11 Best Dog Breeds For Seniors

Are you a senior citizen looking for an ideal dog breed for yourself that could give you company whenever you need it?

Or, are you a retiree and looking for the best 4-legged companion to throw away your loneliness?

Or, do you need an active buddy that can help you be social and active, and kill your laziness?

Or, you are looking for a dog breed for your grandparents to gift them on their anniversary?

In either case, you have just landed in the right place because this article contains some best dog breeds for seniors.

Why Older People Need a Dog?

• Responsibility – As the elders may have nothing much to do, it may be difficult for them to spend their time. Having a dog makes them responsible and lets them follow a routine to take care of them, even if they don’t want to do it.
• Stress – Dogs help to decrease your stress. Waking up to a tail-wagging companion and going on a daily walk can do more for you than medicine.
• Companionship – Either you need a travel companion or one who follows you everywhere you go, your dog will never say you NO.
• Exercise – Once you are into old age, it is very difficult to maintain a necessary exercise routine. But your dog won’t let you skip exercise and makes you accompany him.
• Networking – Every dog needs a routine vet visit, weekly or monthly grooming, washing, etc; therefore, you’ll have to take him to all the necessary places that help you stay connected with the people.
• Protection – A barking dog is more effective than some of the advanced security tools because if you even have a small-sized dog, no one knows which monster is waiting for them on the other side of the wall.
• New friends and interests – Being a dog owner, you’ll need to be engaged in lots of new activities. Not only this, there are several dog-oriented events that you’ll find great. Moreover, you’ll meet many new people and make friends with them based on your interests and activities.

Related: Health benefits for dogs for elderly persons

How to Choose the Right Dog Breed for Seniors?

When choosing a dog for old people, you should consider the following things. If you are looking for a dog as an elder, you should ask the following questions yourself.

What do you need in a dog?

Getting a dog means you are agreeing to embrace this four-legged companion and will be able to care for him because dogs come with lots of responsibilities and you MUST have to look after them.

Synchronization between the senior and the dog:

Always choose the dog after closely looking at the senior’s physical strength. If a senior citizen is weak and can’t walk enough, consider getting a less active dog breed for him/her.

If the senior citizen is in good physical condition and can handle an active dog, you can choose a dog that needs daily exercise and other activities.

Picking the right dog breed:

Check for the energy level of the different dog breeds from different authentic sites such as The Dogs Journal, AKC, or PetFinder. Also, you need to check a dog’s living requirements whether they can live in the senior’s apartment or not.

Dog’s Age:

Choosing a younger dog or a puppy will not be suitable because of its too much energy, as well as, choosing a very old dog is also not recommended because of their possible health conditions. So, the best idea is to choose middle-aged dogs that are already trained.

These were some important guidelines that will help you for sure in choosing the right dog. Now, let’s find some best dog breeds for seniors below.

Best dog breeds for Seniors:

Poodle

The Poodle comes in three sizes, Standard, Miniature, and Toy, so you can select any one of them at your convenience. They are hypoallergenic and easy to train. In terms of intelligence, they are the second-best dog breed in the world after Border Collie. For a more adorable dog, you may also go for a Poodle cross such as a Bernedoodle or a Groodle. For weaker seniors, Miniature and Toy Poodle make the best lap dogs.

Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are pure love. They are among the low-shedding dog breeds that make them the best choice for dander and hair allergic seniors. If you can manage to go out on a walk daily, Shih Tzu is for you. Moreover, they won’t disturb you as they are among the quietest dogs. A Shih Tzu/Poodle cross named Shih Poo is also among some of the most popular dogs nowadays.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Corgi is one of the most popular dogs that suits almost all types of owners. They do not need much grooming and are smart enough to be trained with ease. Their small size and short legs make them adorable and ideal dogs.

They need daily exercise so not a good choice for seniors who can’t manage to exercise them or at least give them a daily walk. Other than that, Corgis are an ideal choice for senior citizens. Check Best Corgi Nicknames.

Chihuahua

Looking for the best lap dog for your granny? Get her a Chihuahua. Chihuahua is a loving, adorable, loyal, and highly-alert dog. The best practice is to get a trained Chihuahua Puppy from an expert breeder because it may give you a tough time during the training sessions.

Chihuahuas also make the best therapy dogs and service dogs for people with disabilities.

Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is an all-rounder dog that could become an ideal choice for senior citizens. This adorable lapdog is a toy breed and has a low-shedding coat so people with allergies could consider getting a Yorkie.

Because of their overprotectiveness and independent attitude, they make the best guard dogs. One thing to remember here is that they are a bit difficult to house-train like other toy dog breeds.

Pug

Pug is a small-sized dog packed with lots of sense of humor. Pugs were purely bred as a lapdog and they are the best at that. Their face looks like a human fist and their innocent face can make anyone smile.

They are extreme lovers and want to be loved by their humans. If you want a loyal companion for yourself that will follow you wherever you go, get a pug. Find the best Pug Names.

Pomeranian

This small-sized dog is one of the interesting dog breeds out there. Also popular as Dwarf Spitz, they belong to the Spitz family of dogs. Despite their ultra-small size, they think that they are giants, that is why you may witness a Pomeranian harassing a large-sized dog.

They are furry, cute, loyal, and bold. Pomeranian is not recommended for weaker senior citizens.

Schipperke

Schipperke is considered one of the best companion dog breeds. It is fearless and highly protective. Nicknamed Little Black Devil, Schipperke has a black coat and pricked ears.

It will give you company in all the activities and makes an ideal companion for its family. If you are looking for a protective companion dog, Schipperke could be the best choice for you.

Maltese

This gentle but fearless dog is one of the best lapdogs and because of its extreme love for the owner, it prefers to be with them all the time. It is an ideal dog breed for those seniors and elderly who want to kill most of their while taking care of their doggy because the Maltese coat needs special attention regularly.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

This toy dog breed is one of the most patient small-sized dog breeds. Cavaliers are calm, intelligent, and friendly, and they can easily synchronize their activity levels with their humans.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the ideal dog breed for almost all types of seniors and elderly people because of his ability to adapt to different environments. One thing to note here is that they need regular brushing, but overall, they are great.

Because of their intelligence and friendly behavior, they are also crossed with a Poodle resulting in one of the most adorable hybrid dog breeds; Cavapoo.

Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer is one of the best indoor dogs that remain calm if given a fair amount of exercise. They are easily trainable and are highly alert. Their temperament is greater than Mount Everest. They are always ready to have fun and guess what, if they are with you, they are having fun already. Miniature Schnauzers are among the top 20 dog breeds in the US and most of the European countries.

Final Words:

So these were the 11 best dog breeds for seniors and elderly citizens. It is also recommended to talk to your doctor before getting any dog breed whether your health and physical condition allows you to get a dog or not.

Read: Bernedoodle Traits