When looking for canine companionship, people often opt for a puppy because, well, they’re so darn cute. But many also believe adult dogs who’ve been abandoned or surrendered to shelters are somehow too damaged to make good family pets. Nonsense! The shelters are bursting with perfectly good dogs who need a little of your tender loving care to make them beloved members of your family — if only people would give them a chance.

Here are some of the myths around adult dogs and why you should give these loving pups a chance!

Myths and realities of adult dogs

Myth: You won’t bond as well if you haven’t raised the dog yourself.

Reality: Not so. A dog at any age can grow very attached to their person, often very quickly. What’s more, you’ll know just how affectionate your adult dog is when you adopt them, whereas an affectionate puppy may turn into an aloof adult.

Myth: Adult dogs up for adoption must have problems.

Reality: Dogs are abandoned for all sorts of reasons, and most of the time, it has nothing to do with the dog. The top reason given for surrendering a dog is “moving.” Another is “no time.”

While this means many shelter dogs arrive without the training they should have gotten, most problems are treatable. The ones with the most serious problems generally aren’t offered for adoption.

Myth: If I get an adult dog, I can only get a mixed breed.

Reality: In fact, 25 percent of shelter dogs are purebreds, and many breed rescue groups have purebreds looking for homes. If your heart is set on a particular breed, chances are good you can find an adult dog. But — we have to ask — why wouldn’t you want a mixed-breed dog?

What you see is what you get

If you’re still trying to decide whether to adopt an adult dog, consider the advantage of knowing what you’re getting.

With an adult, you generally know if they’re good with kids, if they make a good running companion, or if they aren’t too barky. Puppyhood is adorable, to be sure, but it often masks a dog’s true personality.

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From bouncing puppy to elderly companion, your dog will express different needs at each stage of their life. Puppies are demanding and energetic, while adolescents are unpredictable. Adult dogs are eager and self-assured, but by the time they’re seniors, they will have slowed to a comfortably lazy pace.

What happens during different dog ages and stages

As with human relationships, ups and downs are inevitable throughout your years together, but knowing what to expect will keep you one step ahead of the pack. During your dog’s life, they will:

• Upset you. Or, at the very least, frustrate you. Housetraining is no picnic, nor is cleaning up vomit or finding your slippers chewed beyond recognition. Even if your puppy never misbehaves (ha!), their never-ending need for you will sometimes feel overwhelming.
• Surprise you. Maybe your Australian Shepherd loves agility training. Your Doberman can bark their name. Or, perhaps, your Cocker Spaniel actually draws a smile from the grumpy neighbor across the street. Sometimes, you’ll just be astonished by your adolescent dog’s endless desire to please you.
• Bring you incredible joy. Your dog doesn’t care whether you made your sales goals or how good you look for your high school reunion. Your dog is thrilled simply to be around you, and they’ll demonstrate those feelings on a regular basis.
• Cause you to experience grief. No matter how long they live, saying goodbye to a treasured friend is difficult. If it weren’t, the relationship wouldn’t be worth it.

How long each stage lasts

On average, smaller dogs mature faster and live longer than larger breeds. Bigger dogs mature later and generally know shorter spans of adulthood and senior citizenship.

That said, every dog develops and ages at their own rate. The following is a rough breakdown of the stages of canine life:

• Puppyhood ends between 6 and 18 months of age.
• Adolescence starts between 6 and 18 months of age.
• Adulthood starts between 12 months and 3 years of age.
• The senior years begin between 6 and 10 years of age.

Every dog is unique

While there are standard dog ages and stages, every pup is as individual as people. There are no hard-and-fast rules for what they’ll do and when they’ll do it.

If you treat your dog with the love and respect they deserve, what you can count on in return is devotion, adoration, and a mistake or two along the way. Remember, both of you are learning to communicate across the human-canine divide.

The post Get to Know Your Dog’s Ages and Stages Throughout Their Life appeared first on DogTime.

Dogs and humans are very different, but they do have this in common: adolescence is often a rocky period. Like human teens, adolescent dogs explore their world and test their own abilities in ways you won’t always like. Get ready for your pup to start acting on thoughts, like: “What’s on the other side of the fence?” “Can I boss these other dogs around?” “Can I catch that skunk?” “Who’s that cute Collie?”

