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Why Senior Dogs And Cats Make Great Pets
Why Senior Dogs And Cats Make Great Pets
Are you looking for a new furry friend and want a pet who minds their manners and is more relaxed? A senior dog or cat is the perfect companion for those with more laid-back lifestyles.
Older pets have already been housetrained and potty trained. They do not need constant supervision and are settled in their routines. Senior dogs and cats are inclined to be less demanding of play but are still puppies and kittens at heart and will always love fun and games with their favorite human.
Adopting a senior pet will provide a home to a loving and faithful new friend. In this article, you will learn why older dogs and cats are worth more than a passing glance at the local shelter and why they make great pets.
Benefits Of Having A Senior Pet
Senior animals are often the last to be adopted. By welcoming an older pet into your home, you are contributing to a more positive outcome for these senior babies. There are many benefits of having a senior pet:
They Are Already Housetrained And Potty Trained
Most older dogs have already been trained to eliminate outside. Puppies require time, effort, and, most of all, patience. They need constant care, and part of that includes teaching them the skills they need to be adequately housetrained. Older pups are already potty trained and adept in several areas. Many of them also know basic commands. Some commands a senior dog tends to know:
- Sit
- No
- Off
- Stay
- Heel
- Come
- Down
The good news is that if you adopt a senior dog who doesn’t know these commands, they are still typically easier to train than younger dogs. Cats instinctively know how to utilize a litter box, but training them can be a bit trickier. Cats tend to do what they want, when they want, and how they want. Some shelters and rescue groups are taking the time to train cats using clicker training.
Clicker training is a tool that helps train and enrich the animal with positive reinforcement. When these places implement clicker training, the cats are happier and better socialized, and they delight their potential adopters with tricks, head bumps, and high fives that could charm their new owner into bringing them home. Since many older cats end up in shelters, this is a very valuable initiative.
They Are Calmer Playmates
Senior pets tend to be more easygoing when it comes to play. Older dogs may not want to spend all day at the park playing fetch, and senior cats are nowhere near as energetic as kittens. As adorable as it is to watch kittens play, bringing a mischievous youngster home can be too challenging for someone who just wants to cuddle up with a furry friend after a stressful day at work.
Dogs will always need walking, and there is no getting around that. However, younger dogs tend to play more vigorously, and for some people, that can be a drawback.
They Do Not Need As Much Supervision
Puppies need lots of supervision and proper training until they become more independent. Older pups can be left alone in the other room as you work in your home office or cook in the kitchen. You can even run errands as they can usually be trusted to be left at home for a couple of hours. Kittens are irresistible but can be problematic. Some of the ways they tend to make trouble:
- Hyperactive nighttime activity
- Playing too rough with their siblings
- Knocking items over and getting into mischief
- Jumping up onto high places and needing help to come down
Puppies should also be supervised because when they start teething, they like to chew, which can include your favorite shoes, furniture, and other household items. Once they start to mature, these unwanted behaviors tend to settle down. Puppies and kittens are like human toddlers. They unceasingly need a keen eye to observe them.
Younger Pets Require More Time
When you opt for a puppy instead of an older dog, they will need tons of socialization and puppy classes. You will need to carve that time out of your schedule, and for those who spend a lot of time away from home, an older dog may be a better fit.
Kittens do not go to classes to learn appropriate behavior, but they need proper socialization and care. Older cats are quite independent and often prefer to be solitary unless they want to snuggle with you, which is always time well spent.
You Will Make A Senior Dog or Cat Feel Good
Dogs and cats may have difficulty coping if they lose their home. Giving them the chance to live out their golden years with a new family makes them feel safe, happy, and loved. For them, their human is everything, and becoming the pet parent of an older canine or feline companion is a rewarding and wonderful experience.
Conclusion
Senior dogs and cats make great pets because they are usually trained, and an older dog often knows basic commands. Playtime will be less strenuous with a senior dog or cat, and they do not need to be watched 24/7. Younger pets also require more time and patience. Remember that adopting a senior dog or cat will make them feel good. Besides, they are older and wiser, with an abundance of love left to give.
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