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Old dog or puppy? Anonymous
You're at the shelter to adopt a dog.

Do you go for the old dog or the puppy?
>> Anonymous
No older than 3.
>> Anonymous
Depends on how old. It sucks to say, but nobody really wants to adopt a dog just to pay vet-bills for age-related issues and serve as a hospice for a few years. Watching your pet grow weak and die is the least fun part of ownership.
>> Anonymous
old dog, never a puppy.
>> Anonymous
My preferred age to get a new pet is right between puppy and adult. My current dog I got when he was full grown, but still young. I don't know why, but I don't really like puppies.

And like the above said, you don't wanna adopt an old dog so that just as soon as he starts getting used to you and loving you, he gets frail and dies.
>> Anonymous
While the thought of raising a puppy into the kind of dog I want is attractive, I wouldn't turn down an obedient, intelligent old dog.
>> KZN
It depends on the individuals that I see there; whichever one "clicks" with me more--age is irrelevant.

However, honestly in general, not a puppy (because they'll get adopted in two seconds anyways) but not a really old dog unless he/she felt like a really special dog. As was already said, although it may not sound nice, you don't want to adopt a dog that's going to die just when you start forming a bond with him/her.
>> Anonymous
>>230766
i most definatly would. i especially look for the dogs that i know would work well with me first but secondly i look at the ones no one else would want. if i can make the last few years of an animal's life easy and comfortable- especially a dog or horse- i'm all for it.
>> Anonymous
>>230806
Agreed.
I think the best old dog for this scenerio is the one that landed at the shelter because the little old lady he was with passed on with no other family to take him.
So there he is in the shelter, not only sad and confused to be there but missing his companion of 8 or 10 years.
That's the dog I want.
>> Anonymous
>>230813
yes, plus, older dogs are my favorite. 90% of the time they're already trained and ready to go
>> Anonymous
Call me crazy, but old dogs are sweet, and adopting one somehow wouldn't be as sad as watching one you knew when it was young and healthy grow old.
>> Anonymous
I've gotten all of my dogs from the shelter. I adopt not necessarily the oldest dog there, but never the puppy.