Should I Adopt an Adult Dog or a Puppy?

With Maturity Comes Peace

Please consider the following:

  1. A puppy is only a puppy for a very short period of time.
  2. Adult dogs don't require constant supervision - puppies do.
  3. Adult dogs don't run the Indy 500 in the middle of the living room.
  4. Puppies can be destructive: Toppling plants, chewing wires, climbing your furniture.
  5. Adult dogs have a developed immune system. A puppy's immune system is fragile and its health can never be predicted.
  6. Adults will already be neutered.
  7. You cannot "mold a puppy's personality". Each dog's personality is unique. Adult dogs' personalities are developed, so "what you see is what you get".
  8. Adult dogs are more settled, often more affectionate and want more lap time.
  9. Adult dogs have LOTS of love to give!
  10. Adopting an adult dog is a great way to teach your children compassion and unselfishness.
  11. There is nothing more satisfying than the grateful smile of a content, mature dog who knows he's loved and will never be abandoned.

Personality

If you want a dog of a certain personality adopt an older teenager or an adult. This way, what you see is what you get. This is the dog that will be part of your family for the next 10-15 years - not the little puppy that was so cute!

Physical Characteristics

Likewise, it is impossible to predict what a puppy will physically grow into as an adult. Blue-eyed puppies grow into green-eyed adults. Small puppies grow into jumbo dogs or seemingly large puppies may turn out to be petite adults.

Destructiveness

Puppies are very energetic and playful.

They do not understand the difference between batting around their jingle ball or eating your pearl earrings or batting your favorite vase off of the shelf. Puppies wrestle and play very aggressively, are easily stimulated and need constant attention. Puppies, especially when left alone, may destroy your furniture, your phone wires, your plants or your shoes. Adult dogs are calmer and are not as likely to destroy your furnishings or keep you awake at night.

Young Children

By far, the most common victims of animal bites and scratches are children. Puppies are still learning how rough to play and what it means for humans to have no fur.