anyone NOT have their dog as a puppy?

[carrieann]

For those of you that brought home your lab at an older age (either as an older puppy or young adult), how was that introduction into the family? I have only had Lily in the past, and I had her as a puppy. We had a tight bond, and she was definitely "my" dog, so I'm just curious what to expect when bringing home an older dog? We are leaning this way after hearing breeders warn against adopting a puppy with kids under 6yrs old. I know people who have rescued older dogs have bonded, so I'm sure this is no different. But were there differences in what you did with them to welcome or help with bonding that wouldn't have had to do with a puppy?

I'm overthinking this, aren't I?

[POPTOP]

Over thinking, no. Planning ahead, yes.

We have not had a puppy in the house in many years, only older dogs. Introducing the new dog to the one already at home turned out to be really easy. We have an empty lot next door and introductions were done there. Walking them together is a great idea too. In fact, when we got Melody and Archie, we actually too Potion and Mardi with us to meet the new member. The rides home were amazingly easy and quiet.

As far as meeting other human family members, again outside, taking a walk, talking to them, lots of interaction.

Inside, close monitoring but letting them explore and sniff. Meal times very closely monitored. Mardi and Archie eat at opposite ends of the kitchen and I stand in between. That's because Mardi always finishes first and tries to hone in on Archie. I DO NOT ALLOW that. Treating has to be carefully approached since they most likely will be standing/sitting next to each other.

Also, the pup at home always gets fed/treated first, in or out the door first. They were the first set of brown eyes in the house and I enforce the "chain of command". That can change later but to begin with, it averts competition and they know I am the one who sets the rules.

If the new dog is not housebroken, start with potty training 101. They have the ability to "hold it" unlike a puppy, they just need to be shown where it is appropriate to go. You need to discover their signal. I do believe having another dog already tuned into potty manners helps the new dog; doggy see, doggy do.

Toys and play times need to be monitored so they can sort out what is appropriate and there is no competition.

Think you might be surprised how easy it can be especially if the new family member is going to be a lab.

[arentspowell]

I didn't adopt an older dog but I did foster. In my experience with fostering, they bond fast and they bond hard. I had one senior girl for a little bit who was very very bonded to me, didn't really require anything extra or special on my part she just immediately took to me. It was very bittersweet seeing her go to her new home.

[Labradorks]

I've had dozens of fosters and aided the adoption of even more dogs. No one has ever complained that they just didn't bond with the adult dog. Fostering is different than having a puppy in some ways, but in other ways, it's similar. Sure, you don't have a "clean slate" but puppies all have quirks and personality traits as well, many that cannot be trained out of them. People often feel like their adult rescues have a special appreciation, and I don't know if that is true, but I bet it helps the bonding process from the human side to feel that way!

[Tanya]

it's a common question.

I adopted Rocky when he was 18 months old (ish). He is bonded to me, my boy. I cannot imagine him being more bonded or happy wtih me had I gotten him earlier. he was seized from a byb, went into foster care, was adotped and returned then came to me so he bounced around some. That doesn't appear to have affected him at all, he's easy going. Some behvaiours may have been easier to train rather than retrain had I started from puppyhool but who knows. no behavioural issues at all. He has a SOLID temperment.

I adopted Penny when she was estimated to be 7 months old. She was a "stray" found with her brother in a rural area. She was wtih another foster for a week or so but I had been SMITTEN with her from our first meeting so we arranged to have her moved to me to "foster" (ha yeah right). Again she is bonded (I have had her a bit under 2 years now) and loves me no doubt. Again i cannot imagine her being more bonded Or more "my dog" had I gotten her earlier. No tempermetn issues per say, thoug she is a herding breed so some quirks have come out as she matured. I can't say if this was caused by lack of socialisation. She is overall a solid dog.

I fostered over 30 dogs over the years. From various situations. They almost all bonded to me during their time with me but had zero problems bonding with their families once adotped. Various breeds (though many labs).

There are many things you can do to bond, training, brain games, having fun with the dog and laying down clear expectations. One can bond with a dog of any age unless they are pretty messed up. And in fact, some of the more messed up ones can bond more deeply it just may take longer.

so normal to ask the question, but really, you can and will bond with a dog of any age, just a question of putting in the work (ok and actually liking the dog - though one foster I hated for a week before fallign in love with so even then haha).

To be fair, the last "puppy" i would have brough home would have been when I was like 10 LOL! so i have limited puppy exeperience.

