In honor of the ASPCA's Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, it's high time to address some of the hardest pups to place out there . . . the older dog in a shelter. Stuck with stigmas of "reject," "difficult," or worse, they often get overlooked for the fresh starts of playful puppies. Well, as someone who's raised a few pets from lil ones, it's not all fun and fluff.

Before you head straight for the babes, check out five solid reasons to start with the big guys:

  • Break-ins — Potty training is no joke, especially for newbies. When you get a dog at an older age, especially one who has spent time in a foster home, much of the most difficult part is already done. Starting with an already housebroken, or almost housebroken, pet is easier than starting from scratch.
  • Miracle grown — It would be quite the shock to adopt what you expect to be a small pooch and end up with someone more akin to a St. Bernard. If you get a dog as an adult, you know that your teensy pooch is not gonna become large and in charge in a few months.

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