Gsdfinder

Older dogs are put down in shelters so many times and many also have to spend their entire life in shelters or rescue, because nobody wants to adopt them. Most of the time a puppy gets chosen.

How about adopting Bridget? Click HERE

If you are also looking for a puppy, and only a puppy, please read the following and then think about maybe considering an older dog as well.

1. If a puppy gets adopted, it is more likely to be returned to the shelter as an adult. Adult dogs get returned at a much lower rate.     One of the reasons is, that you do not know how the puppy may turn out, when he is older. If you meet an adult dog that fits to your life and family, it will stay that way. Puppies change when they grow up, and no, it is not all just about how you raise them! Some dogs are just born, for example with a high or low drive. Certain traits need time to develope and you could get an unpleasant suprise at times. Also, some genetical diseases do not develope until the dog is older and you can not know about them when you purchase a puppy, your German Shepherd maybe get hip displasia etc. (You could get an older German Shepherd checked if his hips are good or not)
2. Vet bills for a puppy can add up. An older dog is often already fixed and received all the shots, heatworm preventative and so on by the rescue or shelter. Puppies often still need their shots and need to get spayed/ neutered. They also still have a weaker immune system and can (even with shots) get parvo (serious virus, may be deadly) or other illnesses.
3. See what you get! However your dog looks like when you adopt it, that is exactly how it will stay. A puppy changes real fast. When you adopt a "German Shepherd puppy", it can end up to be a total different breed. Shelters often do not know about the dogs history or parents and therfore just have to take guesses.
4. You can sleep at night! Puppies often do not sleep through the night and will most likely decide at 1a.m. that they have to go to the bathroom, want to play, cry or just to destroy the bedroom. Trust me, you will be up every night.
5. An older dog will often be trained! It can be quite frustraiting to house break a puppy! And there is no way they will not make in your house! It is so much more easy to have a house trained dog, also older dogs can hold it so much longer. Really young puppies need out nearly every hour. An adult dog has often had basic obedience training as well, so you do need to worry about that either.
6. If the older dog has not had training, it will be still possible to teach the all the tricks out there!
7. Puppies will only be puppies for a little while anyways! It does not take long and a puppy looks just like an adult dog.
8. You can already do everything with your adult dog. You can not take a puppy out for a long walk and you can not go jogging/ running with them. It is also so much more to cuddle and to play with there!
9. Less Stressfull. Older dogs are so much more laid back and do not go as crazy as little puppies do. They cause alot less chaos and accidents in your house. You can keep a vase on a table, without having to worry about that the vase will fall down when the pup jumps against it in its crazyness :)
10. It is better to get an adult dog if you have kids. Like said, puppies are very playfull and the chances are high that the puppy will accidently hurt or scare your child during running around or playing. Also, kids can be a little rough at times. An adult dog often does not care as much if you child pets a little harsh or pulls the tail, however puppies get mad more easy.
11. You can bond with an adult dog just as much as with a puppy..maybe even more. It can take a week or so, but trust, soon you will wonder how you could ever live without this dog!
12. The dog will thank and love you forever for what you did.