by Kitty, current foster of Shiloh

As a lover of dogs of all ages and having fostered dogs for Paws 4 You Rescue for over a year, I have come to the conclusion that adopting an older dog carries many benefits.

Not only is an adult dog often already housebroken, it also has learned valuable life lessons. An older dog knows how to read people and if you are lucky has been socialized so that you can take it with you to all kinds of places. Unlike a puppy, which still has to learn everything from potty training to climbing stairs to interacting with other animals and people, an older dog is already at the point you want a puppy to get to.

Sure, the dog is older and may have some issues because of how it was treated by previous owners but with a little patience, it can be retrained and rehabilitated easily. An older dog may not be as cute as a puppy but even a puppy will grow up within a few months. And with a puppy you can never be sure how big it is going to grow.

What you need to ask yourself when thinking about adopting a dog is this:  do you want to spend the next two years training a puppy and dealing with puppy-related issues such as the chewing stage OR do you want to find a dog that is going to adapt to your lifestyle easily and is ready to enjoy life with you?  If all you want is a dog that is happy to sit next to you, play a little with you, and just be with you, an older dog may be the better option for you.  If you are not able to take lots of long walks per day or go jogging with your young dog or play ball with your energetic puppy, an older dog may be the answer. Of course, an older dog needs to be exercised, too, but you can clearly see its energy level when you first meet it because it is already grown-up. Simply choose an adult dog with the right energy level for you. Never adopt a dog that has a higher energy level than yourself because you may face problems with this dog such as naughty behavior or aggression later if its energy is not drained properly day by day through exercise.

To conclude, I strongly advise people to rethink their intention of adopting a puppy and instead take a moment to reflect on their life style and needs; it may be to their benefit to adopt a dog 5 years or older instead of a puppy.

1. Brush your dog before bathing, as this prevents the dead hair from clogging the drain.

   Cindy is Available for Adoption

2. Place a cotton ball in each of your dog's ears.  Wet him thoroughly.
3. Apply a little shampoo on top of your dogs head, along his body and sides. Avoid getting shampoo in your dog's eyes and ears.
4. Using a bath brush or mitt, gently rub the shampoo into the top and sides of your dog's head. Massage the shampoo into his neck, chest, stomach, legs, back, rear and tail.
5. Beginning at the head, rinse off the shampoo completely.
6. Towel off your dog while he's still in the tub. If your dog has facial wrinkles, wipe these out thoroughly with a dry washcloth.
7. Take him out of the tub and towel dry completely or use a pet hair dryer (human dryers get too hot). 
8. Remove the cotton balls from your dog's ears.
9. Brush your dog and detangle any mats. 

Alessandra was thrilled with her birthday party!  Thank you so much for helping me make her 6th birthday extra special.  Her birthday request was a surprise party with animals, especially puppies and you were able to make that happen for her.

The pure joy on all the kids' faces as they held and played with the puppies was priceless.  However, I am not sure who enjoyed it more, me or the kids!

If ever you need someone to come and love and play with the puppies, you know the who to call!  

Thanks again, 

NICOLE, TIM, ALESSANDRA & JULIANNA