I found this article on another forum, and thought I would share. It's about the positives of getting an older dog vs getting a pup.

http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-austin/puppy-or-dog-the-debate-continues

I have to say that I agree about the bonding issue. Out of my pack of 5, the dog bonded to me strongest is Caterina who came to us at nearly 3 years old. She bonded almost instantly, and because of that, she was super easy to train.

I also agree with the high percentage of pups bought are impulse buys, and unfortunately many of them end up at the end of a line in the back yard or at a shelter when they lose the cuteness. I wish that pups came with a sticker that says "I am not just a cute face. I am a 12-15 year commitment."

Read the article and see if you agree, and share your thoughts

--Kel

I love puppies, really really really love them.
But I love them even more when they belong to someone else!

I have said for a long time that we won't be doing any more puppies for a very long time.

Hopefully Loki cooperates with us when it comes to that plan as I don't know if he will ever tolerate another adult dog coming into the home.

 Quote: kelly

I found this article on another forum, and thought I would share. It's about the positives of getting an older dog vs getting a pup.

http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-austin/puppy-or-dog-the-debate-continues

I have to say that I agree about the bonding issue. Out of my pack of 5, the dog bonded to me strongest is Caterina who came to us at nearly 3 years old. She bonded almost instantly, and because of that, she was super easy to train.

I also agree with the high percentage of pups bought are impulse buys, and unfortunately many of them end up at the end of a line in the back yard or at a shelter when they lose the cuteness. I wish that pups came with a sticker that says "I am not just a cute face. I am a 12-15 year commitment."

Read the article and see if you agree, and share your thoughts

--Kel

Koenig was was of those super cute pups, that get tied out when they are not little and cute anymore! AND, just like Caterina, he bonded really quickly, when I got him at 1 yr old.

I'm with Jennifer. I love other people's puppies.

Dog club friends have been telling me for a long time that I need a 2nd dog as mine is getting older. They want me to get a puppy so it will learn from and emulate Ripley.
Opinions on that theory? If and when I bring another dog into our lives most likely it will be an adult from a shelter. I like think I can tell what kind of mind I'd be working with that way, but it's an inexact science.

I agree with the article that adult dogs with some life experiences will bond with a new owner better than a puppy. An example is a friend's 6 year old Aussie who spent the first 5 years of life in a crate except for potty breaks. He is blooming with new life and energy, and does not waste time on focusing on anything but his new handler.

Edited by Meredith Hamilton (12/07/2010 06:07 AM)
Edit reason: add

Good article! While I adore little puppies, I doubt I will ever have another one. We got Vader when he was a little older and he was SO much easier than the 8 week old puppies we've had before. He was already potty trained and used to being away from his mother. Hopefully he stays around for many years to come, but when we do get another dog, it will most likely be an adult. Puppyhood is tough!

yes u have to admit puppies are a handful. My first pup, but they keep you on your toes. My other two were 1.5 when i got them.

My experience has been the opposite.

My other dog, that i got at 8 weeks was super bonded to me, if i left the room he left the room, he could care less about any other human. He would be polite and greet them nicely, but after that he would act like they weren't there. He was super bonded to me.

Now Tucker, who i rescued when he was 4, is definately bonded to me, but not in the same was Taz was. Tucker does follow me, but if someone else is in the room, he is content to stay with them while I leave the room. And joy & bliss when we have visitors...he can't get enough of them!

Taz (Austrailian Shepherd/Husky)& I had a different bond. But im not sure that it's totally because of the different stages they were at when i acquired them. They are definately totally different dogs. Taz was an "old" dog when he was a puppy (hope that makes sense)and was just very stoic all around for the rest of his life. Tucker (Border Collie/Husky) is the class clown for sure and still is very very puppyish.

I would love to have a puppy again, but i know I just don't have the time to devote properly to one, and probably won't until I retire. So I will rescue till then. But I think next time I'll get one more in the 1-2 year range. It just seems like time has flown since I got Tucker he's into his senior years so quick!!!

I got Missy as a 3 y/o. I took her all of about 3 days to figure out that I was her person. It was just about like instant Lassie.

I got Kipp as a 20 m/o. He is definitely "my" dog too, but the bond took a little more time and work.

I've never had a puppy. Maybe the next dog because I do really want the whole puppy experience sometime.

I think that the bond a dog has with you depends on many things. Nature, nurture (or lack of it). Missy is a very human oriented dog who had had very little positive human interaction before got her. When she did get what she craved she responded immediately. Kenzi has a much more happy go lucky personality. She is very fond of me and loves to be with me, but doesn't seem to have the same need to have a bond with a person that Missy does.

There is a big part of me that believes that it is more about the actual personality of the individual dog rather than a debate over rescued vs puppy about bonding.

Both mine I have had since puppies. My female is more independent than is my male who follows me everywhere.
Both are bonded to me, but in different ways. I just believe it is their individual personality traits that I am seeing.

I have a ton of respect for anyone who fosters or rescues a dog from a shelter. I have seen some incredible bonds that have been formed from that. I believe that the animal seems to know it has been taken into a better life and seems to connect to that new family with amazing bonding.

One day I would love to get a dog from a shelter, but for now, my hands are full with what I've got.

But I have also loved working with a dog from puppyhood, there is nothing like going through all of the life stages with a dog.

Takes a lot of work, but it all pays off eventually with any dog, puppy or adult, it all depends on the time you commit to with them.

I will definately rescue again.

Theres' nothing like that feeling when you take a tail tucked, ears pinned, shy dog and see him or her eventually come into their own and become an ears high (seriously, look at his ears!! He could fly around if he wanted to) tail wagging (full circle body wags), smiling (yes he smiles at me when i come home, or when I reach for the biscuit cupboard)dog that he was meant to be. And when he finally learns that he doesn't have to act like a snarling beast anytime a hand comes near him. That people can be trusted and the hands coming close to him now are only for petting and scratching those hard to reach places. That he doesn't have to wolf down his food because it's the first decent meal he's had in ages. That he doesn't have to scrape at the ice puddles to try and get some ice to quench his thirst because he'll always have water. That he will never be so tangled up in a chain, that it leaves scars on his back legs and destroys his bottom teeth because he's biting the chain to try and free himself from it.

Never again Boober....I promise you that!!!