A series of unfortunate myths regarding pets have become pervasive in our modern society. While these myths have been shaped by countless experiences and hearsay, they’ve been largely fed by negative narratives with little attention being paid to the positive aspects of senior pets.
While it is true that some breeds of cats and dogs tend to slow down with age, the vast majority of animals stay vibrant and fun-loving well into their later years. Here are five myths that deserve a thorough debunking.
You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
This is perhaps one of the silliest myths that has worked its way into the hall of English-language expressions. While the expression can extend to many situations, when applied in its literal sense, the expression is false. There are many highly intelligent breeds that can learn new tricks well into their later years. But simple conditioning and reinforcement doesn’t necessarily require significant intelligence. Patience and persistence are what’s really necessary in training any pet, regardless of age.
Senior Pets Don't Want to Play
While age can sap the energy of any living thing, right down to the microscopic level, many senior pets are more than willing to play despite their age. Pets feed off of the emotions and energy that owners give, and if the owner is particularly attentive and encourages play, senior pets will undoubtedly respond. That said, every pet has their own personality and some pets prefer solitude, especially if they weren’t socialized to people early in their lives.
Senior Pets Don’t Acclimate Well to Change
Most pets, regardless of age, are creatures of circumstance. While older pets that have experienced change in their early years are better adapted to handling change, most animals can handle the strain and stress if introduced properly. A change in environment, for example, is a radical stressor that could freak out even the most dynamic pets. Positive reinforcement is crucial when it comes to a change in environment, and gradual changes in other aspects of life are far more tolerable for pets of every variety.
Senior Pets are Difficult to Bond With
Senior pets need love just as much as younger pets, and their capacity to bond doesn’t diminish with age. Bonding with older animals may take some patience and will certainly require mutual respect and trust, but meaningful relationships can certainly result after a few moments of intimacy.
Senior Pets Don’t Have Much Time Left
Besides the fact that it’s impossible to determine the future, pets of all breeds have different life spans and life expectancies. Not to mention, pets defy even these expectations every day. Senior pets can live for plenty of years and share countless experiences with their owners, and this silly myth shouldn’t keep pets from finding loving homes.