All this adolescent adventuring can be wearing on pet parents; in fact, most dogs abandoned at shelters are between eight and 18 months old, at the height of adolescence.

The good news is, adolescence goes by much more quickly in canines than in people. And if you keep up with the guidelines that got you through puppyhood, as well as some new ones just for adolescents, you can keep enjoying your dog and lay the foundation for a happy life together.

What Defines a Dog’s Adolescent Stage

Adolescent dogs aren’t so very different from teenage humans, at least in attitude. They’re hyper, inattentive, exasperating, driven by hormones — if they’re not neutered or spayed, anyway — but somehow lovable in spite of it all.

At least, most of the time.

During adolescence, your dog will:

• Become more interested in the big, wild world than they are in you. A dog who once happily bounded up to you when you called may suddenly become deaf to the “come” command.
• Have lots of energy and need a good amount of exercise.
• Become sexually mature. Males may hop fences and take off in search of the ladies, and they may mark in the house to claim their territory. Females will mark to advertise their availability to the guys. Both may become aggressive with other dogs of the same sex. This is one of many reasons you should spay or neuter your dog.
• Forget commands and have a very short attention span. You may find your pup looking at you like you’re speaking Martian when you give them a command that they knew backward and forward last week.
• Possibly become shy or frightened of things they took in stride just a few weeks before. Don’t force your dog to confront something that frightens them, but don’t coddle — and thereby reward — their fears, either.
• Reach their adult height but be a bit awkward and gangly.
• Lose their cottony puppy coat.

Behavior Tips and Things to Keep In Mind

Keep your adolescent dog in a gated-off, puppy-proofed part of the house when someone can’t keep an eye on them because adolescents are often chewing machines. Just make sure they also get plenty of time to hang out and bond with the family.

A tired dog is a well-behaved dog. Your adolescent probably has energy to burn, so give them plenty of exercise. Just avoid letting them run and jump on hard surfaces, such as concrete. Your dog’s bones and joints are still developing, and the impact can hurt them.

Keep training sessions short and fun. Use treats and toys, and be prepared to go back a few steps to practice things they’ve learned before. Your adolescent pup has a very short attention span.

Be calm but consistent about house rules. Your dog is learning from you all the time, whether you want them to or not. Give a command only when you mean it, and kindly, gently insist that they obey.

Enroll in another obedience class. The guidance of a good trainer will help you get through adolescence, and so will the support of other people who are in the same boat with their “teenage” dogs.

As in humans, adolescence is a tumultuous time in a dog’s life. But if you understand the phase and know how to handle it, you’ll continue to enjoy your pup and will come out the other side with a great adult dog.

Are you dealing with an adolescent dog at home? Got any tips for keeping them happy and well-behaved? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Adolescent Dogs: What to Expect and Tips to Manage Behavior appeared first on DogTime.

In our “Gold Souls, Gray Faces” series, we focus on the needs of senior pets and what you can do to ensure that their golden years stay golden, and you can continue to enjoy their company for as long as possible. We can do a lot to help our senior dogs in winter months when the weather gets cold.

If we’re being honest, winter is hard for everyone. Biting winds contribute to dry and cracking skin, while the cold bears little-to-no relief on joints. Snow drifts and slippery roads make getting around difficult, while winter weather can exacerbate medical conditions.

Many of these hurdles are no different for our beloved animals.

You’ve probably heard the adage “if they’re cold, you’re cold” in reference to not leaving our pets outside. It’s important for us to realize that even though our beloved companions were domesticated from animals that had the wherewithal to survive these elements, our pets often do not possess the same abilities as their wild cousins anymore.

Furthermore, like us, as our pets get older, navigating these challenges becomes more difficult. Therefore it’s imperative that, as good pet parents, we meet and accommodate our senior dogs’ needs to ensure their comfort and longevity.

Here are a few ways to keep your senior safe and comfortable through the cold winter months.

