Why do so many people suggest adopting an adult/senior dog, even when you are clear you are getting a puppy?

Liesje

I see this mostly on the GSD board, AgileGSD is there too so maybe that's what she has in mind.  People go into the BREEDER section asking about a specific breeder, dog, line, or litter and are bombarded with people posting Petfinder links.  Now I love rescues as much as the next person, 4 of my 6 current pets are from a rescue or shelter, but you don't see me posting links to my breeders on the RESCUE section of the forum.

  Good point! It would not at all be considered acceptable to suggest to someone who says they are set on getting a rescue to suggest they get a puppy from a breeder. I think it is great when people want to get a rescue dog, if that is what they really want. I also think it is great when someone wants a purebred and is reseraching how to find a breeder. FWIW I have had at least one rescue dog for most of my life. My first dog was from the local high kill pound and we adopted my husband's corgi from a shelter.

 Personally, if I see someone asking about getting say, a lab, in a general sense (as in not going specifically to the breeder section and asking breeder questions), I have no issue suggesting they consider an adult lab.  One of the only reasons we got Jack from a breeder is that we thought that Sally would accept a pup better.  Honestly, if I thought she would take as easily to a one or two year old dog I'd likely have several more labs (and a greyhound for DH) by now.

Most people have no idea how hard labs can be as puppies and young adolescents (Jack was a stubborn a$$).  They see the cute puppy on the toilet paper commercial, and see how calm their neighbor's 8 year old lab is and decide that a lab pup is just the ticket.

 Personally, as long as the person is ready for the commitment that comes with a dog it doesn't matter to me if they go to a reputable breeder, a rescue, a shelter, or Craig's List.  I also don't think that someone who adopts a pup over an adult is somehow bad.  However, especially on a message board where there are lurkers getting info too, I see no harm in suggesting an adult dog over a pup.  At worst the person rejects the idea.  At best they give some thought to options they had not considered so that they are sure they are going the right route for their family and the animal in question when getting a dog.

sillysally

At best they give some thought to options they had not considered so that they are sure they are going the right route for their family and the animal in question when getting a dog.

AgileGSD

If someone came here today and said they wanted a Technicolor Flying Hound puppy for their family pet a few people would, without a doubt try to talk them into an adult rescue. There would surely be posts along the lines of "Have you checked TFH rescue? They almost never have puppies but you'd be best to go with an adult anyway. And you'd be saving a life!" and  "Have you visited your local shelter? There are a lot of homeless dogs." 

Is there any harm in that?

A few years ago, before DH and I were together, he bought an MR2.  He didn't even have his license.  He said it was his "incentive".  Is that a sensible fit for a young man's FIRST car?  The cost alone to fuel it, tax it, insure it....

Is there really any harm in his mother suggesting to him that he get a Golf or a Fiesta or similar - cheaper to run and not so "wild", and get the flashy car when he has a little more driving experience? 

She knows, in her heart, that her advice will fall on deaf ears, and he will do as he pleases.  BUT.  She feels HAS to offer the advice, on the off chance that it stops him for a second, makes him think and MAYBE, just MAYBE, changes his course of action.   She would feel irresponsible if she didn't. 

When, a few months later, he passed his test and promptly crashed the car into a tree, at least SHE felt sure in her heart that she had tried.  If she hadn't, and if the accident had left him seriously injured or dead, how would she have felt?

Some folks see clearly inexperienced people go out and get a puppy which is a poor fit for them and it's like watching a train wreck.... you know how it's going to go, it's going to end badly and it's unstoppable.  You can't change it.  You can't tell people.  But sometimes, you feel you have to try.

Frankly, I really can't see your problem.

AgileGSD

It would not at all be considered acceptable to suggest to someone who says they are set on getting a rescue to suggest they get a puppy from a breeder.

Of course not.  That would be completely unethical and backward.  A good breeder should have a waiting list of homes anyway (although I appreciate some breeds do whelp large litters), a lifetime take-back policy and enough room in their OWN home or contingency plans for any pups they need to keep for any reason.  So none of their dogs are in immediate danger of dying or falling on the scrap heap.  Purebred puppies don't NEED an advocate, and if they are fortunate enough to be from a good breeder, they already have an invaluable one.  If the person asking for advice doesn't like the advice offered, they can just by-pass it.  Crucially, if on-line by-standers don't like the advice being offered, they too, can simply by-pass it.  Nothing compels you to get involved.  That is the beauty of asking/looking for advice on an online forum.

