Best Dogs for Retirees A survey of professional dog trainers finds bichons, malteses, and many other small dogs are well-suited for seniors. Chihuahuas are not recommended, which is great because it leaves more for us. [Consumer Reports Money]
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I would say that if you are on a budget (senior or not), avoid breeds that need frequent grooming. Baths/cuts for dogs can get crazy expensive if you need to do them often. I'd also recommend not getting a dog that can pull you around. One trip-and-fall could equal a broken hip, depending on your age.
My parents are on their second rescue keeshond, and they love the breed.
They don't get much taller than an ottoman, and they sound like much bigger dogs than they are--might be useful for an older person living alone. Aside from the obvious grooming issues, these are fun, silly, loyal dogs.
@squinko - is pretending there's a star: Even small dogs are freakishly strong. Especially when they go from 0 to 60 in 0.42 seconds.
@Saboth: I was thinking fragility as a contributor, but Yorkies are on there and they're pretty breakable. However, I suspect, judging by the rest of the list, that they're emphasizing breeds that are broadly friendly and less active, and in my experience Chihuahuas are, as you say, not such group-open dogs--loyalty isn't actually a characteristic they're prizing here. (When I worked at an animal shelter, the elderly insane Chihuahuas, whose owners had died, were an absolute nightmare, especially because they'd be put in the little puppy crates, so you couldn't gradually negotiate space with them.)
Standard poodles are pretty big and can be a little rambunctious during their youth, though smaller sub-breeds and poodle mixes might be good.
I would also add Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu mixes, especially if you're planning to get an older/rescue dog where you won't have to try and housetrain a stubborn puppy...great retirement dog - Not too small to seem fragile, not big enough to pull you around or get into a lot of trouble, low maintenance if you keep the coat short (they look cuter that way anyway), and lazy as all get-out perfectly happy to spend the entire day curled up in your lap.
Greyhounds. They are sweet, good with grandkids and they don't live for 20+ years like some of the yappy breeds. They also don't need a lot of grooming and aren't crazy excitable like labs or other working dogs.
@mocena: But they make a lot of noise when you put them in their box and they hear the rabbit coming
@Saboth: They seem to get a little nippy/agressive in their old age...which is sort of a manifestation of that same loyalty.
That said...I always thought Maltese tended toward that same quality and Maltese are on the list...
"...which is great because it leaves more for us."
... to eat!
@mocena: Having worked with some of the retired racing greyhounds at a local rescue - I second this. I thought they'd need lots of space, they are huge and I think of them as galloping around like a pony, but left to their own devices, they lay around in piles of greyhound mushiness all day. I wish I had a photo - but oh my gawd it was adorable.
@mocena: There are a bunch of Greyhound rescues too. This is the breed I'd recommend for someone pretty inactive or older!
"...which is great because it leaves more for us."
If you've spent any amount of time in animal shelters there are PLENTY of Chihuahuas for you, and everyone else.
If you want a small, cuddly obedient pet that watches your every move with rapt adoration, get a cat!
Except the obedience.
Or the raptness.
Or the adoration.
I thought the headline was "Best Dogs for Referees" and all I could think of was any breed that could be a seeing eye dog.
My miniature schnauzer, Bowzer, is a-mazing and would be wonderful for a retiree. He's extremely obedient and docile.
@subtlefrog: I once read that the average greyhound sleeps 20-22 hours a day. Quite possible the laziest dog breed on earth!
The list seemed to have too many yippy neurotic breeds that need expensive grooming. Just what everyone needs in their retirement is a dog that never stops yipping and fear bites everyone who comes to visit.
About the only smaller breed dog I would even consider getting would be a Corgi. Why yes, I am more of a big dog person.
@MeOhMy: Hmmm. I wonder if my dog is a greyhound masquerading as a pitbull. She easily sleeps that much. The rescue I got her from nicknamed her Lazy Daisy!
From the related CR article about saving on pet expenses:
"If your pet needs medication, ask your vet what the drug will cost and if there's a lower-priced human drug equivalent you can pick up at a pharmacy. "
I asked about picking something equivalent up at Target after the vet tried to sell my a $100 bottle of antibiotics. She was throwing antibiotics at the situation because she had no clue what it was so even being useful was dubious. They pitched a fit about writing scripts instead of filling them. Ripping me off seemed more important than keeping a customer.
@veronykah: It's usually the little dogs - of any breed- that get swooped up first. I've had people tell me at rescue adoption events that they've gone to shelters in search of a little dog and there were none, they get adopted out so fast - at least at some of the LA County shelters (West LA, for example, or the Valley). But there's always and abundance of large dogs. This is why the majority of the rescue groups (at least here) focus a lot of efforts on large breeds. They get euthanized at a much higher rate.
@Trai_Dep: Or the cuddlyness. Except on their schedule. When they are not feeling cuddly - it's all claws. That's been my experience at least...And I have the scars to prove it.
@subtlefrog: i live in a part of the country with a dog shortage....we have to IMPORT our shelter dogs up from the south.
the dogs that seem to languish are the unhousebroken ones.
