For anyone who has reservations about adopting or promoting the adoption of an older dog (5 years plus), I offer the following:

In November of this year, we had the sad duty of sending our 14-16 year old beagle, Daisy to the Rainbow Bridge. For the three years she was with us, she provided a constant source of amazement, amusement, loyalty, unconditional love, and companionship. She blew away every possible objection I ever had to owning (or, rather, being owned by) an older dog. She taught us both so much. She was always wagging her tail and looking for us wherever we were in the house. She was the happiest, cutest, most stubborn, and most entertaining thing on four legs. The memories we have of her will be with us forever. If I had this experience to do over again, I wouldn't change one thing. We recently rescued another older female beagle, because Daisy wouldn't have had it any other way. The best way to honor her memory is to continue to rescue dogs in similar situations. For anyone who is considering adopting an older dog, I say, go for it! You will never regret your decision.

I know, I know. You think you have to get a young dog in order for the dog to bond with you. Not so! Daisy came to us with a past shrouded in mystery. She put all that behind her at about the same time she walked into our house. She basically 'unpacked her bags' and made herself at home on the couch, and became part of the pack. She bonded with her canine brothers as if she'd known them forever. As far as she was concerned, we were her humans, and she immediately trusted that we would love her and take care of her.

Oh, and you think that older dogs are harder to train, right? After all, there must be some truth to the cliche that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Wrong again. If you adopt a puppy, and you want your puppy to have good habits and proper house manners, you must teach your puppy. Every minute of every day. A puppy is not born housebroken any more than a baby is born potty-trained. A puppy must learn to walk on a leash, must be taught not to jump on people, must be taught the proper things to chew...and on and on it goes. An older dog is past the chewing stage, will learn quickly to walk on a leash, and will respond well to gentle, patient correction.

Many older dogs have had some training, both in obedience and house manners. (Some dogs, due to the confusion and upset of being uprooted may temporarily forget their housetraining. With a refresher course in their new home, they remember.) Some who have been rescued from less than ideal circumstances (abuse or neglect) are so happy to be in a safe, loving environment, and are so eager to please that teaching house manners and basic training takes little time, and is learned quickly.

Many older dogs have learned what "no" means and how to leave the furniture, carpets, shoes, and other chewables alone. (If they hadn't learned that, they wouldn't have gotten to be older dogs.) They also get along well with humans, other dogs, and even in some cases, cats as well.

You think you'll be inheriting someone else's problems, or that rescue or shelter dogs are somehow inferior to dogs from a breeder. Again, not so! Older dogs (even purebreds!) lose their homes for lots of reasons, most of them having nothing to do with the dog, but rather with the issues of the person surrendering the dog. Older dogs whose owners bought them on impulse and no longer want the responsibility of caring for them because their cuteness or novelty have worn off end up in rescue every day. As do older dogs whose owners have died or gone to nursing homes, or who are no longer physically capable of caring for the dog. And there are the dogs whose families no longer have time for them, or that have moved to a place that doesn't allow pets, or there are issues with allergies, or the kids have gone off to school, or the dog is a casualty of divorce or a new baby...These dogs are placed in rescue through no fault of their own.

Older dogs appreciate love and attention, because they've had it before, and quickly learn what's expected of them to gain and keep that love and attention. Those that were rescued from abuse or neglect are so appreciative of getting attention that they also quickly learn what's expected to keep that attention. They are also instant companions, ready for hiking, riding in the car, walking on leash, fetching, etc. Finally, older dogs' personalities are fully developed. They are easy to assess for behavior and temperament, and you also don't have to guess at how big they'll grow. And you won't be able to beat the sense of satisfaction you'll have in knowing that you saved the life of a great older dog.

And I've heard this, objection, too. You are afraid that just as you get attached to your older dog, it will get sick and die. It is a calculated risk to own an older dog, but the truth is, even a puppy could get sick and die. Every attachment we form has the risk of loss associated with it. And the way I see it, you have the opportunity to give that older dog the best years of its life by providing a secure, loving home, while at the same time bringing a wonderful addition into your family. And really, is there ever enough time to be with a pet you love and who adores you? Ultimately, the most important thing to realize is that the joy of sharing in your pet's life far outweighs the grief of letting go.