I just read through the thread and it was a lot of good information, thoughts and opinions and it gave me a lot to think about.  Anyways thanks for responding.    Ofcourse in the end I feel it shouldn't matter whether you give a puppy a home or an adult a home when you choose adoption as long as the dog is getting adopted, we all know what is right for us.  

Chuffy

She knows, in her heart, that her advice will fall on deaf ears, and he will do as he pleases.  BUT.  She feels HAS to offer the advice, on the off chance that it stops him for a second, makes him think and MAYBE, just MAYBE, changes his course of action.   She would feel irresponsible if she didn't. 

 Not exactly sure how it is the same thing at all. Are you saying that it is irresponsible if one doesn't discourage people from buying a puppy from a breeder?

Chuffy

Some folks see clearly inexperienced people go out and get a puppy which is a poor fit for them and it's like watching a train wreck.... you know how it's going to go, it's going to end badly and it's unstoppable.  You can't change it.  You can't tell people.  But sometimes, you feel you have to try.

  People don't have to be experienced dog people to properly raise a puppy. I think if people are willing to take puppy classes and do the early training/socialization, puppies are actually easier than taking in an unknown adult dog. Besides, I have seen plenty of people go to the shelter to "save" a dog and end up with an adult dog that was totally inappropriate for their home, so that isn't a concern just for people getting puppies. I had an older couple in one of my classes once that went to the shelter to adopt a small dog with a Pug or Pug mix being high on the list. As is often the case, there were no small dogs available at this shelter, rarely ever are and there are always far more people interested in a small dog than there are small dogs to place with them. Instead of suggesting a breed rescue, the shelter talked this couple into taking an adult APBT (and lied about the dog's breed). It was very sad, as this they fell in love with the dog even though she wasn't what they had wanted. They enrolled her in obedience class, obviously worked with her a lot at home and once they were aware of what the dog was they read all they could about APDTs. In the end though, they had to return the dog to the shelter because they physically were not able to control such a large powerful dog that had animal aggressive tendencies. The husband had been pulled over the handrail of the porch by the dog when a cat went through their yard. It wasn't a bad dog and they weren't bad owners - it broke their heart to return her but it was an extremely bad match and quite irresponsible on behalf of the shelter to place the dog with them.

 I'm not saying people can't get great adult dogs at shelters. I am sure that the couple above would have done great with an adult dog from Pug rescue. I have known some really great dogs rescued as adults, including some excellent performance dogs. But few of them were "easy" when they were first brought into the household. Most dogs at shelter or in rescue have received little to no training, so there is certainly going to be work for the owner to do. I generally suggest adult dogs be treated much like puppies when first brought home - scheduled potty times, crating/gating when not supervised, enforcing household rules and NILIF. Shelter/rescue dogs who have been fostered in a home or gone through a training program would probably be the best bet for someone looking for an easier adult dog (or for a non-rescue a service dog wash out or a breeder rehome).

AgileGSD

it broke their heart to return her but it was an extremely bad match and quite irresponsible on behalf of the shelter to place the dog with them.

Agree, I blame the shelter for that and not the owners. 

AgileGSD

Chuffy

She knows, in her heart, that her advice will fall on deaf ears, and he will do as he pleases.  BUT.  She feels HAS to offer the advice, on the off chance that it stops him for a second, makes him think and MAYBE, just MAYBE, changes his course of action.   She would feel irresponsible if she didn't. 

 Not exactly sure how it is the same thing at all. Are you saying that it is irresponsible if one doesn't discourage people from buying a puppy from a breeder?

No.  I am saying that if they feel in their heart that it is right to suggest an older shelter dog, just in case the person DOES take it on board and saves a dog that would otherwise have died, then I am say that there is no harm in it, and therefore just let them get on with it.  They probably DO feel it is irresponsible not to make the suggestion in some cases, and in their heart would feel they had done wrong in keeping their mouth shut.  Let them do what they believe in their hearts to be the right thing, and ignore their offering if you disagree.

AgileGSD

People don't have to be experienced dog people to properly raise a puppy.

Please go back and re-read:

AgileGSD

Some folks see clearly inexperienced people go out and get a puppy which is a poor fit for them

Inexperienced people getting a puppy which is a good match is a different kettle of kippers than getting a puppy which is wholly unsuited to their lifestyle and level of experience.  Everyone has to have a first puppy sometime.  In addition, I don't think every inexperienced person has what it takes to properly raise a puppy, and perhaps that is a point where we'll have to agree to disagree.

