by Ardeth DeVries. More:

"Older dogs have figured out what humans are all about and are willing and eager to add new information to their knowledge of human behavior. Old dogs can absolutely learn new tricks!

There’s absolutely nothing like the smile you get from older dogs—especially dogs that haven’t felt like smiling in awhile, but now have reasons to smile because you love them.

Older dogs are looking for human companions who will value their wisdom and their slow pace. They have their very own special appeal.

When you adopt older dogs, you can erase any unpleasant past experiences that they’ve had by loving them and caring for them. It doesn’t get any better than that!"

On a personal note, last April our local animal shelter helped us find an older dog to provide a companion to our 15-yr-old dog, who, like us, was grieving over the death of his older "brother" . We adopted our Sadie, a 9-yr-old who had been discarded in favor of a puppy. She is a JOY!

There are only three things worth a solitary dime: Old dogs and children and watermelon wine.

The words above are quoted from a song by Tom T. Hall

We just adopted two older dogs who had been dropped off together. What a wonderful addition to our home.

That's one of my favorite songs, Socratoad. Video here.

@ ColoradoRight: I appreciate your compassion for two old friends. You did the right thing.

If I ever decide to take a pet, I will be adopting an older dog from a shelter.

I am down to 2 dogs, 10 cats & 1 snake. All are over 10 except 1 cat (7) and one dog (4). When the "wild one" (4 yr old dog) gets older and calmer, my plan is to either adopt older dogs or to foster them. My biggest concern is what happens if I die before them?

Olddoghaven.org has this link that addresses your concern, kk.

Older dogs generally like to watch the same programs on TV that you do, so you won’t have to learn to enjoy cartoons

Brilliant. Brilliant.

We lost two old dogs this year. One in his eighteenth year, another in his fourteenth. The pain of losing two such beloved friends damn near killed us.However we had to pull ourselves together for the sake of the rest of our wonderful menagerie of friends: Sadie the dog, Dudley the pot-bellied pig, seven much loved cats, one guinea pig (Ginny) four degus, several frogs and toads, four turtles, two finches, two cocatiels, one love bird, two, parakeets, inumerable chickens.

Most of the above have names and all have their own stories. as many have been resqued.