Tips for Bringing Home a Senior Dog

Many people choose to adopt a puppy or young dog when adding a furry friend to their family. This is for many reasons such as wanting to be in control of training from the beginning or hoping to get as much time with them as possible. However, adopting a senior dog is one of the most selfless things a human can do. Senior dogs are often surrendered to shelters after the death of their owner or life changes that keep their family from being able to care for them any longer. Senior dogs don’t want to live out the rest of their days in a cold, shelter kennel. Today I’m sharing 6 tips to help your senior rescue dog adapt to their new home.

Why Adopt a Senior Dog?

Sure, puppies are cute, cuddly, and a ton of fun. But senior dogs can be just as loving and rewarding. If you’re considering adopting a senior pup, here are some reasons to take the plunge. 

1. They’re likely already trained. 

Most of the time, senior dogs lived in a house before finding themselves in a shelter or rescue. A senior dog who previously had a family is most likely going to come to you fully trained and house broken. Everyone knows that puppies are a lot of work. By adopting a senior dog, you save a lot of time and stress by not having to go through the training process. 

2. They’re calm.

Puppies and young dogs are full of energy and need constant attention and exercise. This is great for people who live active lifestyles, however, if your free time tends to be spent on the couch rather than on a hike, a senior dog may be more suited for you. All older dogs want is someone to cuddle with, making them a great choice for people with a more relaxed lifestyle. 

3. There is no guessing game.

Dogs stop growing at about 2 years of age. Adopting a senior dog means that what you see, is what you get. There’s no guessing when it comes to their adult size or temperament. When you adopt a puppy, especially a mixed breed, you really have no idea how they will mature until a year or so into their life. 

4. They’ll get a second chance at love.

Dogs are smart, and they know when they have been given up by their humans. By adopting a senior dog, you’ll give them a second chance at love and trust. Instead of living out their final years between foster families or in a shelter, they’ll have a comfy home and a loving family to spend their most vulnerable years with. 

Tips for Bringing Home a Senior Rescue Dog

If you do make the choice to adopt an older dog, you will want to make sure their first few days are as stress free as possible. Here are some tips for bringing home a senior dog. 

1. Give them space

Imagine living your whole life in one home just to suddenly be dropped off at a scary place. Senior dogs who lose their home and family often lack trust. It’s normal for them to be overwhelmed and scared when being brought into a new home suddenly. The first few days after bringing home your senior dog, give them space to get comfortable on their own.

Make sure they have a comfy spot with a bed, food and water. Show them love in a calm way and be patient with them if they don’t warm up to you eventually. It will likely take awhile before they trust that they won’t be re-homed again. 

2. Take them to the vet

Just like elderly people, senior dogs come with a variety of health issues. Within the first couple weeks of bringing them home, take your senior dog to the vet for a full exam. Stay on top of any health concerns or underlying problems to keep them healthy as long as possible. 

3. Keep them on the same diet

Dogs have more sensitive stomachs than humans, and a quick food change can give them an upset tummy. If your pup has been eating the same food his whole life, try your best to keep them on that diet. If you must change their food, do so gradually to avoid any problems.

If you plan to change your dogs food, be sure to keep them on a high quality senior diet. Older dogs have more nutritional requirements than young dogs so a senior food is a must.

4. Set up a routine

Dogs thrive on routine. They’re creatures of habits and like to know what’s coming next. Set up a daily routine early on after bring your senior dog home. This will help them adapt quickly to their new living situation. Make sure meals, walks, playtime, and bedtime stay on a consistent routine throughout each day. 

5. Take introductions slowly

Your new senior dog is going to be overwhelmed those first few days. Don’t immediately take them to a dog park to socialize or invite a bunch of people over to meet him. Give him time to get used to you and their new family before introducing lots of other people and friends.

If you already have pets in the home, take those introductions slowly as well. Especially if your other dogs are young, they might be a lot more excited to meet the new dog than he is. Introduce other family pets in a neutral area and make sure to give everyone lots of reassurance to know that they’re safe. 

6. Be patient

Don’t feel bad if your senior dog doesn’t take to you right away. His whole world was just flipped upside down, and it will take some time to adjust. Take things slowly and be patient. Once comfortable, your senior rescue dog will give you plenty of love to show how grateful they truly are. 

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