Adopting an Older Pet

Adopting an Older Coton de Tulèar:

There are times when a breeder must make the difficult decision to part with one of her dogs that she has cared for, shown, bred, trained and bonded with. This is done for several reasons. Perhaps the dog is being retired because he has outlived his usefulness in a breeding program. Perhaps he is being replaced by one or more of his or her progeny. There is a reasonable number of animals that a person or persons can care for and still provide time for one on one interaction daily, grooming, training, etc. I could not keep every dog I have grown to love and still maintain a viable breeding program. A breeding program must necessarily be in a state of flux, the goal being to expand and improve. I have even had to place a loved one due to personality conflicts with another one of my dogs. Therefore, when the time comes to part with one of the dogs I have come to love, I will do my best to provide this dog with the best home possible, one that will be loving and permanent. This means that a champion or show quality dog is often sold as a pet rather than placing it with another breeder who will measure its usefulness and then place it in yet another home. It is one of the challenging tasks that faces most serious breeders. I require the honesty of any potential buyer and will likewise do my best to share all pertinent information about the dog being considered, the goal being the happiness of the dog and also the new family.

Dogs that have lived with a breeder will have developed some sort of pack consciousness. Chances are the housebreaking question still looms. The males are inspired to mark due to other males and a sense of territoriality, and females going in and out of season. Females can be just as territorial. Housetraining puppies also figures in and no matter what these products say about how they dispel the smells of urine, etc., there is still often a trace and a source of future contention. The dog will probably be spayed or neutered, and that creates the possibility of curtailed urges to mark in the house, but it is not a certainty, and housebreaking training is often still required. However, it is often easier to transition an older dog than to break in a puppy.

Pack mentality infers that the dogs maintain a sense of their importance in a group. The family is part of the pack. Hopefully, the dog realizes that even an alpha personality is secondary to the human members of the pack and this is something that should be established and reinforced from the very beginning (see training). From the beginning, the new dog should be required to perform a simple command in order to receive affection or a treat. Even requiring the dog to go through a doorway after the family member is an example of this sort of reinforcement. The dog should not sleep in bed at first, and should stay off the furniture. This is a recognition of the physical level reinforcing the level in the hierarchy. In a situation where another dog is already in residence, much depends upon whether that dog is territorial or might welcome a companion. The first meeting should be in neutral territory, like a park. If the dog fears being replaced, it is important to defer to this dog, placing its food bowl down first, etc. in order to reassure it. Question the breeder as to the personality and temperament of the new dog so that conflict is minimized.

Dogs going from a situation where a pack exists to one where it is a sole canine member or at least a member of a smaller group, offers the dog an opportunity to bond even stronger with people. No longer having the distraction of a number of other dogs allows the focus to be on humans and a bond can exist here that is stronger than the one between the breeder and the dog in the previous setting. This does not mean that the dog was less happy with the breeder; dogs enjoy the company of other dogs. It is simply a different relationship. Dogs that have lived with a breeder have usually been exposed to a variety of strangers and different settings allowed by travel. They have been trained for show, but not necessarily for obedience. Cotons are an adaptable breed and often they are easily rehomed and grateful for the additional attention. If you want referrals as to people who have taken an adult into their home, let me know.

my "Evie" age 12

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