Senior Citizens And Dogs: Things Seniors Should Know

Senior citizens and dogs should be best of friends as dogs help senior citizens keep going.

Here are most of the questions about senior citizens and dogs. So read through to find some of the questions you may have as a senior.

Every senior citizen should get a pet and most recommended is a small breed of dog.

As a senior citizen you live happier if you have a dog that keeps you busy and this also gives you a daily routine work to feed your dog.

Senior Citizens And Dogs: Things Seniors Should Know

Here are some things any senior citizen should know about having a dog which is one of the best decisions a senior citizen can take.

Should a senior citizen get a dog?

Yes, senior citizens should get a dog since studies have shown that living with a dog helps lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks in senior citizens.

Senior citizens who have dogs do live happier compared to those who have no pet to keep them busy.

Taking care of a dog is not easy but the are many breeds of dogs that do well living with senior citizens.

Benefits of Dogs to Senior Citizens

Here are some benefits of dogs to senior citizens:

• Opportunities to socialize more
• Opportunities for extra needed exercises
• Playing with dogs can decrease blood pressure.
• Playing with dogs can decrease cholesterol levels
• Reduced triglyceride levels
• Playing with a dog can depression in senior citizens.
• Dogs can help senior citizens to manage loneliness.
• Dogs help can help senior citizens cope with crisis.
• Dogs help stop senior citizens from stressing out.
• Dogs make senior citizens happier.
• Dogs help seniors with cognitive function and social interaction.

Things to consider before selecting any breed of dog for a Senior Citizen

• Personalities
• Energy level
• Age
• Grooming
• Size
• Shedding level
• Independent
• Easy-going nature
• Your Space (Apartment dog?)
• Food consumption level
• Health

24 best dogs for senior Citizens

Here are the best breed of dogs for senior citizens;

• Shih Tzu
• Boston Terrier
• Pug
• Chihuahua
• Poodle
• Pekingese
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Maltese
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi
• Greyhound
• Bichon Frise
• French Bulldog
• Pomeranian
• Cocker spaniel
• West Highland White Terrier
• Cockapoo
• Scottish terrier
• Lhasa apso
• Chiweenie
• Shih-poo
• Bolognese
• Otterhound

The list is too much and you are confused on which dog to get? We are here to help.

We made a long list because most of the dogs are not available in all part of the world, while some dogs are not allowed in other parts of the world.

Therefore, no matter what part of the world you live you must find any of the outlined breeds of dogs.

That been said let’s try to narrow it down for those who are rich an can get dogs down to where the live, or for those who lives in advance countries.

7 top breeds of dogs for senior citizens

Here are our top picks for the long list of 24 best breed of dogs for senior citizens;

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Poodle
• Bichon Frise
• Cockapoo
• Shih-poo
• Maltese
• Yorkipoo

Any of the outlined 7 breeds of dogs go well with senior citizens.

If you still want us to narrow it down more then we will give you our final 3 best breed for senior citizens.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Shih-poo, and Cockapoo is our final result. So pick any one of them.

A question for you which breed of dog do you think can defeat a wolf in a one-off fight? Here is our answer.

12 Best mixed breed dogs for senior citizens

Here is the list of the best-mixed breed of dogs for senior citizens

• Shorkie
• Pomsky
• Yorkipoo
• Chiweenie
• Cavachon
• Cockapoo
• Shih-poo
• Morkie
• Docker
• Whoodle
• Goldendoodle
• Schnoodle

What mixed breeds don’t shed?

Cockapoo breed is the top mixed breed that doesn’t shed regularly and can be easy to train by a senior citizen.

As we already stated senior citizens are getting older and may not have the strength to keep up with regular grooming.

So, it is ideal you get a breed that doesn’t shed regularly as some senior citizen may get irritated by fur.

Top mixed breed of dogs for senior citizens

Here is the top mixed-breed of dogs for senior citizens. We already outlined 12 but we have to narrow it down: Therefore, you can choose from any of the following:

• Cockapoo
• Shorkie
• Shih-poo
• Yorkipoo

Worst dog breeds for senior citizens

Here are some breeds of dogs that are not good for senior citizens:

• Dalmatian
• Pit Bull
• Border Collie
• Dachshund
• Australian Shepherd
• Akita
• Rottweiler
• Cane Corso
• Bloodhound
• Siberian Husky
• Kangal
• Boerboel
• Labrador Retriever

Why these breeds are not good for senior citizens

Here are some reasons these breeds of dogs are not ideal for senior citizens:

• High energy level
• Massive body size
• High food consumption
• Regular medical attention
• Regular grooming
• Higher shedding level
• Purpose of breeding (for security)
• Requires more attention
• Requires more socialization
• High cost of maintenance
• Requires large space
• Requires regular exercises

What is the hardest dog to take care of by a senior citizen?

