A four-legged companion is a great idea for entertainment, especially in old age. Suitable dog breeds for seniors usually share the following characteristics:
- Small body size: With a few exceptions, these dogs tend to be small and less strong.
- Little effort: These breeds are considered particularly easy to care for and require relatively little exercise in comparison.
- Little socialization: There is no need for strict training; these dogs are social by nature.
- Middle age: In order to reduce the training effort, adult four-legged friends are usually used.
The above factors explain why older people should not choose their companion blindly. Below you will learn about the 33 best dogs for retirees:
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#1 Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tuléar (Cotie for short) is a white dog breed from Madagascar. The lap dog is particularly suitable as a dog breed for seniors. He sheds little and barks moderately. [2]
When fully grown, the four-legged friend weighs around 4 to 5 kg. His coat colors are white, black or multi-colored. It is the 81st most popular breed worldwide.
The four-legged friend lives up to 19 years and is ideal for keeping in apartments. It is well suited for first-time owners and is very people-oriented. He loves to play.
Fun fact: Due to a genetic mutation, this four-legged friend's fur is particularly soft compared to other dogs. That's why the four-legged friend is named after the cotton.
#2 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an outgoing, patient dog for retirees. He is moderately easy to train and requires a moderate amount of exercise. [3]
The four-legged friend from England barks little and was bred as a lap dog from the start. It is considered one of the cutest dog breeds in the world and is very popular with families.
The medium-sized dog is very suitable for first-time owners and apartment keeping. He has a playful, extroverted nature and is very adaptable. He is also loyal.
Fun fact: “I'm taking off, nothing is holding me down!” – the floppy ears of the CKCS.
#3 Yorkshire Terriers
The Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie for short) is an intelligent, small four-legged friend from England. The popular dog is well suited for first-time owners and is a suitable dog for seniors. [4]
It sheds little, has a weak hunting instinct and only weighs around 3 kg when fully grown. The lap dog learns quickly and is significantly more self-confident and lively than other dogs.
The Yorkie enjoys a lot of attention and loves to be kept physically and mentally busy. The Yorkie's coat structure is similar to human hair.
Fun fact: Most dog breeds develop some type of teeth throughout their lives. Yorkshire Terriers, on the other hand, have baby teeth as puppies.
#4 Poodle
The poodle is an alert, active four-legged friend from Germany. This curly four-legged friend is also suitable as a dog breed for older people. It is considered hypoallergenic and clean. [5]
Poodles shed very little and hardly bark. They are the 7th most popular dog breed in the world. The beautiful animals live up to 18 years. They come in four sizes.
From the toy poodle (lap dog) to the standard poodle. The following applies: the smaller the poodle, the more difficult it tends to be to train. Basically, the four-legged friends are intelligent.
Fun fact: You probably know the pictures of shaved poodles. This has been practiced for a long time so that dogs without fur have little resistance when swimming and can move better.
#5 Pekingese
The Pekingese is a breed of dog that is particularly suitable as a dog for seniors. The good-natured four-legged friend sheds a moderate amount and needs very little exercise. [6]
The Chinese four-legged friend is an ideal lap and house dog. Because of his lots of barking and his alert nature, he is also very suitable as a watchdog.
The fur of the little four-legged friend is very demanding and needs to be cared for daily. He has a lot of lush fur for his size. His life expectancy is 11 years.
Fun fact: Depending on the species, Pekingese can have extremely long hair. Their fur can become so thick that sometimes even their legs are no longer visible.
#6 Pug
The Pug is a loving, gentle dog breed for retirees. The sociable four-legged friend from China is moderately easy to train. He barks little and loves children. [7]
In addition, the four-legged friend has almost no hunting instinct and only needs a moderate amount of exercise. The only negative point? The pug sheds heavily and often suffers from breathing problems.
The four-legged friends are well suited to apartment keeping. Unfortunately, they do not cope well with heat and cold. They are very friendly towards strangers and like strange dogs.
Fun fact: Did you know that the pug is also colloquially known as the “shadow”? You can guess three times why that is.
#7 Beagles
The Beagle is a lovable dog for seniors. The happy four-legged friend is easy to train, sheds a moderate amount and has a strong hunting instinct. [8]
The dog was originally bred as a tracking dog for hunting. He comes from England and lives up to 15 years. The four-legged friend barks a lot and needs a lot of exercise.
He is very suitable for the apartment and has difficulty getting along on his own. The Beagle gets along very well with children, strangers or other dogs.
