It takes about a year for a dog's heart to become beautifully wedded to your own, and this is true whether you start with a puppy or a mature adult. The only real difference is that the first year with the pup will be a trying time filled with messes, mistakes and destroyed property. Sure, puppies are cute, especially for the first six weeks. Many people abandon their pets before the second year, convinced that the youthful misbehavior will never end.
Dogs tend to become homeless just when they are finally getting good.
Puppies seldom fail to find homes. Fully grown, abandoned puppies seldom succeed in finding homes. The irony of this, and the tragedy, is heartbreaking. Yet the grownup dog is the perfect answer for most people in today's busy world. Raising a puppy successfully requires full-time parenting, yet dog owners no longer have that time.