Have you thought about adopt an adult dog? This decision is important and you need to be prepared. In fact, a dog that is no longer young has a well-formed and consolidated character which, in some cases, is difficult to change.
We offer you in our article the pros and cons of an adult dog. Let’s see what they are.
When does a dog become an adult?
First you need to clarify at what age a dog is no longer a puppy. We can consider an adult dog when it is over 12 months old, even if age depends on various factors (breed, weight). In some cases, in fact, there is a tendency to say that a dog is no longer young at 18 months or two years.
In many kennels or associations there are many dogs of this age who need affection and care, even if we must bear in mind that their character is already formed and cannot be changed completely. However, this may not turn out to be a negative factor.
Why adopt an adult dog?
I pros of an adult dog are so many. First of all, he is offered a second chance to share his love with a human being and for this reason in his eyes the master will become like a real savior. The experiences he has behind him make the dog more courageous and capable of transmitting tenacity.
Thanks to age, he has already completed the socialization process, so he is probably used to having relationships with other animals or people, he is already used to respecting his spaces and doing his needs outside and, moreover, in most cases, no need to wait for vaccinations and deworming to be able to carry it around.
In the end, an adult dog has an already defined character and size, so it is possible to choose the one that best suits the owner’s lifestyle. Usually a dog who has spent his life in a household will have no problem getting used to a new habitat. Of course, at first he will be lost, but with love and affection he will be able to quickly get used to the new environment and the new family.
What to know before adopting an adult dog?
Actually i against an adult dog, it is said that there are. Naturally if a dog has a character that is not compatible with the habits of the master, coexistence could be problematic, for this reason it is good to inquire beforehand about the life and previous habits of the animal (how it grew up, where, why no longer has a master, etc.).
Furthermore, the dog will stay less time with us than a puppy and any unwanted behavior will be more difficult to change precisely because of the already formed character.
How to train an adult dog?
The character will be formed, however it is possible to change Fido’s habits. But how to train an adult dog? Contrary to common opinion, train an older dog it is perhaps easier to educate a puppy because the former is able to pay attention for a longer time.
The best way to train your dog is positive reinforcement. It is a method in which he is not punished when he does not obey, but comes awarded when his behavior suits the situation. So if you punish or even hit the dog you will get exactly the opposite effect to the desired one and our friend Fido will increasingly tend to associate training with a negative event.
At the basis of good dog training there is a good dog-owner relationship: punishments and shouts will only result in frighten and annoy our faithful companion.
Does an adult dog do its business at home?
How to teach an adult dog to go outside? First of all, we need to ask ourselves about the possibility that the dog suffers from some pathology: it is therefore important to have Fido visit the vet to rule out the possibility of some disease.
It is also essential to pay attention to new people in the dog’s life or, conversely, people who have left his home. If the adult dog pees in the house it could also be the sign of anxiety and fear of something.
Per train an adult dog to go to the toilet outside the home first of all it is necessary to establish a daily routine in which Fido knows when it is time to go out to do his business. Encouraging the dog to go to the toilet in the same spot and praising him when this happens is also important for education.
Tips for adopting an adult dog
Before definitively choosing to bring the dog into the house, a first contact can be established by taking him for a walk (to see how he behaves) and trying to establish a bond through caresses, games and some snacks.
Before exposing it to the presence of other animals (regardless of the animal) check its degree of socialization. Finally, once we have decided that the dog will be our new roommate, a thorough visit to the vet is necessary to verify that he is vaccinated and has no parasites. On this occasion ask the specialist what type of diet is suitable for the specific case.