How do you keep your senior dog safe and happy in winter? Do you have any tips for other pet parents? Let us know in the comments below!

Related Articles:

• Gold Souls, Gray Faces: 7 Tips For Walking Senior Dogs
• Gold Souls, Gray Faces: 6 Outdoor Activities for Senior Dogs

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Along with the distinguished graying around the muzzle and the slower plods up and down the steps, a certain serenity accompanies senior dogs. They can be gentle, knowing, and wise, content to lie at your feet while you read a book or to take leisurely walks with you through quiet neighborhoods.

If you’re thinking about adoption, the advantages to bringing home an older dog are many. They are usually housetrained, may already know a few basic commands, and their temperaments are well established.

If the dog you’ve had since puppyhood is now approaching their golden years, it’s important to keep doing the things you’ve always done together. Exercise is still essential to a healthy, happy pet.

You may not be tossing the ball as far as you used to, or hiking to the top of the mountain, but keeping them physically fit will help promote good overall health and maintain weight, key for reducing the effects of arthritis.

And don’t discount the importance of grooming, which helps protect skin and fur as well as providing the opportunity to check their body for tumors — common in older dogs.

Here are a few things you should know about senior dog care.

What Defines The Senior Stage For Dogs?

Like people, dogs become set in their ways as they get older. Their ability to deal with change decreases, and they find great security in their known routines.

That said, it’s also very likely that your dog will settle comfortably into this slower-paced stage of life, in many ways becoming simply a mellower version of their adult self.

During senior years, your dog will:

Possibly sleep more. This is a normal part of the aging process.

Possibly eat less. It may be that your dog is becoming more finicky, but there’s also a chance that their senses of smell and taste have declined to the point that eating isn’t all that fun anymore. Check with your veterinarian to make sure their loss of appetite is not indicative of a more serious health issue.

Be more susceptible to weight gain. Keep your dog fit and healthy with regular exercise. Your vet can help you determine the appropriate daily amount and the pros and cons of a low-calorie senior diet.

Possibly develop dental problems, which can cause serious health issues and make it difficult for your dog to eat. Try to brush their teeth at least three times a week, and get a professional cleaning from your vet if needed.

Be more susceptible to dehydration, which can be harmful and even fatal. Your older dog should be drinking about the same amount of water they always did. If not, make sure their water bowl is in an easy-to-access location, not a trek up or down stairs that are difficult for the elderly or arthritic. Dehydration can lead to — or be a sign of — other health problems, so talk to your vet if you’re concerned.

Become more sensitive to changes in the weather. Take extra care to see that your senior doesn’t overheat in warm weather or get too cold in the winter. As their coat thins and circulation weakens, they can become uncomfortably cold much more easily.

Lose some or all of their hearing or sight. As in humans, senses dull as the canine body ages. Cross-train your dog. That is, teach both verbal and visual cues for basic commands, so you can still communicate should one sense diminish.

Possibly need help getting in and out of the car or up and down stairs. Stiff, achy joints make senior dogs less nimble. Ramps or just a hand from you can help.

Things To Keep In Mind With Senior Dogs

Like humans, the list of potential health problems increases as dogs get older. Regular exercise — both mental and physical — can help stave off many issues, at least for a little while.

In the meantime, offer your dog the same amount of attention and love that they’re used to receiving, if not more. Knowing they’re an important member of the pack is crucial to their sense of well-being.

Also remember:

It’s not uncommon for separation anxiety to set in, even in dogs who were independent and easygoing in their youth. As hearing and sight wane, your dog relies on you more for information about their surroundings and may panic in your absence.

Proper nutrition is key. Your senior dog will need fewer calories, less fat, and more fiber as they age. Many older dogs can continue eating the food they always have — just a little less to compensate for not being as active. Talk to your vet about formulating a healthy diet for your senior.

It’s a fact of life: your older dog is simply more susceptible to health issues such as arthritis, hypothyroidism, liver and kidney dysfunction, dental problems, and cataracts. Older dogs should see the vet twice a year, or as soon as they exhibit any unusual behavior or sign of pain.

