Buying new puppy vs. adult dog?

Question

if you buy an adult dog, will it still bond to you the way a puppy would if it had been raised with you?
also, any pros/cons of either choice?

Answer 1

I would suggest buying an adult dog for the simple reason that with puppies you have to worry about your furniture being ripped or chewed and destroyed and cleaning up those nasty little messes that puppies often leave. Now to be fair I will say this is also a possibility with an adult dog because you may get one that was not house trained but this most likely not as common as with puppies.......with puppies you know this is something that you will have to deal with and after seeing what my sister went thru with her min. pin that she's had since she was a pup, I think the vet bill is going higher with pups than it will with an adult dog.

Answer 2

A rescue adult dog would bond with you as quickly as a pup.
If you get an adult rescue that you know a little bit about you can get a good dog thats trained a little, a pup may be more hazzle but it will train easier than if the adult dog wasn't trained. Either way both will be a lot of hard work but a pleasure to own. Try volunteering at a rescue centre as a dog walker so you can get to know a few of the dogs before you choose the right one. It will benefit other dogs, youll get pleasure and the rescue centre will grateful of the extra help.

Answer 3

An older dog has the same amount of potential to bond with you in the same way a puppy does, it will just take more time.

Puppies...
Pro's- cute, energetic (if thats what you want) will bond to you quicker, easier to train.
Con's- WILL get into everything you don't want them to, you must train them or they WILL become a nusance dog, usually come compleatly "unbackyard" trained so you will need to cleen up a whole lot of puppy poop in your house (You MUST train them not to do so or they WILL do it when they are adults)
Adult dogs and older
Pro's- Chance is R you will be saving this dogs life, chance is R that this dog will be somewhat trained. Less active so it will not get into so much trouble.
Con's- Harder to teach new tricks (but it will happen with time), not as cute, will take longer to bond with you.

Answer 4

The pros of getting an adult dog is you are likely to be rescuing it from a bad home or the pound and it will be grateful. I have many friends who have adopted dogs from the ASPCA and they have bonded very well. Older dogs are probably a lot cheaper too, in general.

Puppies are cute and the bonding will likely happen quicker, but there is all the training...including potty training. The Mythbusters proved you really can teach an old dog new tricks, so I would go with the older dog, but that's just me.

Answer 5

There are pros and cons to both.
Both need housetraining, neither knows where the loo is at your house, the difference is an adult will learn fast and be able to hold on longer.
Some adults are disgusted with their handlers and learn to 'switch off', or blank you, so can be hard to train. Others are so glad to get out of kennels they'll be your mate for life!
Many behaviour problems can be undone by training, and its often no more work than training a new pup.
Its best to pick a reputable rescue like Dogs Trust that does a behavioural assessment on the dog and tries to match you with something suitable. They also offer training and support.

Answer 6

Both my dogs are rescued animals one was a year old the other 18 months old the first dog was full of spirit very playful but if you told her off or raised your arm to open a cardboard she would run for her life, she would never leave me in the house even though i take out in the garden she would come inside and then pee.but with time and care and a lot of advice and help she became a well trained dog. the other dog didn't care if shes told off as this attention for her she is a failed sheep dog and was just shouted at when being trained and didn't have toys as a puppy so she no about playing with balls etc. the farmer showed be she would lay down on command I would have joined her if he told me to lay down as this was done in a very aggressive tone, ( I couldn't leave her at that farm and I had been told that if she wasn't re homed soon she would disappear one night) now she is happier dog when you praise her and knows that being shout at isn't love. I would take a rescued dog because there needs are greater and the rewards from giving them a good life is fantastic. But at times it was very hard work.
you can see both of my dogs at http://members.lycos.co.uk/stuartbriscoe/
good luck with your new dog.

Answer 7

Yes a grown dog will bond with you it will just take alittle longer because you will both be getting to know one another. When you get a puppy you have alot of control over what its personality will be like. I strongly recommend the adult preferably from your local shelter. I swear that they know you saved it and are grateful. You can get a dog from the shelter that could aready be housetrained which is a plus considering a puppy would need to be taught this. Please consider a dog from the shelter there are so many wonderful dogs out there that had the misfortune of having bad owners. My next dog will be from the shelter because it breaks my heart.

Answer 8

Even better. I will take an adult dog over a puppy anyday. I do rescue so I see both all the time.

If you want a pup I would get one between 6-8 months where the personality is already established and you know what you are getting. Puppies don't always know its worse out there and don't give a snot about you as they grow up. and older dog knows its better when they come to you and that feeling of happiness lingers with them.

Answer 9

puppies are a PAIN IN THE BUTT. I prefer adult dogs. They will bond to you no problem. Some puppies are demons. 8 month old male puppies are the most likley dogs to be dropped off at pounds because their owners can't handle them. I like 7 year old dogs or older because they already know the rules and you don't have to mess with them as much.

Answer 10

Hello sweety!!!
I prefer an adult dog even the puppies are cute!
Take one from the road!
With the right treatment and good food it will love u!
Much more treatment needs a puppy!
Please thing about it!!!
Kisses from Greece!