Here is the list of dogs that are hard to take care of by a senior citizen;

• Beagle
• Chinese Shar-Pei
• Bullmastiff
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• Rottweiler
• Chow Chow
• Bulldog

11 best dogs for elderly widows

Here are the best breeds of dogs for an elderly widow which will always keep them happy;

• Yorkipoo
• Cockapoo
• Poodle
• Shih-poo
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Bichon Frise
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Shorkie
• Maltese
• French Bulldog
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi

If we are to help you choose we will choose from; Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, French Bulldog, Bichon Frise, Yorkipoo, Cockapoo.

However, it all depends on the type of breed that is available and accepted in your location or city.

Frequently Asked Questions about Senior Citizens And Pets

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about senior citizens and pets you should know:

Does owning a pet improve the quality of life for older people?

Yes, owning a pet improves the quality of life for older people as it helps reduce depression, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, help them get exercises by playing with their pet, and most importantly keeps them happy.

Pets do a lot of things for senior citizens, among which the most important thing is to become a companion for senior citizens.

Pets help create a daily routine and instill a sense of responsibility to care for them. It increases interaction and can do wonders for senior citizen’s emotional health.

What is the best pet for senior citizens?

The best pets for senior citizens are birds and dogs this is because either of this two is easy to live with compared to other pets.

This is not to say that they are no disadvantages of living with pets but you get more living with pets than living all by yourself.

We recommend dogs and birds because dogs get to interact with senior citizens than any other pet.

Birds are easy to care for but won’t give room for much interaction as compared to dogs.

Are Golden Retrievers good for senior citizens?

No, Golden Retrievers are not the best dogs for senior citizen as Golden Retrievers require lots of grooming and exercises which may create extra work load of a senior citizen.

Even though Golden Retrievers are affectionate with their owners but the grow to become bigger and can take lots energy and time of a senior citizen.

Senior citizens need dog breeds that are easy to maintain, train and can be independent most times.

What is the cleanest dog for a senior citizen?

The cleanest dog for a senior citizen is the Bichon Frise, so senior citizens who wants to get a clean dog for solely the purpose of cleaness should get a Bichon Frise.

Which dogs sleep the most and that can make life easier for senior citizens?

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sleeps more and will make life easier for a senior citizen by not giving a senior citizen troubles of spoiling items.

Senior citizens need a calm dog not a dog that will drag them out of their resting place, or a dog that will keep rearranging their home.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a cool dog for a senior citizen and requires little training to get going.

What is the best companion pet for senior citizens?

Here is the list of pets that can do well with any senior citizen:

• Birds
• Dogs
• Rabbits
• Cats
• Hamsters

Where can I take my dog if I can’t take care of him anymore?

Here is what to do with your dog if you can no longer take care of it;

• Take it to local animal shelters
• Talk to other dog owners
• Post it on social media forums in your city
• Talk to animals rescue groups
• Talk to your vet
• Take it to animals control department
• Talk to your family members
• Ask your best friends if the can take the dog.

What is the dirtiest dog breed for a senior citizen?

The dirtiest dog breed for senior citizens is the Basset Hound and the Yorkshire Terrier these breeds can stop messing things up unless you put more effort into obedient training.

This effort on training is what a senior citizen doesn’t need, senior citizens need a dog that is calm.

What are the things senior citizens need in a dog?

Here is the list of things a senior citizen need from a dog;

• Low energy dog
• Dogs that require less training
• less aggressive dogs
• Less destructive dogs
• Low maintenance dog
• Dogs with a healthy history
• Playful dogs
• Sociable dog
• Clean dog
• Dogs that require less exercise need
• Dogs that eat less

What are the things senior citizens do not need from a dog?

Here is the list of things senior citizens do not need from a dog;

• Aggressiveness
• Destructive dog
• High-cost maintenance dog
• High energy level dog
• A dog that needs lots of exercises to stay healthy
• Diseases prone dogs
• Dogs that require lots of grooming
• Dogs that are hard to train
• Dirty dogs

Here is our list of the best security dogs for your home.