Best breed for older people

[FruHagen]

Hi all,

I am looking to get a dog for my Mum who is 80 but active. Anyone have any input on good breeds that enjoy constant company, short daily walks (30 mins x 2) and are good lap dogs?

She has a nice house, garden, loads of time and can walk daily but not for really long hikes/walks.

Ideally we would like an older dog - out of the puppy phase as that would be too much for her.
4 years and older.

Any thoughts welcome

Hairless Chinese crested were literally bred to be lapdogs. They feel incredibly warm to touch as they have no/very little hair and so were used by the very wealthy Chinese women as Lap dogs and hot water bottles. They absolutely love being cuddled up and can make do with walks or just having their hall thrown a few times in the garden. I have a pedigree hairless and a rescue pug x crestie well as a chihuahua and a rotty. I love how snuggly creators are. They also come in a long haired version called a powder puff. Same temperament but need much more grooming . A litter will be mixed between powder puffs and various level of hairlessness. Attached some pictures of mine.

Yorkshire terrier :).

Several breed rescues out there, and older ones often come up because their owner has died.

Not much walking, good alarm dogs, easily trainable. Not many weight issues generally.

My Jack Russell is only a year old and would love this life tbh. She's a little Velcro dog and I think she finds our busy lifestyle quite tiresome. She's been very content during our several periods of isolation and is incredibly loyal.

Our 90yo neighbour has a lovely rescue westie. They pootle about together. He was 7 when she got him and she's had dogs all her life. Was bereft when her last dog went. This little chap is so lovely and came from dogs trust. He had an owner who died 😢

@Wolfiefan oh little 10 year old Maxi looks perfect

But he's a 100 miles away 🥲

imho, a small dog that doesn't need big walkies & that the owner can themselves lift into car to go see vet. Rest comes down to individual personality.

I'd approach some rescues and ask about a smaller older dog who would like a nice retirement home. As PP have said, these dogs are often those who have come in because their owner has died / gone into a care home.

I know older people (80s+) who have both greyhounds and staffies, very successfully so, but the more traditional choice would be something from the "toy companion" range of breeds - bichon frise, lhasa apso, yorkie, maltese, pomeranian etc. etc.

www.oldies.org.uk/ Is an excellent place to start
cinnamon.org.uk/volunteers/ is likely to know, from time to time, of dogs requiring fostering, short or long term.

... but don't discount your regular local dogs home as they do come in - these would be a couple of examples from my local one
hoperescue.wpengine.com/animals/do4544-dog/
hoperescue.wpengine.com/animals/do4806-dog/

I'd agree with 'go for the dog not the breed's. Best of luck OP!!

I really wouldn’t recommend a Pomeranian, I have had two, they can be yappy as they were bred as watchdogs and are surprisingly high energy.

An older friend of mine has a Cavalier x Bichon which is very docile, I would definitely adopt an older dog though as the size can be unpredictable with cross breeds.

I would suggest a Maltese. They are loving lap dogs who are happy with not too much exercise.

We have a little Maltese/poodle cross and he would be great for your Mum. Easily trained, very loving, and actually barks very little, usually when some one comes to the door.

He is also small so easy to pick up if need be. I might worry a greyhound is a bit big.

Ours lives happily in an apartment, albeit quite a large one. He likes to lie on a mat we have on the balcony and watch the world go by.

My Mum is 80 and has had Tibetan Spaniels for years. They're great for older people.

This thread prompted me to read about Maltese. They are an ancient breed. In ancient times they were called "The Comforter" and were placed on the pillows of the sick to help cure them.

This made me smile as our little guy, every night, sneaks up the bed to lie right next to my pillow. We prefer he stays in his bed placed on the foot of ours, but the little sneak always crawls up after we are asleep.

He would be great with an elderly person. In fact, he is in great demand to have visits and sleepovers with our extended family, some very frail and older.

I have seen similar dogs listed at rescues.

The thing with small hairy dogs is the food / poo that can get stuck to the fur. Plus the regular trips for a hair cut. I didn't think about any of that when I had our lasa.

@Babymeanswashing

Since when were greyhounds lapdogs?

Some of them try really hard to be! they don’t know they’re huge.

@ragged

imho, a small dog that doesn't need big walkies & that the owner can themselves lift into car to go see vet. Rest comes down to individual personality.

I would agree with that - when I lost my last lovely lurcher - I had to get help to get her in the car to take her to the vets. For an 80 yo unless she has nearby help - anything bigger than a medium dog would be difficult to lift. I am 74 and can manage to lift my latest rescue (5 year old spaniel cross aka cockerpoo) into the car and she is such a velcro dog she will sit by me to be cuddled for ages. Happy with half an hour walk morning and evening - then zoomies in the garden. I find it is better to concentrate on the dogs characteristics (rescues are good at that mostly) rather than a breed. I wanted a lurcher but ended up with a spaniel who is loving, does rarely bark and is ideal as a companion dog.

My dm friends have a Llasa Apso it's a cuddly ball of well behaved fluff

I do apologise if this has been said but I don’t have time to check Have you contacted the cinnamon trust? They specifically regime animals from older people who might already be used to a similar lifestyle to the one you could offer. It’s worth giving them a ring. Their website is terrible (!) but they’re so helpful when you speak to them.

@Wolfiefan

And Finley Right that’s it. I’m stopping now. 🤦‍♀️

@FogHornInTheAttic

My dm friends have a Llasa Apso it's a cuddly ball of well behaved fluff

They bark at everything though we no longer have ours but it drove me mad.

My parents had a Bichon Frise in later life and she was wonderful. Even as a youngster she was very sensible and well behaved and a lovely companion for them. They also don't shed which I imagine would be a bonus for an older owner.

Whippet - lazy and gentle, not yappy or hairy. But yes character of dog more important than breed.

Greyhounds do not all have a strong prey drive btw. Some do obviously but our ex racer was excellent with cats and small fluffies. We had our own cats but he was fine with others too.

How big is your mother's sofa?

Also, best not get a long haired dog as this adds to dog care and house work when she will soon be needing to slow. down.

One of my friends and a couple of older relatives have shih tzus and they seem spot on for what you’re looking for. Steady, lazy little lapdogs all round, altho one is inclined to be a grumpy fucker to anyone but his ‘mum’.

If you can make it 100 miles is nothing got the right pet, we did further than that for a hamster!

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/rescue-centre-inundated-yorkshire-terriers-21060640?fbclid=IwAR1lLUUatHL_hd_NlMM3kUbz4D2FrQnsKYMxvaR-EcEhz1TOu8LJ13l47SU