How often do you travel?
Do you regularly travel for a week or more at a time? This could be really stressful for you and your dog. It’s essential to think about your options for dog sitting ahead of time (ideally before you decide to adopt). I recommend having several solid options in case one is busy or if something happens and you no longer feel comfortable leaving your dog at a certain boarding facility or with a specific dog sitter. You may also be able to take your dog with you if he/she is comfortable traveling and there is a safe space for the dog at your destination. However, some dogs are not suited for traveling. Dogs can have motion sickness or anxiety and travelling together may not be pleasant for either one of you. This really varies from dog to dog and you should not assume that your new companion will like travelling as much as you do.
Senior dogs: Senior dogs may be more likely to have incontinence issues, which could make travelling together difficult. You can’t expect a dog to hold their potty on a plane or in a car if he/she can’t hold it at home. You may also feel less comfortable leaving your senior dog with a sitter if he/she has health issues such as deafness or blindness or requires life-preserving medications. There are amazing reliable dog sitters out there and finding the right one could make your travel a lot easier for you and your pet.
How active are you without a dog?
Adopting a dog won’t automatically make you more active. While having a dog can help you keep a schedule of activity, you should try to be realistic about how much time and energy you can spend exercising your dog. Does your potential new dog need daily runs? If you know that you hate running, then you probably can’t commit to giving that dog the exercise that it needs. However, if you like running regularly and want a running buddy, then a dog that needs a lot of exercise is probably the right fit for you. This also goes the other way, though, and you shouldn’t adopt a new running buddy that has severe arthritis or heart/respiratory issues that limit the dog’s activity. My point is that you should try to find a dog that fits your current activity level because it will be a better situation for both you and your dog.
Senior dogs: Senior dogs are more likely to have arthritis and other miscellaneous health issues. Light exercise can be really good for dogs with arthritis because it keeps muscles strong and active which can help support joints. It also helps with heart health and overall wellbeing for your pet. Dogs really like to get outside. How would you feel if you were stuck inside 24 hours per day? You should also remember that some senior dogs still need a lot of exercise. I have had several senior dogs and they each had their own specific exercise requirements and each changed with time. One could only walk around the block, another needed several long walks per day, and the third likes to have several short walks with bursts of running. It’s important to remember that all dogs require some level of exercise.
What behaviors are you willing to work on and which are deal breakers?
Any new dog from any source (including dogs that come from breeders) will likely exhibit some behaviors that you don’t like. With this in mind, you should decide which behaviors are not acceptable before you start to look for a dog to adopt. For example, it’s not a good idea to adopt a dog that is reactive to other dogs if other dogs frequently visit your house. Disclaimer: There is nothing inherently wrong with reactive dogs (I will write an entire post about that later). However, it will be stressful for you and your dog if he/she must be put away while the other dog is there and it could exacerbate your dog’s sensitivity to other dogs. Reactivity toward other dogs is just one example of a behavior that can be a deal breaker for some people, but not for other people. Other examples could include destructive behavior, barking excessively, or pulling on walks. Fortunately, with help from an experienced trainer, you can probably help your new dog learn to stop doing the things that you don’t like. However, you have to be willing to spend the time and money and some behaviors are harder to work with than others. It’s also extremely important to remember that no dog is “perfect” and a dog that’s the best for you may not be free of all unwanted behaviors. It’s also important to remember that your new dog’s behavior can change over time and you should be committed to dealing with new unwanted behaviors if and when they begin.
Senior dogs: Old dogs can learn new tricks. Senior dogs are just as capable of being trained as dogs in any other age group. Some can be stubborn about certain things, but that’s part of their charm. In my opinion, it’s easier to figure out what kinds of behaviors you can expect from a newly adopted senior dog. Their personalities are already developed and it’s less likely for their personalities to drastically change with time.
Can you afford to adopt a dog?
It probably costs more to own a dog than you think. The cost of sharing your life with a dog can vary drastically. This can be related to age or not. Some young dogs are a little reckless or they like to run around and jump off of things, leading to more vet visits. Senior dogs can be more prone to health issues, just like health issues in humans tend to increase with age. In my opinion, adopting a senior dog doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll spend more at the vet. Dogs can get sick at any age.
Here is the average per month costs for me:
Food: I prefer to use high quality food and I tend to have dogs that are 60+ lbs, so I spend about $60/month on food.
Toys & treats: I spend an additional $25/month on treats and another $20/month on toys. I buy high quality toys such as durable Nylabones or Benebones (which need to be replaced regularly for safety). I also tend to buy some small treats and some extra special/high quality treats for special occasions.
Supplements: My dog requires joint supplements which cost me about $35/month.
Veterinary: The most expensive and unpredictable cost is veterinary care and health issues can pop up at any time. Unfortunately, any dog at any age can experience health problems. For example, ear infections, urinary tract infections, vomiting (from a variety of causes) are all common problems. Vet appointments are expensive and costs really begin to add up if your dog needs medications or other in-office treatments. Most people (including me) do not have thousands of dollars sitting around for unexpected illnesses. I make sure that I have enough money to cover common health problems. I try to keep $1,000 in cash available and I have a line of credit for more expensive health issues. You never want to be in the position that you consider not treating your dog because of money.
Dog sitting: It costs me ~$300/week for dog sitting while I travel. You should be aware that dog sitting can be a lot more expensive than this, especially if you use a professional dog sitting service. In my opinion, it is absolutely worth spending more for piece of mind that your dog is happy and well taken care of.
Photos from Honey's first night at home
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