Choosing A Dog for Grandma

Perhaps you have aging parents or grandparents who may like a canine companion. Whether or not they live with you, getting a dog for a senior citizen can really be a beneficial thing for both dog and senior. Yet there are specific considerations that must be made before presenting Grandma, Grandpa or beloved neighbor with a new dog. First and foremost it is important to know without a doubt that your senior citizen actually wants a dog. The commitment to take on a dog (whether puppy or older dog) needs someone who really wants to make that step in their life. So once you are assured that your senior wants a canine companion here is what you need to know about how to choose a dog for a senior citizen.

· Think about living space. This may be the main reason why smaller breed dogs are sought after by senior citizens. Many seniors have downsized out of their homes and live in condos or apartments. In addition having a small dog in a smaller space makes many things a lot easier to handle for senior citizens. This can work well for seniors even if they live in convalescent homes. Having a Chihuahua in the house obviously saves a lot of room compared to larger breeds such as a Great Dane!

· Ease of walking. Senior citizens are proud dog owners. Having a dog in the first place will encourage the elderly to get out and get exercise. However, walking a dog such as a German Shepard may be a little challenging for most 80 year old men and women. Larger breeds definitely have some tugging power that gives even the youngest most fit person a tough time. It can be very dangerous for both the dog and the owner if the owner is not able to physically keep their dog under control at all times. A toy or small breed dog on the other hand is much more manageable for senior citizens when it comes to walking and playing with their dog.

· Companionship. This can be the most important aspect of any type of dog regardless of size. Dogs can give unconditional love and unmatched companionship. Sometimes, senior citizens may live far away from any sort of immediate family and its not so easy for them to just get up and fly across the country to visit relatives. It can get quite lonely sometimes for senior citizens if they live alone. However, dogs can offer the perfect solution to this problem. Many times someone's health actually improves from the mental pleasures of having a loving dog.

· Bathing. It becomes an obvious fact that it is easier to bathe a little Yorkie than it is to bathe a golden retriever. This facet makes these small breed dogs perfect for senior citizens to manage on their own. It can take a large amount of physical strength to keep a larger breed dog in one place when giving them a bath, which makes them less than ideal for the elderly.

· Food. Toy or small breed dogs eat a whole lot less food than larger breed dogs. This can be important in two different ways. First, if you have ever gone to the store and picked up a 50 pound bag of dog food you quickly realize that its not light! Having a toy or small breed dog that eats less requires smaller bags of food. Secondly the cost to feed a larger breed can be somewhat prohibitive especially for a senior citizen on a fixed income. Smaller dogs are both easier to feed and cost less to feed as well.

More Dog Breeds

« Choosing A Small Dog | Only Dog Beds | Ten Steps to Your Well-Groomed Dog »