Dogs are the best companion in our life and as we get older, feeling lonely is very common. During this time, the need for a companion is at its peak, and getting a dog to support you and comfort you may seem like a perfect idea. However, the one thing that serves as a hurdle for senior citizens to get a dog is their caring and maintaining their high-maintenance lifestyle.
But the good news is there exist some breeds of dogs who serve as an ideal companion for senior citizens and best fits your lifestyle and abilities. These dogs do not require any special exercise, grooming or high maintaining therefore is perfectly suitable for senior citizens.
As you grow older, it becomes sort of your goal to spend the rest of your golden years happily along with dogs with a moderate energy level that will adapt perfectly with your relaxed lifestyle. The traits of purebred dogs are more predictable, and by considering these traits, we can find certain dog breeds that adapt well to the lifestyle of senior citizens.
Following is the list of dogs which are mostly smaller in size that serves ideal for senior citizens:
1. Bichon Frise
The fluffy little dog with moderate energy level remains joyful and affectionate throughout, they serve as an excellent companion for everyone. They fall under the category of small dogs and weigh around 7 to 12 pounds.
These dogs are easy to handle and are also relatively simple to train. However, they will need grooming occasionally but otherwise, they are very low maintenance. They have a fluffy exterior and will need to be taken to a professional groomer in a month or two.
They do not need any heavy exercise or training and can stay healthy with a simple walk in a park daily. This breed of dog is very friendly and social with other people and they remain happy and joyful around their owners.
Their significant characters include the curly fluffy white hairs that resemble a cotton ball.
2. Greyhound
Greyhounds are known to be racing dogs and you may be thinking how can a high energy dog be good for older citizens. But you may be surprised to know that they are not as high energy as you think they are.
As a pet owner, you will only need to take them for an occasional walk in the park and give them an occasional chance to run and that’s it.
After a while, they tend to become couch potatoes just like their owners and enjoy slopping around. They are very easy to train and very good learners.
They fall into the category of large dogs and weigh as much as 60 to 80 pounds. But if you are looking for larger dog breeds then greyhounds are the perfect fit.
Their significant characters include long and narrow head and legs, and a streamlined body.
3. Poodle
Poodles are largely known to be the show dogs but you may be surprised to know that they are one of the smartest dog breeds. The best thing about them is that you can get them any size you want such as in a tiny toy Poodle, the small miniature Poodle, or the larger standard poodle.
This breed of dog is a very good learner and only requires a daily walk which is the most amount of exercise that you are going to have to give them.
They remain loyal and show great affection towards their owner. They adapt well to their surroundings and are very fast learners. However, you need to take them to a professional groomer every once in a month but other than that they are very easy to maintain.
There are significant characters including curly dense hair with a furry exterior and they come in colors grey, brown, white, black, and apricot.
4. West Highland White Terrier
This easy to handle dogs that weigh around 13 to 20 are very easy to care for. They don’t require any special grooming like Pomeranian or Poodle and are not as fragile.
They have a very friendly nature and tend to be social with other people and dogs. They fall under the category of small dogs and you will not need to give them some extra care as they are very low maintenance.
Their significant call characters include compact and non-muscular body, white color, long coat of fur, black eyes and nose.
5. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is another breed of smaller dogs that are small in size and are very easy to handle. They weigh around 9 to 16 pounds and do not require any special kind of training. You may need to take them for a walk in the park daily but other than that they can do without any special exercise.
However they have the need to be groomed periodically, and one other thing is they are very prone to skin issues which means that they need the vet care every then and now as well.
Their significant characteristics include having a long double hair coat, smooshed face appearance, and smaller size.
6. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is one of the smallest dog breeds there is and they weigh around three to seven pounds. And like other smaller dogs on the list, they too are very easy to handle and their small size makes them compatible to be carried in a bag.
They tend to remain happy all the time and are very affectionate towards their owner. They are basically like little babies with little legs who like playing with toys and snoozing in your lap. They very much enjoy the company of their owners and remain loyal throughout.
Their significant characteristics include long-haired miniature spitz breed, pointy and erect ears, curled tail, and double-coated hair.
7. Pembroke Welsh corgi
If you are not so keen on getting the small dog breeds then you can also consider small to medium dogs that make great companions. The dog breed of corgis will be the best contender for your consideration.
They weigh around 24 to 30 pounds and are small enough for senior citizens to handle. They have great learning ability and are fairly easy to train. This adorable dog breed with short legs are a bundle of joy in your house
They do not require much exercise on a daily basis but you will need to take them for daily walks in a park which will be enough for the routine exercise. They have minimal grooming needs which is another reason why they are a perfect fit for you.
Their significant characteristics include having the sturdy built with a short body, curly tail, pointy ears, and short stature.
8. Maltese
Maltese are known to be the quintessential Little White Lap dog. They enjoy the company of their owners very much and will spend most of their days snoozing in their owner’s lap. They do not require much exercise other than going on short and easy walks.
However, you will need a professional groomer to trim them every once in a while but other than that they are fairly low maintenance. They are fast learners and fall under the category of small dogs they weigh around four to seven pounds.
Their significant characteristics include white fur, long silky hair coat, alert eyes, and white color.
9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
This adorable looking Cavalier with a puppy-like stature is very affectionate and adaptable and fairly easy to train. They come under the category of small dogs and typically weigh around 11 to 18 pounds.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is happiest while snuggling with their owner. They are pretty smart Dogs which are easy to handle and are very adaptable to the environment.
Even though they do not require any special exercises on a regular basis, but they may enjoy daily walks in the park. You will need to often provide them with some grooming such as brushing their hair, cleaning their ears, and an occasional trip to the groomer.
These are well-suited dogs for apartment living and their significant characteristics include having a medium-length silky furry coat, feathering on the ears. feet and tail.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned nine dog breeds are perfectly suited for senior citizens and ideal for a relaxed lifestyle. Most of them are small dog breeds that do not require any special exercise or training however most of them possess the need to be groomed occasionally.
All of these dogs are a great companion in the golden years of your life and remain always affectionate towards their owner. And as we are all aware, regardless of their breed, they all are very loyal to their owners.
I hope you found this information useful and if there is something that we missed in this article, please feel free to tell us in the comment section. Also, do remember to provide us with your honest feedback.