AgileGSD

It wasn't a bad dog and they weren't bad owners - it broke their heart to return her but it was an extremely bad match and quite irresponsible on behalf of the shelter to place the dog with them.

A sad story and I agree taht the shelter were wrong to be dishonest.  It was a disservoce to the couple, the dog and themselves in the long run.  But I don't see how this is relevant to the discussion?

AgileGSD

I generally suggest adult dogs be treated much like puppies when first brought home - scheduled potty times, crating/gating when not supervised, enforcing household rules and NILIF. 

So do I.  Mostly, they tend to need treating like a puppy for a lot less time than an actual puppy, IME, because they have the functionality to behave as an adult dog, even if they haven't had the guidance.

There will always be both pros and cons whether you choose a puppy or adult, shelter or breeder, purebreed or mutt, dog or bitch.....

Chuffy

AgileGSD

Some folks see clearly inexperienced people go out and get a puppy which is a poor fit for them

Inexperienced people getting a puppy which is a good match is a different kettle of kippers than getting a puppy which is wholly unsuited to their lifestyle and level of experience. 

 People can just as easily end up with an adult dog that is wholly unsuited to their lifestyle and experience. That was the point of the stpory about the older couple and the pit bull. They adopted an adult dog from a shelter that was a very bad match for them. In classes I teach, I have actually seen far more adult dogs not work out due to being poorly suited for their new home than I have seen with puppies. Over the years, I have had countless owners in class who adopted adult dogs and then really struggled with the getting the dog to be able to fit into their household.  It isn't always easy to judge what a dog is really like when it is in the shelter environment and usually limited information is avilable on the dogs.

AgileGSD

You have never noticed online or IRL that people tend to push rescue dogs, even when one is looking for a purebred puppy? If someone came here today and said they wanted a Technicolor Flying Hound puppy for their family pet a few people would, without a doubt try to talk them into an adult rescue. There would surely be posts along the lines of "Have you checked TFH rescue? They almost never have puppies but you'd be best to go with an adult anyway. And you'd be saving a life!" and  "Have you visited your local shelter? There are a lot of homeless dogs." 

Many people don't even realize purebred dogs are in rescue.  To most people you either get a purebred dog (or designer mutt) from a breeder or pet store or you get a mutt from the local shelter.  I know SO many people who didn't even realize there were purebred rescues for dogs of many breeds.  I mention it because some people aren't aware, might like to get a rescue dog, but want one of a particular breed.

I think when people suggest an older dog they don't necessarily mean *old* as in *senior dog*.  They're just suggesting something past the rambunctious puppy stage. Max was estimated to be between three and five months when I snagged him out of the shelter - still very much a puppy IMO.  But it took less than a week for him to be house trained and using the doggy door.  That was never the case with  the dogs I raised from 6 to 8 weeks. It just depends on what's going to fit your current lifestyle best.

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

I think when people suggest an older dog they don't necessarily mean *old* as in *senior dog*.  They're just suggesting something past the rambunctious puppy stage. Max was estimated to be between three and five months when I snagged him out of the shelter - still very much a puppy IMO.  But it took less than a week for him to be house trained and using the doggy door.  That was never the case with  the dogs I raised from 6 to 8 weeks. It just depends on what's going to fit your current lifestyle best.

Very good point!  When I saw an "older" dog I don't mean OLD (though it's awesome if someone adopts a senior), but an adult.  Many dogs in shelters are 1-2 years old (my dog was around 2 to 2 1/2, estimated, when we got her).  I plan to have many years with my dog, even though she wasn't a puppy when we got her.  We still figure we could have 10-12+ years with her, if all goes well with her health.

 I love walking around with my lovely, purebred (though that wasn't the intention, when I got two of them) dogs, and telling people where they came from. Emma came from my county's humane society, at 9 weeks, and Jewel came from a county over's, at 8 years. Jewel was house trained, and crate trained, for all intents and purposes. She is a very easy dog to live with. Bean came from a coworker, pre shelter. She was not able to care for Baby Bean like she needed to. Purebred dogs abound, in the shelters, here, and people have no clue. Seriously. My county's shelter routinely has small Poodles, GSDs, Labs, Pitties, Chis, Dachshunds, and Cockers, all purebred. It's amazing.