[Tanya]

. People often feel like their adult rescues have a special appreciation, and I don't know if that is true, but I bet it helps the bonding process from the human side to feel that way!

Yeah I don't buy that but to each their own! But agree it helps the human side of the bonding hehe
With rescue I find some people LIKE making up the worse possible history for the dog. oh it flinches when I lift and arm, poor dog must have been beaten. Often lack of socialisation is more the issue and not physical violence. And dogs with sob stories always get much much more attention - but that same dog up again without the story and they get zero intrest or applications Hero complexe. But if it gets adopted, it's all good in the end (as long as fit is there)

[WhoopsaDaisy]

I adopted Daisy at 7 months. She was a "return" to her breeder and has been back at the breeder for a month before I took her home. There was an adjustment period where she didn't eat but she is definitely MY dog now. She is a clinger even though she loves other people she stays by my side. We did a lot of training classes and brain games together and she earned her CGC. I've also done some personal training to try and work out a few kinks and I'm looking forward to taking some more recall and off leash kind of classes on the future. Classes were fun and a great way for us to bond. She is the sweetest girl and I can't imagine my life without her.

[SunDance]

My first Lab, Brutus, was 3 when we adopted him. We were his third home (no fault of his own that he was rehomed either time...circumstances changed with the owners). He was a big mellow guy who sat on my foot when we first met and stared at me with his head upraised against my leg. We got the "big mellow male" as a friend for our dominant female Akita...he just happened to be a Lab. Bru was affectionate and, once we got about 30 lbs. off him, quite playful with his "sister". He adapted to each of the two puppies we subsequently brought into the house...love at first sight with 9-week-old Hershey. Bru was protective of me and, true to the foot-sitting and eye-gazing, quite bonded. He was great with kids.

Sunnie is the second dog I've gotten other than as a puppy. She was probably between 5 and 7 when we rescued her. She was pregnant. I can't tell whether or not we've bonded in the six years we've had her because she's terribly neurotic...anxiety over silly things like being brushed and hearing the fridge door open...good only with low energy people/dogs (one of the reasons we kept Dan out of her five puppies was that he had the personality that was most similar to hers and we figured he'd annoy her the least). Hates certain types of noise. Will pout and avoid me if I move around too quickly (I tend to move fast...deal with it, Sunnie) doing housework. Hates ladders and people on chairs. So she alternates between nudging me for attention and avoiding me. Is that a bond? Sunnie is excellent with children!

I've always had better bonds with male dogs than with females...with the exception of that Akita girl who was the absolute best in every way.

If I were to adopt another adult dog, I'd go with a male. But that's just based on my own experience. I've known quite a few people who adopted adult females and had good bonds. To my recollection at the moment, none of the ones I'm thinking of had stories to go with their adoption (neither did Sunnie)...and Sunnie is the only one out of the bunch that has Lab in her.

Perhaps you could find one whose background you will know. I knew Brutus' and knew that he had no "issues" (other than heat intolerance). Sunnie was a craps shoot.

[shelly]

We adopted a dog that was 18 months old. It has been a wonderful adventure. A different adventure than raising a puppy. It has really been fun to find out how smart he is, how loving he is, where he is ticklish, how stubborn he can be, that he respects boundaries differently than our other dogs, how strong his prey drive is and basically what makes him happy or what he is frightened of.

[BogeyBaby]

Years ago we decided puppies were too much work.

We adopted Chico at age 11 months. He had had some obedience training but wasn't fully housebroken. He was very puppyish and did a lot of eating the kids homework and such. He became my heart dog. I loved that dog.

We adopted Misty at age 6 or 7. She was an owner turn-in to the shelter and then was taken in by a rescue. We wanted a companion for Chico who had cancer and had had an amputation. We wanted an older, calmer dog that wouldn't knock Chico over. She fit the bill. She adapted easily to our house and the cats accepted her. She's very sweet but there isn't any "bond" between her and me. Maybe there is with my DH and DS, IDK.

We adopted Bogey at age 1.5 after Chico died. At first it was a HUGE MISTAKE. He chased the cats. He ran away at least four times. He wasn't housebroken. It was almost worse than having a puppy because of his size. Anyway, basic obedience started immediately and I learned he was a VERY smart dog. He learned quickly and ended up calming down considerably. Now (about 1 1/2 years later) I don't worry that he'll run off and he ignores the cats (for the most part--there is one cat that eggs him on and I have to remind him that he'll lose if he chases him). We definitely have a bond.