What would be a good dog for an elderly woman?

Question

A dog that is
*Cheap*
*Small*
*Easy to take care of*
*doesnt mind not getting exercise*
*doesnt bark much*

Answer 1

The best is a precious dog that is elderly itself.....What a perfect match. There are so many out there in all shaped and sizes that are not your first choice for adoption. So, in the end they are euthanized. A lot of these precious senior pups are only in the "pound" or shelters because their masters themselves have passed away and the remaining family members either can't or won't care for the pet. I see it all the time. It's sad. But as I said before there are so many out there and for the most part are super house trained and not as energetic as pups from the ages of 2-4. Please, please check with the local shelters in your area, I promise you will find the most perfect puppo that is on death row. Do remember that these senior puppies most likely have had very stable lives and this transition to the shelter is devastating. They will be forever grateful to their new mom or dad and such a comfort to each other as well.

It is a proven fact that a dog/pet owner lives longer, feels better, etc. Their blood pressure is reduced dramatically, and these folks need someone to depend on them........so that in turn won't feel as if they are a burden to those responsibly for their care............I work with dogs all day long and I see what joy and life they bring into the lives of those that not much else.

God Bless!

Answer 2

I agree with the answer to go to the animal shelter or humane society.

An older dog is a good choice for an older person because they are usually a little more calm and sometimes already housebroken.

I have had dogs all my life, mixed breeds and purebreds and my mixed breeds were every bit as good as purebreds, and oftentimes my mixed breeds had fewer health problems. I love my mixes and purebreds both just as much.

Often, Shih-tzus, Pekingese, and Toy Poodles wind up at the animal shelter for adoption, in addition to small mixed breeds, because their former owner either got pregnant, got married, or moved or something. There is usually _nothing_ wrong with shelter dogs, just poor planning on their former owner's part.

A small long-haired dog will need to go to the groomer every other month or so. My gramma has a Pekingese she got from the animal shelter when she was 6mos, (she's now 13 years old). She goes to the groomer regularly, but my gramma knows she's worth it.

It breaks my heart that people still go to breeders/puppymills/petstores when there are already so many great dogs in shelters who would do anything for the chance at a good home.

I hope you consider a shelter dog. You'd not only be making the elderly woman happy, you may be saving a dog's life as well.

Answer 3

You might want to get a dog that isn't a puppy and that is a calm breed of dog - like a golden retriever. If you are looking for small dogs that are lazy you might wanna try Maltese dogs - but they can have a tendancy to bark a lot.
Have you thought about getting a cat instead? They are easy to care for, they don't bark, and they can be just as good of a companion to an elderly person as a dog.

Answer 4

Yorkshires are not easily housetrained. I believe Bichon Frise' are more easily house trained ;they are a most devoted and loving companion, thought by many to be the best companion dog. I think the dog rescue idea in the first answer is your best bet for cheap. There is a specific dog rescue for almost every AKC breed. yes ,I googled it and there is a Rescue ranch for these dogs. Some are older and house trained and their owners have died or become unable to care for them.

Answer 5

Not a boxer! Something small but the problem is, most small dogs are bad about barking.

Answer 6

A small, calm dog that is a few years old. Shitz Su, Corgie, Lasa Apso, Daschounds are a few examples. Shelters sometimes have them or a breed rescue might be better.

Answer 7

I cant give you a specific dog, but I can give you pointers to choose a suitable dog...

I always urge people to seek out a rescue group or reputable breeder when choosing a dog. Here are a few things to look for when choosing a dog or puppy.

Age

Puppies should be no younger than eight weeks. A good breeder will not place puppies younger than that. Old school used to be six weeks was fine. But so much growth and development happens between six and eight weeks. Also think, puppies' eyes and ears open at about three weeks and they begin to test solids foods after that. A five or six week old puppy is barely weaned.

