It is common knowledge that having a companion dog or cat is good for both physical and emotional wellbeing. It is thought that the human-canine bond is stronger in late life than at any other age. If you are or have been an animal lover in the past, you might be ready to rekindle that sort of relationship again.
A supplement in our local Herald (July 2011) ran an article about seniors adopting senior pets. If you are older and looking for a way to make a daily walk a more fun, would feel a little more comfortable living alone with a live-in burglar alarm, or just want a furry friend waiting at the door for you; a dog is the answer.
Puppies and kittens are adorable, but keep in mind that they require a huge commitment of time and energy. Having a youngster in the house might be too much for you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a live-in pet. An older dog will be calmer and will settle in rather quickly. The best part is what you see is what you get. Size, appearance and temperament are all pretty much set, and you won’t have to worry about how long that youthful exuberance is going to last. You can tell pretty quickly if a dog is friendly, alert and interested in you. You will also be able to tell if the dog is quiet and laid-back, energetic, cuddly or aloft and independent. If you can’t make up your mind, consider doing some volunteer work at your neighborhood shelter until you find someone you can’t resist.
PAWS and other animal shelters often have Senior for Senior adoption programs. These programs match and place older dogs with older people, and often have reduced rates for seniors.
The hardest part will be finding the right dog for you. Some people are attached to certain breeds, but as seniors you need to factor in a few other things. Your physical limitations and even your current living arrangements are going to dictate what kind of dog you should have. The author talked about three different categories of dog: internally driven, externally driven and socially driven. I thought these were pretty good classifications. You could probably place yourself into one of those categories too. A couch potato dog (or person) is internally motivated (older dogs were suggested, such as the Akita or Chow Chow). If you still work and want a dog who likes to do outside stuff with you, look for an externally driven dog (aka as a working dog). Socially driven dogs are the happy tail wagging sorts. They just want to please you and will do whatever you want. I’ve often heard that pets start to look like their masters, or maybe it is the other way around. Surely not! My dog is big and furry and independent, and at times just a tad surly. Am I like that? Regardless, you can find the perfect dog, and life will never be the same.
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