Getting a Puppy Vs. Adopting a Dog

Sometimes when I tell people that I foster for the Chihuahua and Small Dog  Rescue of Colorado, their first reaction is that they want a puppy.

I understand that a puppy is really cute and that it seems that you will have more control over a puppy’s ultimate behavior, but adult dogs are really much easier to bring into a household.

Image a puppy as a human toddler.  Image all the time it takes to look after a toddler and how taking your eye off of this toddler can often result in such things as broken items and ruined carpets.  Raising a puppy is very similar.

Adopting a dog is much different.

It’s true, you may be getting a  dog that has fears and bad behaviors associated with it’s former life;  but, in my experience, a couple months of love and training are all it takes to get the new dog used to you and your house.  Weight that against a year or more of training for a puppy and you can see that an older dog is much easier than a puppy.

There are plenty of dogs in shelters and rescues who just need one person to take them home and love them.  Be patient with them and understand that you may need to clean up some pee on the carpet or take them to a behaviorist for a few sessions, but then they will be your most wonderful companion for the rest of their lives.