The aging baby boomer or booming senior owner of a new puppy might already be experiencing personalelderly problems and the decision to welcome a new addition to the family may well have been made due to loneliness or the loss of a life partner. A pet can certainly help to reduce the effects of bereavement, partly because the nurturing process is therapeutic and partly because the company provided stems isolation at times of solitude, such as evenings and early mornings.
Older dog owners often have particular issues, such as an inability to move quickly. If you have a new puppy, make sure you use a harness and lead when you are out walking, rather than a simple collar arrangement which might easily be ‘slipped’, allowing puppy to escape onto a busy road. Be mindful that you are no longer as agile as you used to be and your elderly problems are likely to hinder your ability to catch a young puppy on the run, even if you had the inclination to try!
New puppies can be naughty and boisterous. Make sure yours gets enough exercise to reduce the risk of boredom and keep your own joints supple and free of elderly problems. Puppies that chew the furniture might have been left alone too long or given too much freedom during the teething stage. Also ensure you give your new puppy plenty to chew on and encourage him to exercise his sharp little teeth; that way he might leave your belongings alone!
House training needs to be addressed early and persevered with until puppy has learned to be clean. People with elderly problems cannot be cleaning doggy mess every day: it’s unhygienic, unnecessary and depressing. Take professional advice if your puppy is persistently soiling the rugs and do it soon to avoid naughty habits forming.
There is nothing nicer than having a lovely, cuddly puppy to snuggle into. For someone who is aging, a puppy can be solace for the children who grew up, for the grandchildren who live far away or for the wonderful wife or husband who is no longer around. Remember, however, to allow your puppy to interact with other people to promote his ability to socialize and reduce the risk of his becoming over protective and snappy with strangers.
Try not to spoil a puppy. Feeding at the table and handfed snacks between meals are a no-no if you want your pup to grow up with good habits and polite manners. Introducing snacks to a puppy can result in drooling – those awful slimy shoelaces that hang from the jowls and make everyone feel nauseous! Cute in a little puppy but repulsive in an older dog and puppies tend to grow up quickly! Feed only at mealtimes and always in puppy’s own bowl, never on a plate that is used for humans.
If you are going to allow your dog onto the sofa when he is full grown, that is certainly up to you. But if you are going to object to a fully grown Newfoundland taking up two thirds of the couch, do not allow him to get up there as a puppy! Once dogs have established their allowable territory, it is impossible to convince them to change their habits.
Getting a New Puppy A Guide to Training a Puppy for the Elderly Owner is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of baby boomers psychological coaching tips and how to alleviate elderly problems. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.
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