Some common red flags: a change in weight, appetite, or water intake; incontinence or increased urination; bad breath and difficulty chewing; lumps that change size or shape; and slow, stiff movement.

Aging affects the brain, too. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) is akin to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Dogs with CDS may forget their name or obedience skills. They may also have accidents in the house or not recognize family members, among other symptoms. Talk to your veterinarian if your dog exhibits any of these signs.

Older dogs have less bladder control. Don’t punish your dog for accidents; they can’t help it. That said, sinking hormone levels can cause incontinence, so also book an appointment with the vet, as medication may help.

While the senior stage can and usually does last years, you may have to make difficult decisions about when it’s time to say goodbye. Prepare yourself and your dog by giving them the best you can during their lifetime and by not prolonging suffering or pain.

Bottom Line

In general, senior dogs are calm, gentle, and easy to be around. Thus, they make great additions to the family.

Your main concerns will probably be medical issues, and a visit to the vet is also strongly advised if you notice any change in behavior or if your dog appears uncomfortable or in pain.

Do you have a senior dog at home? How are they different from younger dogs? Let us know in the comments below!

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Have you been thinking about adopting a dog? There are many things to consider when it comes to adoption, one of which is your potential new family member’s age.

When we start to think about bringing a dog into our family and home, we often consider adopting a puppy. But there are many reasons to go against the grain and adopt a senior dog. In fact, it can be a fulfilling and life-changing experience for those who do.

First, you should know what makes an old dog a “senior.” Usually it depends more on the breed and size of a dog. A smaller dog will usually have a longer life span than larger ones.

In fact, a large breed like the Great Dane may be considered a senior by the age of five years. Typically, seven years is about the age one would consider a dog a senior in most cases, but there’s a lot of variation.

When families go to shelters or kennels to adopt a new family member, they typically go straight to see the puppies. This sadly leaves senior dogs overlooked, and they can possibly live out their remaining years at the shelter.

Some might think senior dogs are in shelters because they misbehaved or are hard to handle. But this stereotype is simply not true.

There are many reasons and circumstances senior dogs are left to shelters — from the unfortunate passing of their previous human, to situations like financial hardship or pet parents moving somewhere their pets might not be allowed to follow. It usually comes down to the difficulty or inconvenience of a pet parent to take care of their dog.

Even then, senior dogs still have much love to offer any family looking to adopt.

Why Should You Adopt A Senior Dog?

As cute and playful as puppies are, they need a lot of attention and care. You’d be dealing with teething and potty training among other things with a puppy as they destructively discover the world around them.

Most senior dogs have been around long enough that they will already be housebroken and do not need as much training as a young pup would.

Older dogs will already have established personalities of their own. They are less high-spirited than their younger counterparts, and thus they would be able to easily adapt to your lifestyle and home.

You also know exactly what you’re getting when you adopt a senior dog. When it comes to adopting puppies, you never quite know what they’ll grow into. With older dogs who are already fully matured, you know exactly what they’re going to be like for the rest of the time you have with them.

Older dogs are also generally more independent and won’t need your full undivided attention at all times. When puppies aren’t getting the attention they want, they usually start looking for things they can gnaw on to pass the time — that often means your shoes or toilet paper.

But senior dogs are mostly able to amuse themselves by either taking a nap or playing with their toys.

Things To Consider When Adopting A Senior Dog

Still, there are a couple things you might need to consider when adopting a senior dog.

The first thing to keep in mind is their health. The older any of us become, the more we need to pay attention to our health. This also applies to senior dogs.

This can lead to numerous visits to the vet. Make sure you’re financially stable and able to handle these events. Even if you bring home an older dog with a clean bill of health, they can still fall ill depending how old they are.

Another thing to consider is behavioral issues. They may have picked up bad habits in their past lives, like chewing on things they’re not supposed to or garbage surfing. It’s hard to un-learn a bad habit, but it’s not impossible. Seeing a pet behaviorist or local trainer might help.

So Is It Worth It?

The short answer is yes, it’s worth adopting an older pup. Adopting a senior dog can be life-changing and fulfilling. Old dogs are beautiful and gratifying pets like no others.

