Disagreement over which dog to get?

Question

My live-in girlfriend and I went to the animal shelter today to look at getting a dog. We originally planned on getting a puppy, but I saw a dog that had there that was 4 or 5 years old. It was a lab mix. He was neutered, healthy, loved attention and well behaved. Didn't bark or try to jump up. She doesn't want him because it's an older dog. My thinking is this: there were people looking through there all the time. The puppies have a far better chance of finding a good home. This dog was already neutered and mature. He may have been older but he had plenty of good times left in him and would make a fine house and camping dog. Not many people seemed too interested in him and were more focused on puppies. Am I being unfair in that I want this dog over the puppy?

Answer 1

Your choice is very likely the wisest. However, your gf has those nesting/nurturing instincts raging, and she wants something to 'mother', regardless of the extra work , headache and expense.
You are not likely to convince her, as she has the maternal drives that men do not.
However, IF you can get her to see that, she may just come to her senses....or...she may just tell you where to go! Up to you, friend, whether you are willing to risk it..lol

This is a very common problem in such living arrangements. Women need the promise of marriage and children to mother..whether they admit it or not..Just the way they are created...A puppy is a good counterfeit kid.

Answer 2

I personally would consider that your girlfriend lives with you, and you both need to agree on an animal that shares the same space. This animal will take to one more than the other since it feels who loves it more. I worked in one of these places, nothing is more upsetting to the animal than being returned again by well meaning future dog owners. A dog in a shelter is not always the same nature after a week at home. some are great others take number one position and you are not the owner just the slave. if you do not know it's background, be careful unless you have all the time in the world for a full month, No matter how good it is it will demand for a while. Having an older dog can be great if it has been well treated, expect it to pine for the last owner, if badly treated it could be a handful or just turn out a good pet, with good treatment. Then also what happens if you split with your girlfriend, who takes the dog? or does it end up back in the shelter?

Answer 3

I don't think you're being unfair at all. It is great when people take in older dogs that are in the shelters, they need a lot of love. Talk to your girlfriend about what situation is best for you both, a puppy is a lot of responsibility at first, if you both don't have a lot of time to devote to house breaking and training it, get the older dog. My husband and I took in a 9 year old Pomeranian who had been very neglected and mistreated. Just because she was not a puppy didn't mean she wouldn't end up being a great dog, she's sweet and dogs can be trained at any age so now she is used to me and my husband and the things we've taught her, she is a gentle dog and we didn't have to train her up from a puppy. Puppies are great, but time consuming, so weigh which would be best for you guys and I hope your girlfriend can realize that many dogs need good homes, many go without being placed in a good home and unless the dog is in a no kill shelter, the dog(s) will eventually be put down if not adopted.

Answer 4

I think you are being smart. Remind your girlfriend that puppies need to be house trained, this takes a lot of time
and means cleaning up a lot of messes. True, a puppy is
cuter than an older dog, but adopting an older dog that is
already trained makes up for the cuteness. Besides, puppies
get chosen more often and the older dogs sometimes get left
behind and in some shelters end up being put down. So you
could be saving this dogs life, and you will still have a lot of
time to enjoy this dog. My sister adopted a lab mix that was
about that age and he lived to 13. Buster was a great dog and had a wonderful life because someone looked past the
cute puppies and found the perfect fit.

Answer 5

Your argument is a good one. Puppies are much more likely to be adopted. An older dog's chances, particularly a breed like a lab mix that is so common, are slim at best.

Just make sure that you aren't going to cause difficulties between you and your girlfriend if you choose one dog over the other. If it's going to be a situation where one person doesn't want the dog in question, it's better not to adopt at all. A shelter dog has been dumped once already-- he doesn't need to feel unwanted by a member of his new household! When you do adopt, both people should be in agreement that this is a good decision and work together to provide a good home.

Answer 6

Personally, I'd much rather have the adult dog. Sounds like a great dog and for some reason, people do seem to go for the puppies more than adult dogs. I got one of my dogs when he was 9 years old. He's 13 years old now and still in great health. 4 or 5 sounds young to me. You could have many years together and not have to go through the often destructive puppy phase when everything in the house gets destroyed or at least has teeth marks.

On the other hand, if your girlfriend has her heart set on a puppy, could you get both? Maybe your dog would be a good older buddy to help the puppy learn how to behave.

Answer 7

No, I don't think you are. I think you're being generous! Are you planning on keeping him inside or will he have room to run around outside?

Labs love attention and they are FULL of energy! All dogs get bored easily if they aren't given enough attention. A bored dog CHEWS - furniture, shoes, clothes, themselves - you name it! If inside, is there room for a large crate so he won't tear up your belongings while you're away from home? Or, if outside, do you have a fenced area (and don't think a 4' wall will hold him!) LOL Neutered or not, he'll be curious about his surroundings! Do you have time to take him for walks?

Labs are great dogs! My brother has had his for the past 10 years and she's always been good around children and small dogs. (She's a lab mix too.) We live out in the country, and someone just threw her out - She was nothing but skin and bones. Couldn't tell that now though! LOL

Remind your girlfriend that puppies DO grow up! Good luck! :)

Answer 8

I'm with you. We adopted a dog from a shelter who had been there a while. The people at the shelter were thrilled, so I think he time might've been up soon. He was only six months and weighed 45 lbs, but was considered "old" by puppy standards. He was given up by a man whose wife thought he was too big to be in the house. He grew to be about 65 lbs. of pure love. He was crate trained, housebroken, knew how to sit, stay, shake, just to name a few things. My mom wanted a bigger dog after my dad died. She thought it would make her feel safer than just having our two dachshunds.

We always laughed at how it was like the story of The Three Bears when we went to chose him. We looked at three dogs. The first one was so wild, it jumped up and scratched us. The second one was totally disinterested. The third one was just right, sitting like a gentleman, giving his paw and licking our hands. We brought him home and he got along well with the doxies, too. He was an absolutely exceptional dog. You're not being unfair. I hope your girlfriend will give him a chance! :)

Answer 9

I am on your side. Things will be so much better with a grown dog, than a pup. First, it is trained and it is grown. Puppies go thru the chewing stage, wetting the floor, tearing up anything they can find to have fun, while a grown dog has passed this stage in its life. Most dogs, if taken care of properly, will live a long life. I had a Chow that lived to be 15 years old. So, if this dog is only 4 or 5 years old, he has alot of living to do and will be more willing to please you, than you having to worry about pleasing him, like you would have to do with a pup. Go for the grown dog. You won't regret it, if it is part lab, you will have a great companion and friend.

Answer 10

Hi Matt, Yes you are being reasonable about the older dog. People always want puppies and over look the older dogs because of their ages. The older ones that have been there for awhile will be put down. You would be saving a very good and well behaved dog. The dog would bond faster to both of you and will love you forever for saving his life. Dogs are a lot smarter that people realize. They know what is going on. If it was me i would talk to your G.F. and tell her you would be saving the older dogs life and he would love both of you for than.
A Friend..
Clowmy

Answer 11

A Black Lab? And older? Your choice is far indeed better than hers.. Older pets make better pets.. They learned long time ago what the masters asked... Besides.. They are done with the beating up the shoes.. Puppies may be full of fun to watch as their young.. If you value your stuff.. Puppies will eat something you did not want eaten.. Stay with the old Dog..