Top 15 Best Dog Breeds For Seniors – What are They?

Dogs have been man’s companions for centuries, and this is because of how intelligent, smart, and useful these animals are. There are hundreds of millions of domestic dogs scattered across the world, helping simple individuals to live a more exciting life.

As people get old, they tend to be left alone, especially when there are only a few family members around. In a situation like this, dogs can serve as instrumental companions to get rid of loneliness and boredom.

Hence, this post explores some of the best dog breeds for seniors. As a retiree looking for the best breed of dog to interact with, you are likely to find the ideal pet once you go through this list of the 15 best dog breeds for seniors below;

1. French Bulldog

If you are searching for a small dog, the French Bulldog is a small pooch that weighs between 16-28 pounds. This dog is often bred to be a companion for seniors. It is usually friendly, smart, and quick to learn simple tricks.

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When it comes to feeding, however, you must be careful not to let the dog get too overweight. That is, don’t feed it too much. You can contact a vet or a dog trainer to know about the French Bulldog.

2. Shih Tzu

This is one of the best dog breeds for seniors and retirees. It’s a lovely dog that seeks lots of attention and wants to cuddle most of the time. For hundreds of years, this dog has been a favorite pet. It’s perfect for taking a walk, visiting the park, or even going for spa sessions. The Shih Tzu is one dog with a thick silky coat that sweeps the floor. You might need to trim its furs occasionally.

3. Bichon Frise

This is one dog you want to hang out with while you catch up on your morning paper. This is a very excited dog with a goofy personality. You would often get entertained once this pet is around the house. The Bichon Frise is not only good with seniors, even kids can have a good time with this dog. As long as you are fun to be with, this dog would love your company.

4. Miniature Schnauzer

This is one of the best dog breeds for seniors you can find, especially if you aren’t looking for a big dog. The Miniature Schnauzer is a small charming pet that loves to run around the house, using its voice to get your attention. This dog is also known to be smart. You can easily teach it tricks and rules within the house. When it comes to enticing your dog with treats, the Miniature Schnauzer would be your best friend when it regularly gets nice treats from you.

5. Maltipoo

The doodle dog breed is perfect for seniors, especially when they are just having a dog for the first time. If you are looking for a lap dog, the Maltipoo can be a great companion for you. All you need to make this dog happy are attention and care. As a retiree, you already have plenty of time. So spending time with your pet won’t be a problem. Another amazing thing about this dog is that it’s a very vigilant animal. The dog would call your attention whenever it hears something unusual around the house.

6. Pug

This lovely dog breed can be your best friend as a retiree who needs some sort of natural entertainment and companion within the house. A pug usually does funny things to excite its owner, so get prepared to enjoy the show if you look forward to having this dog. Moreover, if you don’t have a large space, that’s not a problem. A pug can still live comfortably in a small space, as long as there are toys and treats.

7. Chinese Crested

If you are looking for a gentle dog that won’t irritate your allergies, the Chinese Crested is a great choice. It might not be one of the cutest dogs, it is still an adorable pet in its own way. Unlike many dog breeds, this particular dog doesn’t require a lot of exercises to be active. As long as it gets your attention when necessary, everything would be just fine. There’s no denying that this is one of the best dog breeds for seniors.

8. Italian Greyhound

If you are looking for small fluffy dogs, this one might not be on your list. Nevertheless, the Italian Greyhound is a great dog that can be quite instrumental to seniors. To start with, this dog is smart, emotional, and loves to cling to its owner. Also, it’s not a bid dog, which makes it perfect for retirees and seniors that are always at home.

9. Cavapoo and Cockapoo

In the United States, the Cavapoo and Cockapoo are two of the most common crossbreeds. Most times, these breeds are what many seniors adopt as a company. They are fluffy, little, and very adorable. They are also friendly. Even if you have strangers around, there won’t be any issues.

10. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

If you live alone and seek to own a small dog with a pleasant demeanor, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is one of the best options you can consider. The only issue you might have with this dog is that it tends to gain much weight, especially when it’s being fed all the time. However, if you aren’t concerned about raising an overweight dog, you can go ahead and have this pet in your home.

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11. Basset Hound

Looking for a dog to take on long walks?  This dog breed is perfect for you. Basset Hounds are typically bred to be hardworking and strong. You could walk miles with this dog and it still won’t get tired. Aside from its strength, the Basset Hound is also a very adorable dog. This is one pet everyone tends to admire when it is outdoors.

12. Greyhound

When it comes to raising a bigger dog, the Greyhound remains one of the best dog breeds for seniors. This gentle giant is suitable for seniors who have fenced backyards, as it tends to

 escape from the compound in search of a mate or to simply hang out with other dogs. Also, the Greyhound has a lot of energy, so it needs to exercise regularly or go for long walks.

13. Golden Retriever

This is one of the best dog breeds for seniors, and this is mainly because of the dog’s enthusiasm to carry out several tasks often. As a retiree who lives alone, you need someone to help perform simple tasks and run errands within the house. The Golden Retriever is just perfect for you. It makes a great walking companion and there are so many activities you can perform with this dog.

14. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

This is a very friendly dog that tends to like almost everyone that comes around, even if they are strangers. Also, this is a perfect lap dog. It would always want to relax on your laps whether you are in the mood for it or not. Thankfully, it’s not a large dog, so you won’t always have to worry about its weight. Another cool thing about this dog breed is the fact that it needs to be engaged in lots of fun activities. So whenever you are lonely, you can spark some excitement with your dog.  

15. Maltese

This is an adorable white lap dog you would always want to have around you. Unlike some other dog breeds, the Maltese are quite easy to train. You can easily teach it some basic tricks and home rules. But if you happen to find it a little bit difficult to groom the dog, speak with a professional. A professional groomer can help you raise and train the dog without much hassle.

FAQs

Best Dog Breeds For Seniors: Final Thoughts

When looking for the best dog breeds for seniors, there are a couple of important factors you must consider. Things like size or weight, life span, and strength are some of the things you should look into when acquiring a dog.

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Most times, as a retiree, it’s advisable to raise dogs with a  longer lifespan. Remember you need a companion that would remain with you for as long as possible.