Elderly dogs and children

I’ve always been a dog lover, ever since I was a small child. Now that I’m an adult, with a child of my own, I wanted him to experience the happiness a dog can bring. I initially started with looking for a puppy but then my attention was drawn to older pets. After all, do you really want another energetic element in your home?

This led me to thinking that an elderly dog may be a wise choice...

Lola & Bailey, my brother's cute mini dogs!

Luckily I stumbled across an article by Argos Pet Insurance covering this very subject. The blog looks at 10 reasons to adopt an older dog and the argument presented was certainly a strong one.

For a start, you know what you’re letting yourself in for as the dog is fully grown. With puppies, it is impossible to know how big they’ll get or what sort of temperament or character they’ll develop. With an older dog, all of this is already decided so you can make an informed decision.

Another perk is the fact their calmer nature often makes them more responsive to commands and instruction. The adage about being unable to teach an old dog new tricks is false and you can help your pet learn new tricks whatever their age.

Other benefits included the fact older dogs can settle into homes quicker and are a lot cleaner than young puppies. I think my toddlers make more than enough mess for me to deal with so the idea of a clean pet was certainly something I was interested in!

With all these benefits stacking up, it seemed my decision had been made for me but there was one thing I needed to consider carefully – the dog’s health. Contrary to popular belief, many older dogs are in a great state of health and even if they do need the occasional treatment at the vets, insurance companies offer older dog insurance to help cover the costs. Argos is just one of many insurance providers which offers cover for dogs no matter what their age.

Of course, no matter whether you choose an older dog or a puppy, you have to keep your eye on them at all times to make sure both your child and pet is safe. Even the most patient of us would grow tired of a 2-year-old clambering over us morning, noon and night!

I'm still yet to decide on whether to actually add a dog to the family and I’d love to hear everyone’s opinion, so please let me know!