Many people think that a puppy is the way to go and that an adult dog is not for them however there are many reasons why to go with an adult dog over a puppy, especially if it is your first dog.
Many people feel that an older grown dog is not something for them but they do not realize that older dogs do not require as much time as a growing puppy does. I am not saying that adult dogs do not need attention, they need their own form of attention verses the type that growing puppies need. Adult dogs are often easier to house train, if not already so trained. Puppies have to be taken out every 15-20 minutes in order to house train them. They can not stay in a cage all day. No dogs, puppy or adult can hold it any more than 6-8 hours at the maximum. They are past their chewing stage and have settled down from the usual adolescent behavior. Now, adult dogs still need full attention, time and toys no different then puppies, they just need to be treated a little differently.
An adult dog presents no surprises in its final size and appearance and it may already have the traits you may want in a dog. With an adult dog you have a much better idea of what you are going to end up with and already what the dog’s personality and traits are.
It is very easy to make a mistake raising a puppy. With and older dog, the mistakes have already been made and it’s generally not too hard t tell which problems will be easily correctable. An older dog’s previous history can actually be an asset, not a detriment. Quite often when a dog is put in a new situation, they are looking for a leader and will attach themselves to you right from the start. Even breeds known as the “one person dog: will accept you quite easily.
Older dogs are not often thought of as an option and are almost always over looked and passed up for a puppy. It is wonderful when one can come in and offer a good home for an older dog.
Puppies
*Puppies are cute and cuddly and everybody wants one. However, they do not stay puppies forever and pretty soon you will have an adult dog.
*Puppies are not housebroken; you will have to teach them, and sometimes this is not a very easy task. They must be taken out every 15-20 minutes whether you think they need to go out or not. Including every time they wake up.
*Puppies like to chew on everything. You will have to teach them which things are not for them to chew on and what things are ok to chew on, making this task somewhat difficult to do. Many * It is sometimes necessary, and very helpful to have a specific toy bin just for their dogs so they learn what toys are there’s.
*Puppies have no obedience training, and you must start from the beginning with them. When young, they have short attention spans and might be slow to learn certain tasks. However, if you teach your puppies basic stuff at a young age, they will be ready for more advanced training quicker.
*Puppies have not had the chance to learn bad habits yet. This means that they also can pick up on bad habits if you do not teach them otherwise.
*Puppies need a lot of attention and cannot be left alone for more than a few hours at a time, because they risk making a mess around them.
* Puppies bond more quickly to new owners than adult dogs, and may adapt to new routines more quickly.
*Small puppies may be easily injured by children or the environment, but on the other hand, large and hyperactive puppies can play rough and can knock down small children, because they think they are another puppy to play with.
*Puppies can not participate in strenuous activities because their bodies are still under development and they could easily injure themselves. If you want to involve your puppy in your activities, you should wait till he/she is at least 18 months old, which is the average for most breeds.
*Puppies are a great choice for people who have the necessary time and energy needed to properly raise them, because they no doubt require a lot of time and attention.
Adult Dogs
* Adults have already reached their max size; therefore what you see is what you get in terms of size and appearance.
* There is a high probability that older puppies and adults are going to be housebroken already. This means you will save a lot of time, effort and annoyances when it comes to this issue.
* Adult dogs might still have some chewing issues, but have most likely outgrown that phase, and will probably already know the difference between what they can and cannot chew on.
* Adult dogs may have already received basic or advanced obedience training. Even if they have not been fully trained, they most likely will learn commands fairly quickly if good methods are used.
* Even if they are grown up, adult dogs still require a lot of attention, but they can also stay alone for much longer periods than puppies. They still need time an attention, but they do not have the same needs and demands as puppies do.
* Adult dogs may be more able to withstand over-enthusiastic attention from children. Adult dogs are likely to be less hyperactive than puppies, and consequently might be better with small children.
*Adult dogs are fully grown and ready to join any activities you have plans to enjoy with them.
*An adult dog is a good choice if you do not want to deal with the mess and hassle that can come with raising a puppy.
* An adult is also a great choice for people who wish to have a dog, but who do not have the time required to take care of a puppy