@bohemian: Me too, and I totally have a soft spot for Corgis too! My brother has one, who is now about as old as Methuselah, but he's a great dog. They are super cute.
That said, I can't say I'd want my aging parents to get a big dog. They are not good with the training (they're far too soft, and give in too easily) and a dog that pulls is likely to cause some injury, particularly in the winter, when there's ice all over where they live. Don't get me started on their lack of training their dogs. That's a whole other arguement I have with them.
@sponica (on furlough): It's so nice to know that places like that exist!!! Thank you!
Feel free to take some of ours, too. The LA County shelters are variable. some are really good, and try to not kill, but some have such high intake that the euthanize rate is super high. It's the only way they can survive. My dog was in the LA Co system for almost a year - someone was looking out for her and she ended up being transferred around to 3 shelters before a local rescue got ahold of her and then she ended up in foster care with me (and then we adopted her). Point is that they try, they really do - but there's really only so much they can do here.
@subtlefrog: Those aren't scars, they're Love Marks.
And, they're not trying to suck the air out from Baby's lungs, they're practicing CPR!
My neighbor has a bichon and remembers the day they got a for free. How terrific, a free dog - she was so thrilled at the time! Sigh. The dog needs special, i.e. expensive, food for her many allergies. She has constant ear infections. Most costly of all is the grooming. It runs $130 every four months (should be done more frequently) and the dog must be sedated each time as she bites.
I have a German Shepherd, a rescue, who requires far less fussing.
If money is an issue, adopt a small mutt from the ASPCA or one of the many rescues. They have fewer health and inbreeding issues. There is a lot of soul searching going on re irresponsible breeding. Not only do purebreds have many inherited health and temperament issues, the very notion of breeding an animal on purpose with breathing problems (the bulldog) is something that needs to be considered.
While I love my beastie (a 55-lb Bull Terrier bitch from rescue) I'm glad I have her now while I'm barely middle-aged. She's learned not to pull much from years of walks with someone who's actually more stubborn than she is, but she still has the occasional mind-fart (and more than occasional other kinds) and rushes off on a tangent to investigate something when we're walking. I'm a LOT bigger than she is and it's still a jolt when she suddenly pulls... she'd probably cause an even slightly-feeble person to stumble pretty frequently.
My friend swears by his Leonberger. It's a really sweet animal and when my friend gets tired, he just puts a saddle on his dog and rides away.
@Saboth: Kid friendly? i have a chihuahua and a Maltese/shizu mix and i got 3 kids (7, 5, 3) and the dogs don't fight back at all.
the three year old is always kicking both of them around - they (the dogs) just take it like champs...
Having just rescued a chihuahua, I have to disagree with this article.
NO ONE should get a chihuahua. They are not real dogs. They are like babies, only even more sensitive. In fact, I think a baby could take my chihuahua 1 on 1 in a fight to the death. Fuck, I think she'd probably even lose a fight against a butterfly.
@bohemian: corgis have a very loud shrill bark. If you don't like "yappy dogs" i don't recommend you getting one
@bohemian: my vet is wonderful. He writes our dog a perscription if it's needed, but if she has a mild allergic reaction and just needs half a benedryl he'll let us know. It saves us money and makes us feel confident that we're doing the right thing (i'd *never* give my dog human-medicine without my vet's advice).
I absolutely love my french bulldog, but they are very very expensive dogs. Not only do they cost thousands of dollars up front, for their first year they can suffer from digestive issues and need speical food, frequent vet visits and lots of late nights cleaning up vomit from the carpet. Even getting a rescue can be expensive, as many frenchies come into rescues with back injuries (jumping from high places or rough housing with young kids) and need special care.
I will say that they are great apartment dogs. Ours is a 2 year old female and just needs a short walk daily to keep her from getting bored. She almost never barks (usually only if we're playing with her and winding her up) and is very cuddly. She needs a bath/ear cleaning once a week and her face wiped daily (like most dogs with squishy faces). They aren't the most high maintenance dogs out there, but I don't think I'd call them good retiree dogs.
They are very loving dogs just not recommended for everyone.
Any organization or "authority" recommending specific breeds exclusively for any age group needs to visit some shelters and see all the beautiful, sad, already housebroken, calm, older dogs that get "put down" every week. *dons flame-proof armor*
@MeOhMy: I think they are actually the laziest breed. My dog is the opposite I think When we first got her as a puppy - I ended up losing 30 lbs. Great diet. haha
@MeOhMy: I had a Maltese, and she was the gentlest, sweetest dog you could ever meet. Of course, one dog doesn't represent an entire breed ... but in my experience, Maltese are very sweet-natured.
@Sanveann: "one dog doesn't represent an entire breed" <- wanted to say this.
i knew a very laid-back jack russell terrier.
@squinko - is pretending there's a star: i'd suggest people who are at an elevated trip/fall risk avoid corgis - mine is ALWAYS under foot, and has been like that since he was a puppy. (we've all tripped over him many times)
I'd like to know the reasoning behind chihuahuas not being recommended (I don't see it in the link), as a long time chihuahua owner. Perhaps because they aren't really too kid friendly, and the grandkids might come over? If you are a single person though, they are one of the most loyal breeds I've seen.