Welcome to the last day our Top 10 Lists week. As you know we have covered everything from electronic gadgets, to holiday gifts, to pet costumes and last but now least I wanted to talk about the benefits of owning an older dog. We are all aware of the joys a puppy can bring. All that energy, playfulness, and spirit is almost too much to handle especially if you are older, that’s why many recommend adopting a dog that is long in the tooth.

Top 10 Reasons To Own An Older Dog

• They are already housetrained- older dogs have been around. They know what you expect of them and even though they may not be familiar with where everything in your home is, they do know that when it’s time to go they need to go outside.
• They Don’t Chew stuff up- while puppies are constantly tearing up your furniture due to teething, older dogs don’t have this problem since they already have their teeth.
• They are more calm- if you are somebody who wants a pet but can’t stand the constant running around done by a puppy, older dogs tend to be more calm and less rambunctious
• They understand the word “no”- speaking strictly from personal experience this is something that puppies and two year old boys know nothing about.
• They easily adjust to their surroundings- puppies are frightened of new places while older dogs have been around enough to know how to handle being in a new place and are less worried about going some place new.
• They like to cuddle- puppies play, jump, run, and are constantly going all over the place while older dogs love to sit on the couch with their owner and watch a movie
• They have personality- again like children, puppies may act one way when they are young and turn into something completely different as the get older. Older dogs already have their personality and it very rarely changes
• They are better companions- puppies like to explore their environment and are constantly wondering off to inspect the latest thing to catch their eye. Older dogs are loyal and less likely to want to explore.
• They enjoy alone time- we all enjoy a moment or two by ourselves and older dogs are no exception. Whether it be a few minutes or several hours older dogs understand the value of “me” time
• They allow you to get a good night’s sleep- puppies tend to hate the nighttime hours and are known to bark all night while older dog are comfortable with their surrounding and know their owners schedules.