Pet-Friendly Senior Living in Colorado Springs

​Dogs make great companions for people young and old. It’s proven that owning and caring for a dog creates an overall positive mental and physical health impact. Being a pet owner can lower stress and depression and has even been shown to improve blood pressure.
 
Benefits of adopting an older dog
Most senior dogs are already well-trained and house broken, so there’s no need to worry about missing out on sleep in order to train a new puppy. Overall, the care for an older dog is far less demanding than a new puppy.

​The age old saying of “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” isn’t exactly true, so if you love to teach your dog fun tricks, you don't need to shy away from getting an older dog. Older dogs are actually very receptive to new training. 

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​Many dogs’ energy levels calm significantly with age depending on the breed, whether you are more or less active in daily life, an older dog can better match your personal activity levels, relaxing when you want to relax and being active when you want to be active.
 
The biggest plus of adopting a senior dog is that they bond with you almost instantly. Older dogs have also already developed their personality, so you can understand and get to know each other more quickly than if you decided to adopt a puppy.
 
There are more than three hundred breeds of dogs worldwide, so narrowing down the right choice for you can be overwhelming. If there are certain pet restrictions where you live, that may need to be taken into account as well. Additionally, it’s important to consider how well the breed you’re interested in gets along with other dogs or people. This is especially true if you have visitors often or enjoy getting out and about with your furry friend. 

​Some larger dog breeds that are perfect fits for seniors include Poodles and Greyhounds. While both need exercise and can be runners when they have the space, both breeds also enjoy lazing about whenever they can and are fast learners. 

​Poodles are a breed available in smaller sizes all the way down to teacup, if you are looking for a smaller dog. Other small dog breeds that are great for seniors include Corgis, Yorkies, White Terriers, and Shih Tzus. Remember to consider grooming needs as well for any breed you consider.
 
If owning a dog isn’t an option for you, consider looking into how you can receive visits from therapy dogs, many organizations offer visits at little to no cost.

​Therapy dogs are proven to provide just as much stress relief and overall betterment from owning a dog. Though visiting therapy dogs can only help for a short amount of time, frequent visits, when possible, can create lasting impressions for seniors. 

​Melody Living’s assisted living and independent living communities are proud to be pet-friendly in an effort to promote emotional wellness, physical wellness, environmental wellness, and social wellness for our residents.

​Melody Living also offers recurring visits of furry friends through partner pet therapy programs.
 
Give us a call to learn more about our pet-friendly senior living options. Schedule a tour today. To learn more about our independent living community, you can contact us at 719.900.1540. To learn more about our assisted living community, you can contact us at 719.960.4005.