McConnell's newest book is "Love Has No Age Limit," and is all about the joys of adopting an older dog.I know several people who happily adopted older dogs. One was my neighbor who adopted a 7-year-old mixed breed, her first dog. Chance led a happy, healthy life for 11 more years! Another adopted two Swedish Valhunds at 9 years of age. The two walk miles each day and still compete in agility trials.
My two Havanese are now 7 and 11 years old. I never really actively trained them very much beyond "sit", and was curious about "teaching old dogs new tricks." So I decided to try out some sit-stay-come stuff and was amazed how quickly they caught on and how well they retain it. Even Riley, the 11-year-old. I'm thinking of enrolling them in a class--just for fun.
McConnell is also the author of a number of other books, including "The Other End of the Leash," which I own, read and love.
Last night, I took my dogs out for their final pee before bedtime. While they were busy barking at three deer across the street, I happened to look over at my neighbor's yard where a motion-sensor light was triggered. There, scrounging around under the bird feeder, was a coyote. I've seen a few coyotes in the past and always have the same reaction: Whoa. Is that a dog? No. Acts funny. A fox? No. Too tall. A coyote? Yes. My guess is that he was after the small animals that might have been poking around the feeder.