Puppies are a bundle of joy (and mayhem) and they are fun to be with. Not to mention, they are so darn cute that it is often hard to resist their charm. But, are they good for adoption? Not exactly. Adult dogs are the ideal choices.

Why You Should Choose An Adult Dog
You’ll have a much calmer, more behaved dog – Ten to one, would-be dog owners prefer puppies for adoption based solely on their looks. What they do not know is that it is often very hard to keep up with puppies. They may look as cute as toys, but they are not. You just can’t send them off to their puppy houses when you don’t feel like playing with them or turn them off just like you would a toy.

Adult dogs, on the other hand, are much easier to keep. They have outgrown the high energy craziness of puppies and they already know what are demanded of them. When adopting from a shelter or any rescue organizations, it is always advisable to go for the adult dogs, not the pups. Because adult dogs’ behavior are already ‘fixed’ to make them suitable for domestic environments.

Adult dogs are trained – Most adult dogs in shelters are trained. They are housebroken and potty trained. Although there is always the possibility of bad behavior due to the history of ownership the dogs have. Some dogs were abused and maltreated before they were fostered by rescue groups. Be sure to ask about the dog’s history before adopting it.

Lesser medical expenses – Adult dogs in shelters, on top of having received some training, have also received necessary medical attention. More often than not, they are already neutered or spayed, saving you a lot of money on surgical operations. They are also vaccinated. You can save further when you choose a dog that comes with a clean bill of health.

How To Integrate An Adult Dog Into A New Environment

Appropriate an adjustment period – A healthy adult dog will have no problem adjusting to a new environment. Although, of course, you should expect an adjustment period before your new dog becomes very comfortable with his new surroundings and family.

He has had rough beginnings, which you should understand, will affect your future relationships. You should then be very careful of the first impressions you give him.

Be very patient – Even well-trained dogs can commit accidents and mistakes in new environments. It is very possible for them to forget their training while in the shelter because there is simply not enough personnel to attend to their needs. You should prepare yourself for remedial housetraining.

Clarify your house rules – Your new dog cannot guess which behavior is appropriate at your house and which are not. It will take some time before he fully understands that some behaviors that he used to have are no longer applicable and that new behaviors are needed to be formed.

Include your family in the training of your newly adopted dog – It is very important to have common rules for handling the dog. Otherwise, your dog will be confused and problems could arise.

Check out some great recipes:

Dog Biscuits #4

Dog Biscuits #4 2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup powdered milk 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 egg 6 tablespoons vegetable oil 8 tablespoons water — (8 to 10) 2 jars Babyfood, Meat, Beef, Strained — *see Note Mix all ingredients... [Read more]

Apple Cinnamon Drops

1 large apple 1/4 cup honey 1/2 cup of water 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup oatmeal 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1/8 cup whole wheat flour Directions: Preheat oven to 350 ° F (180 ° C). Core, slice and mince the apple (use a food processor... [Read more]

Cheesy Carrot Muffins

Cheesy Carrot Muffins 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 cup cheddar cheese — Shredded 1 cup carrot — grated 2 large eggs 1 cup milk Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a muffin tin or line it with... [Read more]

Boo’s Biscuits

Boo’s Biscuits 3 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 2 cup Quaker oats 1 cup milk 1/2 cup hot water 2 beef or chicken bouillon cubes 1/2 cup meat drippings Dissolve bouillon cubes in hot water. Add milk and drippings and beat. In a separate bowl, mix flour... [Read more]

Canine Cookies #1

Canine Cookies #1 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup powdered milk — non-fat 1/3 cup bacon grease — *see Note 1 egg — lightly beaten 1 cup cold water In a bowl, combine flour and milk powder. Drizzle with melted... [Read more]

Champion Cheese & Veggies Chews

Champion Cheese & Veggies Chews 1/2 cup grated cheese — room temp. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 teaspoons applesauce 1/2 cup vegetables — what ever you like 1 clove garlic — crushed 1 cup whole wheat flour nonfat milk Mix cheese,... [Read more]

Cheesey Dog Cookies

Cheesey Dog Cookies 2 cups All-Purpose flour — un-sifted 1 1/4 cups cheddar cheese — shredded 2 cloves Garlic — finely chopped 1/2 cup Vegetable oil 4 tablespoons Water — (4 to 5) Combine everything except water. Whisk in food... [Read more]

Cheese N Garlic Bites

Cheese N Garlic Bites 1 cup wheat flour 1 cup cheddar cheese — grated 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon butter — softened 1/2 cup milk Mix flour and cheese together. Add garlic powder and softened butter. Slowly add milk till you form... [Read more]

Chicken Garlic Birthday Cake

Chicken Garlic Birthday Cake 1 chicken bouillon cube 1 cup Whole-wheat flour 2 cups Wheat germ 1/2 cup Cornmeal 2 Eggs 1/2 cup Vegetable oil 1 tablespoon Minced garlic 2 cups water vegetable oil spray — Garlic Flavor Preheat oven to 375 degrees.... [Read more]

Multi-Grain Dog Biscuit Treats

Ingredients: 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups whole-wheat flour 1 cup rye flour 1 cup cornmeal 2 cups cracked wheat (bulgur) 1/2 cup non-fat dry milk powder 4 tsp salt 2 cups chicken stock 1/4 oz active dry yeast (one package) 1 egg 1 Tbsp milk Directions: Preheat... [Read more]