How To Adjust To Adopting A Senior Dog
One of the most considerate things any person can do is rehome a dog, ensuring every pooch gets the love and attention they deserve no matter what age they are. One of the most overlooked kind of pups in dog centres are our older four legged friends, but, adopting a senior dog can not only be incredibly rewarding, but also suitable to your own lifestyle too.
Distinguished older dogs make for wonderful companions that are fiercely loyal and often much calmer and manageable than puppies. But, bringing one into your life presents different challenges to adopting a younger pooch too. Our behaviour experts have put together their best advice if you are going through the motions of rehoming a senior dog.
What Makes A Dog A Senior?
The seniority status of a dog actually can depend on its size. As a rule, a pooch is considered ‘senior’ when they reach a certain age:
Small dogs: 11 – 12 years old
Medium-sized dogs: 10 years old
Large dogs: 8 years old
Giant-breed dogs: 7 years old
You might be familiar with the concept of ‘dog years’ (and that one dog year is equal to seven human years!) but actually, that theory has been debunked. How a dog ages is dependent on many factors including its size, breed, lifestyle, and many other things.
3 Things To Consider When Adopting A Senior Dog
Socialising
Firstly, you will need to remember your dog has lived almost a whole lifetime which can include any manner of experiences. It’s best to get all the information you can from your rehoming centre as to what your dog likes and dislikes, its temperament, and tendencies.
If you believe your dog will be comfortable with it, you can socialise them at doggy parks, oftentimes they have sessions for quieter playtimes so that it won’t be too rowdy for your senior pup. Also making sure they get plenty of exercise is essential to their wellbeing.
Lifestyle
Adopting a senior dog comes with its own considerations around your new pooch’s health. Older pups are more likely to have issues with their hearing, sight, and weight – so ensure your lifestyle matches with that and doesn’t put them in any uncomfortable positions.
Certain people will find an older pooch will suit their lifestyle as they don’t need to burn off quite as much energy as a new puppy and are often more comfortable relaxing and napping instead. Absolutely every dog is different though, so make sure you get to know your new friend through and through before determining what their lifestyle should look like.
Feeding
Senior dogs will have a different diet to a puppy, and switching to a specialised food for their age is a great idea as this can support their health and also manage any geriatric weight gain.
Don’t forget though, that when you adopt a senior dog it’s to give them the life they deserve – and that should include lots of fuss, attention and of course, treats!
Pointer products are perfect for senior dogs and are well reviewed by owners with these kinds of pups. In particular, our products that always go down a storm include:
Peanut butter flavoured sticks
Don’t forget though, to always treat your pooch in line with a balanced diet that it suited to their requirements. And get advice from your rehoming centre if you’re not sure!
Best Places To Adopt A Senior Dog
There are many rehoming centres across the country that have senior dogs in need of forever homes so definitely take a look at what’s nearby to you. Some national centres include:
The National Animal Welfare Trust
Do you have any experience with older dogs and have any advice that you would like to share? We’d love to hear from you on Instagram or Facebook. For more pet advice from our Pointer experts, visit our blog.
