With some careful choices and a little planning, you can and should have a dog at any time in your life. As it turns out, when you are not a kid any longer, that may be when you want a dog most.
They Make You Healthier
Studies show that dog-owning seniors have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol than their petless peers. Having a dog also reduces the risk of heart attack — and boosts your chances of long-term survival if you have one.
70 is the perfect age to get a dog because many dog breeds will not outlive their owners at this age, and dogs can be useful to seniors in many ways. They can be excellent companions that help to ease pain, stave off depression, and keep their owners active.
Puppies Boost Senior Health
Studies have shown that older adults who have pets enjoy many health benefits. According to Mayo Clinic, owning a pet, especially a dog, can improve heart health, mood, and diet for seniors.
Having a pet helps elderly get out of the house, exercise, meet new people, reduce stress, etc. For elderly pet owners, who often live alone or in group facilities, pets can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, increase social interaction and physical activity and help them learn.
Benefits of Having a Dog as a Senior
There are several key ways seniors can benefit from sharing their homes with dogs. Dogs keep you fit. One study found older adults with dogs were more active, ate better and had better blood sugar levels than people without dogs. Dogs help create structure in your life.
With some careful choices and a little planning, you can and should have a dog at any time in your life. As it turns out, when you are not a kid any longer, that may be when you want a dog most.
Older pets often become less active because there is little to interest them, but they are otherwise healthy. Adding a puppy to the household can excite a senior dog and breathe new life into them as they play and interact with the adolescent.
While The National Animal Welfare Trust website does say that it may not be possible to adopt a pet if you have children in your home under a certain age, it does not state whether there is an upper age limit to adopting pets. A Dogs Trust spokesperson said: "We do not have an upper age limit for rehoming.
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months) This can be the most difficult time during a puppy's development – adolescence. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour.
One to two weeks can make a big difference. Other dog trainers and behaviorists agree: nine to 10 weeks of age is absolutely fine. In fact at this age, the puppy is past the eight week fear period, if he had one, and he's a bit more confident now.
The Pit Bull is the most common dog breed (along with pit bull breed mixes) found in shelters in the United States. They are also the most abused, neglected, and the most euthanized.
Pit Bulls are the most abused, abandoned, and euthanized dogs in the US. However, Pit Bull history tells us that they were once treated as loving companions.
Dog breeds that can be left alone for long periods include Labrador and Golden Retriever, Beagle, Peekapoo, or Shiba Inu. Naturally, by long-term periods, it's implied that the period is up to 8 hours a day and not more. Of course, you shouldn't forget about adorable mutts.
Many older dogs will be upset, jealous, or even angry with a new puppy, especially if the older dog has been an only dog. It's going to be important to make sure the older dog gets lots (more than normal) of attention to alleviate potential hurt feelings.