You’ve finally decided to do it and bring an older dog home for adoption. Seeing the joy on a gray muzzle as you bring them into your home is so magical. Perhaps they are a little frightened and overwhelmed, but once they realize you will be their new family, that senior K9 will surely be thrilled.
However, successfully introducing a senior adopted dog to your home, family, and other pets can be challenging. Here are a few considerations to consider to ensure a successful adoption process.
Why You May Consider Adopting an Older Dog
You may be adopting an older dog to help alleviate the burden on shelters. You may also prefer to adopt a senior dog rather than a puppy. Your lifestyle may not be ideally suited to a puppy, which is why an older dog is a better option.
Whatever your choice, you have decided to adopt an older dog. However, older dogs aren’t puppies, and it’s not just about age.
Why Taking Your Time with Adoption Is Vital
Being excited about adopting a dog is normal. Still, you and your family should take some time to adjust to the adoption process and ensure you are thrilled and matched with the senior dog you’d like to adopt. Nothing is more unfair on the senior dog, you, and your family than having to return the dog if you don’t adapt well.
Spend some time visiting the kennel with the dog, touching it, brushing it, encouraging movement by throwing a ball, or feeding it some food. If you were going on a date, you’d probably not go home with the person after five minutes, right? Likewise, it would help if you gave yourself and the dog some time to feel things out.
Steps to Introduce the Senior Dog to Your Family
If, after spending some quality time with the senior dog, you and your family feel that it’s a good match and you can see the dog settling into your lives, you should approach the adoption and introduction in several steps to ensure everyone (including your new bestie) are happy.
Here are some steps for welcoming an adopted older dog:
1. Prepare the Home
Before taking your new (old) dog home, prepare your home. No matter the dog’s previous experiences, your home is a new place to them, with new smells, sounds, and people.
Take the time to place valuables out of reach and secure doors, ornaments, and electronics. While the dog isn’t a puppy, and they technically shouldn’t still chew, it’s instinct for a dog to explore their world with their teeth.
Part of the preparation work is to secure a safe space where the new dog can sleep and feel peaceful. You should keep a suitable crate with a plush blanket in an out-of-the-way spot. This is an excellent hideaway for your new bestie if things get too overwhelming for them.
2. Lay Down Ground Rules with the Family
Your family also needs to be on the same page regarding how you will treat and train the senior dog. If you have young children, ensure they understand the new dog is older and won’t appreciate being picked up like a puppy would.
The senior dog may suffer loss of mobility, blindness, and degenerative conditions such as arthritis, which means you have to handle them carefully. Ensure everyone knows how to handle, pick up, and speak to the dog.
Decide what rules you expect the dog to learn and follow, such as whether you’ll allow them on the furniture, in bed, or in the kitchen. It’s never good to allow everything, but then turn around and reprimand the new dog when they overstep, but you previously allowed it. Avoid confusion at all costs.
3. Decide When Bringing the Dog Home Is Best
The best time to bring your new senior bestie home is when everything is prepared, you and your family have thoroughly become acquainted with the dog, and you have enough time to introduce them to your life and family.
4. Prepare Your Other Pets with Obedience Training
Part of the preparation is to ensure your other dogs are settled and obedient. If your dogs don’t listen to you, they’ll likely not listen if you tell them not to growl at the new dog. So, take a few days to reinforce some basic training, such as commands like “sit,” “stay,” or “down.”
When you introduce a new dog, you can’t have two or more variables. You should control your dog, and both dogs should be on harnesses and leads or an appropriate collar and lead. If you suspect one or both dogs may bite, fitting a muzzle guard is a great idea.
If you have more than one dog, it’s best to introduce the new dog to the dogs one at a time. I like to start with the smaller dogs first, then the next senior dog, and finally, the puppy of the bunch. Then, gradually, introduce two of your dogs, then add one back into the mix until all the dogs are together.
If necessary, use the help of a friend or family member to ensure the dogs are all under control and on leads. Never introduce food at this point, as this will trigger instinctive territory-guarding behavior, leading to aggression.
5. Manage the Introduction Day
On the introduction day, it’s essential to monitor all the dogs involved (and the people, too). If you or the dogs get tired or anxious, it’s okay to take a time out. Don’t try to bulldoze through it.
You can always put the new dog in their crate and give everyone a break for a bit. If the new dog gets really anxious, it’s best to let them have a break, as a nervous dog is likely to bite.
6. Schedule Time-Out
Never make the introductions a drawn-out affair. Let the dogs have a good sniff all around and play it by ear. As soon as you feel a break is in order, take it.
It doesn’t matter whether your new senior adopted dog requires a week to feel at ease enough to explore or if it takes a day. Don’t push them to do what they’re not ready for. This may mean you have to feed them separately for a few days until they feel confident enough not to worry about feeding time.
7. Introduce and Manage Feeding Time
Ultimately, feeding time is when the fur can really fly. You could have a serious doggy brawl if you haven’t done your preparations well. When dogs are around food, they expect a pack order to be maintained, but since the senior dog isn’t part of this pack (yet), they won’t know the rules.
If you are unsure of the spirit between your dogs, you can feed all the dogs in their crates to ensure there’s no fighting. You can also provide enough space to keep them apart when eating and then watch the dogs that finish first.
Remember, older dogs may eat slowly or struggle with hard food, which can encourage your other dogs to steal food from them and become aggressive. Always watch and ensure all the dogs eat sufficiently and avoid bullying.
Potential Trouble Factors to Consider
You should accept that the introduction stage won’t necessarily be moonshine and roses. Chances are that your new senior bestie may suffer from trauma, pain, and feelings of insecurity. They may start to exhibit negative behavior like chewing, compulsive licking, urinating in the house, and even becoming aggressive.
It’s essential to monitor them closely, treating signs as these appear so you can best help your new dog get over these as soon as possible. If necessary, discuss adding a calming supplement to your dog’s diet to help them adjust.
More Jack’s Dacks Articles
- Tips For a Young Dog and a Senior Dog
- 18 Signs of Aging in Dogs and What to Do in Each Case
- Senior Dog Massage: How to Massage Your Senior Dog for Pain Relief
Final Adoptions
When you’ve found the perfect senior dog bestie to adopt, consider the impact of adoption on them. Senior dogs may not adapt well to homes with loads of stairs or where they will be cooped up all day (especially for large breed dogs).
Your best intentions should always focus on what’s best for the dog. Dogs are wonderfully adaptable animals but don’t impose your will on them. If you can go into the senior adoption process with an open mind, you have every chance at it being a huge success and the start of a beautiful friendship.