You must’ve been searching for Top Dog Breeds for Seniors to Own, that’s right? You landed on the right page. Aging is such a beautiful process. To maintain your physical and mental health throughout, owning a dog can be beneficial. It will increase your opportunity to get outside, exercise, and socialize. Not just that, dogs can also prove to be a cure to your loneliness by being a great companion.
Finding the right dog is quite a task. We realize that the best dog breed for seniors will be the low-maintenance dogs with a lower need to exercise. However, they may vary from person to person depending on the lifestyle. We have rounded up a list of top dog breeds that best-fit for seniors. You just have to match your lifestyle and requirements.
Before you commit to being a dog owner, you must consider your lifestyle first. To save yourself and your dog from trouble, make sure that dog is the right fit for your lifestyle.
11 Best Dog Breeds For Seniors
1: Bichon Frise
Characteristics: Curious, playful
Life expectancy: 14-15 years
Bichon Frise is one of the world’s great personality dogs. They have a white hypoallergenic coat, with a plushy and velvety touch. The breed features a rounded head hair with dark, large eyes and black leathers on the nose.
The happy-go-lucky dog weighs about 7 to 12 pounds, therefore, easily manageable for seniors. They are very simple to train and need to be groomed periodically. Usually, the owners take Bichon to professional groomers every month or two.
Bichon requires moderate daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. Their cotton ball cloud curly white hair will instantly make you fall in love with them.
2: Shih Tzu
Characteristics: Playful, outgoing, and affectionate
Life expectancy: 10-18 years
Shih Tzu also called the little lion dog, has big dark eyes with a cute expression on his face. If you need a companion while you watch TV, this breed will stay by your side. These dogs have adorable long hair and they love to cuddle. Plus point, they are super friendly with strangers and other pets and crave attention.
Shih Tzu roughly weighs from 9 to 16 pounds, making them great for lapping. They are playful, but not the most active ones on the list. However, you will have to take them on a walk daily. They also need regular grooming in order to prevent their hair from matting.
Shih Tzus are although a bit stubborn, they can be trained without too much trouble. Moreover, this breed is somewhat prone to skin diseases.
3: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Characteristics: active, intelligent
Life expectancy: 12-15 years
If you are looking for a medium dog that offers a great companionship, this dog is for you. Pembroke Welsh Corgi generally weighs around 24 to 30 pounds, small enough to be handled by seniors.
Corgis are very smart and easy to train. Appearance-wise, with those short little legs, they are also so cute. As they are herding dogs by nature, they require routine exercise. Taking them out on a walk daily will be sufficient. Moreover, they have very minimal grooming needs that can be of great convenience for the seniors.
Corgis are very adaptable and loving, to fit into just about any household. However, they exhibit quite a bit of energy. They require active play sessions. You will be amazed to see how quickly those short legs can move.
4: Poodle
Characteristics: Intelligent, proud
Life expectancy: 10-18 years
Poodle is an active and athletic breed by nature. They are very intelligent and therefore, easy to train. Known for being the smartest dog breed, they make great service dogs. This being the reason, poodles are often used as therapy, guide, and assistance dogs.
The breed comes in four different varieties based on their sizes. Standard poodle, medium poodle, toy poodle, and miniature poodle. You can choose the perfect fit yourself on the basis of your requirements.
Apart from the impressive hairdos, regal attitude, and blue ribbons, you will find poodle as an affectionate family dog. If bored, they can get destructive. You must take care of their physical and mental health.
5: West Highland White Terrier
Characteristics: Friendly, alert, independent
Life expectancy: 12-16 years
Westies are an excellent companion and are super easy to maintain. They weigh around 13 to 20 pounds. Although they are small but not as fragile as the Maltese or Pomeranian breeds.
Westies are very low-maintenance and require grooming not so often. The breed is from Scotland and possesses a distinctive white harsh coat. Beneath the white harsh coat is a soft undercoat. The size of the breed is medium but they have long legs.
6: Pug
Characteristics: outgoing, loving
Life expectancy: 13-15 years
Pug has proven itself to be a great companion and a pleasure to the owners. Talking of their temperament, pugs are very stable and even. They have a great charm and are very outgoing. If put shortly, they are people pleasers.
Pugs are best for seniors as they are super easy and fun to train. However, their feelings are very easily hurt. Therefore, make sure that the training methods are not hard.
Pugs, famous for their large and round heads, have extensive forehead wrinkles. They have a small tail, curled over their hips.
If compared to other toy breeds,
As compared to other toy breeds, pugs are a bit serious with a dry sense of humor. Only if they enjoy your company, they can be very affectionate.
7: Miniature Schnauzer
Characteristics: tough, fearless, friendly
Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Miniature Schnauzers are very easy to maintain. They shed very little or next to nothing and thus, do not require a lot of grooming. Moreover, they are very small and compact in size, making them easier to tote around the town.
Mini Schnauzer is an energetic breed of dog that likes to chase a ball. For a more active senior, this breed is perfect. They are one muscular and tough breed, without being aggressive.
This breed is a complete small package: intelligent, affectionate, humorous, and a personality as big as its body. With them in the house, you will never be alone.
8: Greyhound
Characteristics: friendly, non-aggressive
Life Expectancy: 10-13 years
Greyhounds being racing dogs might not be considered by a senior. However, there is a fact that although with a good reputation for high energy levels, they love sleeping. According to Dogtime, they are designed as sprinters, and not distance runners. They also like to roam around and play in a fenced yard.
Greyhounds will enjoy daily walks and a run, occasionally. Some of them tend to be couch potatoes that enjoy loafing. Usually, this breed is super easy to handle and train. If you are a fan of large dogs but worry about the handling, consider them.
9: Golden retrievers
Characteristics: friendly, reliable, kind
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
A golden retriever is a large breed that is great for families and seniors. They are friendly and sensible enough to understand the emotional needs of their owner. This being the reason, they are frequently used as therapy dogs.
The breed is characterized by an affectionate nature and gentleness. Their striking golden coat makes them super attractive. For seniors with an active lifestyle, this dog is best-suited as they love hiking, exploring, and swimming.
10: Havanese
Characteristics: playful, affectionate, gentle
Life expectancy: 13-15 years
Havanese are relatively small dogs that weigh around 7 to 13 pounds. For seniors who are looking for an affectionate companion, this is the way to go. These gods ask for the attention of their owners and are eager to please them. They do not like to be left alone for hours at a time.
Havanese are easy to maintain and train. Make sure that you are using positive methods to train them. They are good for less active seniors due to their minimal exercise needs. A daily walk or playtime in the backyard will do for them. On top of that, they have a silky, long, and soft coat, making them appear super-cute.
11: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Characteristics: fearless, gentle, playable
Life expectancy: 9-14 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an affectionate and small breed. They are friendly with strangers and other animals alike. Additionally, they can be super friendly with children, or grandchildren in your case.
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Super-eager to please their owners, Cavaliers are easy to train. The breed will happily go on a walk, but also love to be on the couch with their owners. Ensure that you are keeping them on a leash while on a walk, as they have hunting instincts.
How to find the right dog for you?
Before you actually buy a dog, you must reflect on your lifestyle. There are a few factors that you must consider.
- Consider your place of residence. If you are residing in a retirement community, do their rules allow you to keep a pet? If you live individually and are physically impaired, do you have someone readily available to take care of your dog?
- Access your activity level. Almost every dog requires a certain level of activity, be it long walks or playtime.
Finding the right dog simply takes some research. It is your time to choose the perfect companion for you from the above list.