Sadly, there’s a high euthanasia rate for senior pups, as they are mostly overlooked when a family wants to adopt at a shelter. Considering adopting a senior dog can be a great decision, and you also might literally be saving a life.

You will definitely feel a lot of love and devotion if you adopt a senior dog. They’re reliable pooches who just need loving homes. And yes, their time on earth might not be as long as you want it to be, but life is short for us all. These older pups will definitely remind us to make the best of our time here.

What do you think about adopting a senior dog? Are you considering bringing home a sweet senior? Let us know in the comments below!

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Think back to when you first wanted a dog. Do you remember the reason you got your pup? One research poll suggests that the reason for getting a pet may be influenced by your gender attributes.

According to a national poll that surveyed over 600 single men and women, many of the women noted that they preferred dogs as companions over men. They claimed dogs were better companions at home than men, with the added benefit of them being more affectionate, easy-going, and reliable.

Other contributors to this preference include receiving a sense of security and enjoyment during their downtime. But did men feel the same way when it came to bringing home a loving pooch?

A Safe Place For Men To Offer Affection

Interestingly, the motivation behind men owning dogs is different. Instead of dogs being the perfect home companions, men rely on pooches to provide a softer touch.

In other words, men could freely show affection to their dogs without judgment. Compared to the stereotype of women or mothers caring for kids, the same stereotype does not appear to apply to a man’s relationship with his dog.

“Men are just as likely as women to pet and stroke their dogs, hold them in their laps, kiss them, and so on,” said Alan Beck, psychologist at Purdue University, in an interview. “Caring for your dog is always okay.”

Considering how some people tend to swoon when they see men caring for their furry friends, this hypothesis is not without its empirical bias. Granted, this does suggest a culture that is still touched with the ambivalence of stereotypes when expressing emotions.

But caring for dogs is a good start, and it seems that men benefit from having a pet equally as much as women do.

Why Dogs May Prefer Adults And Women

If men and women have their own tendencies and motivations when it comes to adopting and caring for dogs, the same also goes for dogs. It seems that dogs may prefer to interact with adults, particularly women. Still, a lot of this has to do with your dog’s socialization and exposure more than any inherent discrimination.

According to VetStreet, dogs are generally cared for by women in the household. Going by this in a behavioral manner, dogs may be more used to interacting with and being friendly with females in the family. Other factors may also be at play, such as men having a more intimidating appearance and tone of voice.

This may also be a reason why some dogs don’t take well to children who are very active. The less familiar they are with other people, the more likely your dog may feel threatened by overactive children.

Thus, it might help to expose your pup to some socialization classes when they’re still young. This way, they could get used to not only you, but also other people regardless of gender, as well as children and other dogs.

What motivated you to adopt your pooch? Does it match the research, or are you one of the exceptions? Let us know what you think below!

Related articles:

Here’s Why You Should Use Your Dog’s Name For Better Training

5 Ways To Show Your Dog Love That They Can Understand

The post Study Shows Dogs Fill Men & Women’s Lives Differently appeared first on DogTime.

People experience everyday situations that shape their lives. Big life events and small habits all influence people’s personalities. Apparently, the same thing happens to dogs.

If you think your dog has always been lazy, outgoing, or friendly since you first got them, those personality traits could change as they age.

Findings from Michigan State University’s researchers showed that dogs can experience change even with their seemingly mundane, everyday routines through interactions and reactions to situations.

More importantly, research suggests that owners and their dogs tend to have similar personality traits.

“When humans go through big changes in life, their personality traits can change,” said William Chopnik in a statement. “We found that this also happens with dogs–and to a surprisingly large degree.”

Pinpointing Three Aspects That Change Dogs’ Personalities

Considered one of the largest studies ever to examine personality changes in dogs, the research tapped owners of over 1,600 pooches. Researchers rounded up dogs from 50 different breeds. Some of them were only a few weeks old, while others were up to 15 years old for a full age range.

Findings indicate that dogs’ personalities are especially affected by three aspects. These are age, changes in human owners’ personalities, and the quality of dogs’ relationships with their humans.

