The Best Dogs for Seniors Share this page:

The Best Dogs for Seniors

(a follow-up to our 11/30/2020 Blog, Seniors and Pets)

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Choosing a good dog for a senior citizen begins by assessing the senior’s needs and wants.  Everyone is different and the pet that one person may want and find comforting may be totally different from the pet another person may find enriches their life.  Some seniors may want to have a large dog that can help provide extra security for the home, while others prefer a smaller dog that can sit beside them on a sofa or in their laps.  No matter which size dog you prefer, as long as it fits your lifestyle and ability to take care of it, it should prove to be a good match as long as you do your homework ahead of time.

Smaller Dogs:

• Beagles – Sociable, friendly, low-maintenance, love to play and cuddle, and have a big personality.
• Boston Terrier – Social, relatively quiet, low-maintenance grooming required, and sensitive to owner’s needs.
• Chihuahua – adorable, good watch dogs, can be trained to use a littler box, easy to groom, and make great travel companions.
• Corgi – Friendly, sociable, smart, and love to be patted.
• Poodles – Intelligent, friendly, trainable, do not shed, low doggie odors, and do not eat much.
• King Charles Spaniel – Happy lap dog, intelligent, loves to travel, very quiet, and care needs are relatively minimal.
• Maltese – Brave, sociable, good at reading emotions, strong sense of smell, gentle, easy to train, and does not shed.

Small Dogs That Do Not Bark Much:

• Bichon Frise – cute, cheerful, gentle, curious, playful, and affectionate.
• Bolognese – very bright, a skilled reader of body language, quick to learn, responsive to body language, and loves attention.
• Bulldog – Very friendly, sensitive, good memory, responds to persistent training, and seldom barks.
• Havanese – Very bright and playful, people-oriented and love snuggling, but do require daily brushing and lots of attention.
• Lhasa Apso – Can be playful, but carries himself/herself with dignity, mannerly, obedient, keen watchdog, and does not need much exercise.
• Shih Tzu – Less yappy than other toy breeds, generally friendly and peaceful, loves to cuddle, does not need much outdoor exercise, and sheds less than many other breeds.

Larger Dogs:

Golden Retriever – Kind, cheerful, trustworthy, friendly with everyone, eager to please, but does shed and needs at least a couple of walks daily.

Greyhound – Calm, non-aggressive, quiet, move lightly and gracefully inside the home, seldom bark, and love snuggling on a couch or blanket.  These dogs do need exercise though; preferably in a large, fenced in area where they can run and sprint to their heart’s content.  Many Greyhounds have been rescued from their lives spent in kennels when they are past their racing prime and are looking for good homes.

Labrador Retriever – Kind, friendly, good-natured, good around children and other pets, responsive to training, but does require daily exercise and grooming.

If you are considering getting a pet, please consider going to your local animal rescue or shelter to adopt one.  Many of the animals there are seniors whose owners have either died or can no longer care for them.  Imagine how sad these animals must feel and consider giving them a good home to live out the rest of their lives in.

Or perhaps you are not a dog person at all.  In that case a cat may be more to your liking.

Merry Christmas from Seniors Helping Seniors Treasure Coast and a very Happy New Year.