The extra couple weeks with the dam and littermates can make a big difference overall. Also, puppies should have at least one set of shots before going to homes. The vaccine schedule for puppies is usually 6, 9 and 12 weeks with the first rabies booster being at 16 weeks. As for the other end of the age spectrum, older animals. I am a firm believer that any dog at any age – even a senior – will have something to offer. If you go to a rescue, look at an adult dog. Just because a dog is fully-grown does not mean they are past training. Adult dogs have better bladder control and more attention span than a young puppy. And puppies are only little for a short time!

Sometimes puppies in rescue may have to be placed younger than eight weeks. This is an exception to the rule and many shelters will try to find foster care for young puppies if possible. The younger you get a puppy, the more work it will be and the more patience you must have with it. Ideally, no pup should be placed before eight weeks. If a "breeder" tried to insist otherwise, get out. It is amazing how many people have litters and try to place them young because of the work and expense involved. And keep in mind; in some places it is illegal to sell animals less than eight weeks.

Condition

The puppies or dogs should show NO signs of lameness, discharge from eyes, ears, nose, etc. They should have clean, shiny coats and be alert. Their stool should be firm. A good breeder or rescue group will have no issue if you wish to have your vet examine the animal before bringing it home.

Now, look at the condition of the facility. Is it full of feces and looks unclean? Does it have a really offensive odor or smell too heavily of cleaners as if something was being hidden? Is there sign of pest infestation? What is the attitude of the people to the animals? What is the attitude of the animals?

Attitude

Is the person trying to place the pup or dog trying to push the animal on you? Is the person telling you both the pros and cons of the breed – or cross? I cringe when I hear statements like "This is the BEST dog for anyone." This is far from true. What I would like in a dog is probably different from what you want. I like active dogs with a strong work drive and moderate to high energy levels.

I prefer longer coats and dogs that can handle various climates. I want something that will think nothing of hauling a pack or cart or working all day if asked to. This can be quite a handful for many people. No matter how I feel about the breeds I like and have, I would never insist it is the best breed for everyone. Anyone who tells you this should be selling used cars on the corner. I look for someone who will tell me both the good points and bad points of a dog.

Having gotten animals from reputable and responsible breeders as well as rescues, I feel that people in both areas should be more than honest when trying to match a dog to you. If they seem too anxious to make that sale or adoption, I would consider strongly going elsewhere.

Temperaments

Has there been any temperament testing to the puppies or dogs? If you are a quite, laid back person, it could be tough to be matched with an outgoing, dominant puppy. If you are looking for a dog to compete with in sports, that quiet, shy dog would probably not work out well. A good breeder or rescue will screen the puppies or dogs to make the best match possible.

Your Gut

What feeling do you get about where you are looking to get your pet – be it a reputable and responsible breeder or a rescue? And when considering a rescue, many are tempted to rescue that hardship case. Use your brain. Having rescued hardship cases I can personally say it is a HUGE amount of dedication, work and money. Multiple trips to vets, medications, worries about potential behavior issues and how to deal with them, time, effort and money can easily run into the thousands before you realize it.

It is noble to wish to help all the hardship cases out there. But in reality, can you devote the time and effort? Many hardship cases end right back in rescue. Use your brain as well as your heart.

I hope I have outlined, adding a dog to your life is no small thing. It is time, commitment, money and even heartache. Impulse buying a pup from a pet store (the worst place to look for a pet) or grabbing the local paper and reading the plethora of ads from people breeding for the same of it often lead to bad placings and even trouble.

It is your responsibility as a future dog owner to research your life as well as various breeds or types of dogs to help make the best match for you. It is your responsibility to find well-educated and committed people to help match you with the best canine companion. It is your responsibility to ensure the dog is well trained, socialized and the safest he can be.

Before you buy, stop and think and think again. Is this the right thing for you?

Answer 8

a dog from the humane society or animal shelter that is about 2 years old and house trained

Answer 9

well. maybe like a shih tzu puppy. or a mini schnauzer.

i have a cocker spaniel/poodle mix. and shes not extremely small but she does meet the standard of all the other things you listed.

good luck finding your puppy!

Answer 10

That's a dog that will never ever be possible.
If you chose one of the aspects you named, the other wouldn't be listed, closet I can think of would be a poodle..