This study helps explain some changes in personality traits that dogs go through, like trainability for older dogs versus younger dogs who just reach obedience training age. The body and brain change as dogs age, so it makes sense that certain personality traits would, as well. The study found that the optimum trainable age for most dogs is around six years old.

Dogs also tend to reflect their owners’ personalities. So an outgoing owner, for example, tends to be more social, and their dog follows that lead. If an owner becomes less outgoing or social for some reason, their dog might show similar personality changes.

Also, the quality of human-dog relationships has a strong effect on canine personalities. An abusive or neglectful relationship between owner and dog, for instance, can lead to higher aggression, biting, and even chronic illness.

However, some personality traits tend to stay the same. Fear and anxiety tendencies, for example, rarely change according to the research. This backs up other informal studies that have examined generalized fear in dogs.

Dogs Might Already Have A Personality Depending On Breed

Dogs’ personalities are complicated. For starters, each breed already has specific tendencies and characteristics. A study from the University of Arizona found that some aspects of dogs’ personalities are in their DNA.

“Our findings suggest that there are certainly genetic influences on dog behavior, and dog owners are never working with a ‘blank slate.’” said research co-author Evan MacLean to Inverse.

This goes to show that your dog is already very special at the get-go.

That said, life events and routine habits also shape your dog’s personality. Everything you do with them makes an impact.

Just because your dog is a certain breed doesn’t guarantee they will turn out a certain way. Nature and nurture both have influence, so make sure you’re giving your dog plenty of nurture.

Do you agree with these findings? Have you noticed your dog’s personality has changed in any way? Let us know in the comments below!

Related Articles:

Study Shows Dog Genes Link To Behavior And Personality

Dogs’ Sleeping Positions And Habits Tell You A Lot About Their Personality And Health

The post New Research Says These 3 Things Might Change Your Dog’s Personality appeared first on DogTime.

Dog years tend to go by faster than human years. That’s because dogs live shorter lives than we do, even though we wish they could be with us forever. You may have heard that one dog year is equal to seven human years–meaning that a one-year-old dog has lived the equivalent of seven years. This is not really how dog years work.

Converting dog years to human years is more complex. Dogs age differently based on their sizes, breeds, and stages of development. Here is what you should know about converting your dog’s age into human years.

Why Convert Dog Years To Human Years?

You may be wondering why we even bother converting dog years to human years when we already know how old a dog is. While it’s true that you probably know your dog’s real age, converting that number from dog years into human years can help you find out what stage your dog is at in life in a way that makes more sense to you, and you can adjust how you care for your dog accordingly.

For example, adolescent dogs might learn new commands or respond to socialization training differently than adult dogs. Senior dogs need different food than what puppies eat. You need to watch out for certain ailments and medical conditions in geriatric dogs that juveniles don’t have.

Assigning dog years to your dog’s actual age gives you an understandable representation of how old your dog really is. You can use that to make better decisions about what kind of care they will need.

How To Convert Your Dog’s Age From Dog Years To Human Years

There is much disagreement about exactly how to convert a dog’s age from dog years to human years. Any chart or conversion that you use will mostly be a rough estimate. It will likely take into account your dog’s weight and overall life expectancy.

It’s generally agreed, however, that dogs age much faster in the first two years of life than any other time. When your dog is one year old, they will be about the equivalent of age 14 to 15 in human years. By the time they reach the actual age of two years old, they will be about equivalent to 23 to 24 years old in human years.

From then on, they will gain about four human years for every actual year they age until they reach five years old. Once they reach the age of five, heavier dogs will begin to age faster than lightweight dogs. Generally, smaller dogs tend to live longer and age slower than large dogs, though there are plenty of exceptions to the rule.

So the age breakdown looks like this:

• Real age 1 year–Human age 14-15 years
• Real age 2 years–Human age 23 to 24 years
• Real age 3 years–Human age 27 to 28 years
• Real age 4 years–Human age 31 to 32 years

For every dog over the age of five, you can use the chart below to find a fairly good approximation of the dog’s equivalent age in human years.

How old is your dog when you convert dog years to human years? Do you think this estimate is accurate? Let us know in the comments below!

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