Fun fact: The ears of these dogs serve as fans for exciting smells.
#8 American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel is a domestic dog and the ideal dog breed for older people. The long-haired four-legged friend is very easy to train and doesn't bark much. [9]
He was bred as a waterfowl hunting dog and has a strong hunting instinct. But today he is kept more as a family dog. Other dogs are no problem.
The Spaniel breed is very sensitive to criticism. So you shouldn't be too strict in your training. In general, this cocker is a friendly four-legged friend with a tendency to be nervous.
Fun fact: You can wrap these dogs' ears completely around their bodies when they are puppies. They are usually even longer than the legs of the four-legged friend.
#9 Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer from Germany is a low-shedding four-legged friend with a strong hunting instinct. The former farm dog is particularly popular as a dog breed for seniors. [10]
The four-legged friend is very people-oriented and therefore prefers to spend the whole day with his owners. He is alert and reports strange noises, but is not a barker.
The Miniature Schnauzer is the 12th most intelligent dog in the world. Every fifth four-legged friend of this breed lives to be more than 15 years old. Housing is not a problem.
Fun fact: As a puppy, the whiskers of Miniature Schnauzers are so short that they stand in all directions, like the hair of the Struwwelpeter.
#10 Welsh Corgi Pembroke
The Welsh Corgi Pembroke from Wales is an easily trainable toy dog with a moderate hunting instinct. The dog is well suited for families and older people. [11]
The four-legged friend lives up to 15 years and, despite its size, can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h when running. Corgis are great dogs for beginners. They are trusting and love children.
The four-legged friends are very sociable and open towards strangers. Unfortunately, they also like to bark a lot. They tend to protect and herd. You need a lot of training.
Fun fact: Did you know that there are dog breeds that are born without a tail? This four-legged friend belongs to one of these few breeds.
#11 Border Terriers
The Border Terrier from England is a former hunting dog. But it is also very suitable as a dog breed for seniors. Border Terriers love attention. [12]
They are well suited to apartment life and are very trusting towards family and strangers. They love to dig and run in a garden.
The adaptable dogs like children and are great play partners. Unfortunately, they are also known for a lot of barking. They can also be territorial and protective.
Fun fact: Although this terrier only reaches a shoulder height of around 38 cm, it can easily jump up to 1.5 meters high.
#12 French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a playful, sociable four-legged friend with a weak hunting instinct. Therefore, this dog breed is very suitable for retirees. [13]
The short-legged dog only needs a moderate amount of exercise and barks relatively little. He doesn't get along well with heat and cold. This type of bulldog doesn't like loneliness.
The little Great Dane is the fourth most popular breed worldwide. The four-legged friends can be real clowns and can be stubborn from time to time. They are casual companions.
Fun fact: Attention if you like swimming. You're better off getting a dog life jacket for a French Bulldog, as this breed is one of the worst swimmers in the dog world.
#13 Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is a Tibetan breed of dog for retirees. The four-legged friend sheds a moderate amount and is moderately easy to train. He barks a lot and needs little exercise.
The four-legged friend weighs 7 kg and has a life expectancy of 14 to 20 years. It is ideal for first-time owners and for keeping in apartments. The dog can stay alone well.
Since the four-legged friends were once considered sacred, they were often given away as gifts. In an intelligence study of 79 breeds, the “dumb” Apso only made it to 68th place. [14]
Fun fact: “Apso” is Tibetan and means goat. Let's hope that this doesn't mean that the Lhasa Apso is as stubborn as a billy goat.
#14 Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a social, extroverted four-legged friend from Germany. The small lap dog weighs around 2 kg and is the smallest of 5 species of “German Spitz”.
The four-legged friend is an ideal family and watchdog. He is also very suitable as a dog for seniors. Pomeranians enjoy attention and are easy to train.
The four-legged friends are well suited to keeping in apartments. They have almost no hunting instinct, but without consistency and training they tend to be stubborn and bark constantly. [15]
Fun fact: There are a whopping 422 dog breeds from A to Z. And this one is the last in the alphabet.
#15 Bolognese
The Bolognese is a small white dog from Italy. When fully grown, the curly-haired dog only weighs around 3 kg. This makes him the perfect lap and family dog. [16]
The four-legged friend develops a close bond with his owners. This also makes him an ideal dog for older people. The “Bolo” gets along well with dogs.
Nevertheless, the four-legged friend loves to be the center of attention. The white dog doesn't like loneliness at all. He loves people and therefore always greets strangers…