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Joys of Adult Dog Companionship
The Puppy Alternative
Often older dogs are overlooked when people consider adopting a new dog. Here at Bill Foundation we love our adult, older and senior members and highly recommend them as a smart option. While the thought of a puppy may be appealing, older dogs have quite a bit to offer over their younger counterparts. 
First of all, please remember that most dogs, especially smaller ones, live quite long lives. When you consider that most small dogs live to at least 15, some to even 20 years of age, a 5-year-old dog may be around for 10-15 more years! Also, with an older dog, what you see is what you get. By age 5 a dog's personality is clearly visible as well as most hidden diseases and genetic problems.
One of the main reasons to consider an older dog is they are already housebroken and in most cases have received some sort of obedience training. Most puppies will need to attend basic obedience classes and some may even require personal training. This initial and most important phase in assuring a social and well behaved friend can be quite time consuming and often expensive. Most older dogs already know the basics and are very willing to please. It is important to keep in mind the time and expense involved in training a very young dog when weighing your options.
Puppies also require constant supervision. Unless at least one household member is at home most of the day to supervise a very young dog, you can be assured of a few unwelcome surprises upon your return. An untrained puppy or even a 1-2 year old dog can wreak quite a bit of havoc if left alone for great periods of time. Older & Senior dogs on the other hand are much calmer and more apt to just sleep when you are gone, thus refreshed and ready for play activities upon your return.
Older dogs also tend to sleep through the entire night. Much like a human baby, young dogs tend to take shorter rest periods and often are up at 2:00am barking at just about any noise or movement that catches their attention. They are more apt to cry through the night if separated and can often be restless throughout as well. Older & Senior dogs are accustomed to sleeping through the entire night and are at the very least much less active during that time period should they get up for a drink, etc.
Older & Senior dogs also make perfect "lap" dogs. If you have a quiet lifestyle, you may want to consider one of these dogs. They are perfectly happy to sit with you, watch TV and generally be at your side most of the time. These dogs are the perfect choice for our more senior and less active humans looking for a companion. However, don't think for a moment, they also wouldn't be ready for a walk or an impromptu ride in the car. Surprisingly, the opposite can also be true for our super busy humans who would also like to see a friendly face when returning from a hectic day, an older dog should also be considered an option.
Older dogs are also the perfect choice if you are able to bring your pet to work. Chances are they will be much more well behaved in an office atmosphere and are more likely to be housebroken in various surroundings. They will probably be more receptive to attention and not as scared of strangers. Since they already know the basics, an accident will be less likely.
Please consider an older dog the next time you think of adopting a pet.
Meet our Seniors
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Fax: (310) 860-9362