What is a good dog for my Grandparents?

Question

My grandparents are in their 70's and my grandpa has been in and out of the hospital for heart problems for years. There 49 year old song lives when them..but isn't home a lot. I think my grandpa needs a little dog to keep him company because he isn't as active as my grandma is. I thought about getting him one for his birthday that is in March. I know my grandma doesn't want a dog that sheds alot. If anyone has any ideas that would be great! Thanks!

Answer 1

a perfect dog for them would be a boston terrier. they are very low mateniance and small anough to sit on their laps even when they get alot older and not hurt them. They are the sweetest most laid back dogs ever!!!.

they were in fasion when your grandparents were growing up so it might make them think of the good old days

BTs are very sweet and calm but will play WHENEVER you want them to. most of them do not bark constantly like lots of other little dogs but most BTs will bark at somebody coming to the door. they are extremely funny and VERY affectionate and love to curl up next to you nice and warmly.

Boston terriers will never hurt anyone so they are great around little kids

It would also be great for you grandparents because BT's are easy to control. example: they wont knock you over. if you are taking them on a walk they won't run and drag you or chase a squirrel and pull you sharply with them. they won't run away.

they do not shed and do not require any brushing. they don't even need baths that often!

a boston terrier will be perfect for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS they love the heat so if the live somewhere warm like: florida etc. that would be great. They do not like snow but are very easy going and won't mind living just inside (except to like pee and stuff) during the snowy months. I live in Virginia and we sometimes get snow and cold weather but he is a very happy dog.

Answer 2

It sounds like a peaceful dog would be good. This might be a case where going to an animal shelter and adopting an older dog might work out--an older dog that doesn't run around and cause troubles like a puppy, or yank on leashes like some mature dogs will, but an older dog that needs a home and would like nothing better than to curl up at your grandparents feet and give them lots of love. All the breeds I know of shed at least some. Golden Retrievers and chocolate Labs usually have very mellow personalities. Good luck, thanks for being so caring!

Answer 3

A small dog, definetelly, one who is lay back, even a little older, so he just can sit and enjoy the company of your grandparents, there is so much variety, if you go to google and search for the perfect dog for old people, you will find an answer, also rescue organizations are in need of people who have no children, looking for owners who can give them time, but make sure that before you bring a dog to them,,,, they have to see the pet first, because looks are decieving, there has to be a little bonding before bringing home, sort of matching the energy. good luck!

Answer 4

I would get a small dog that is 3-5 years old, so it's well past Puppyhood.

Maybe the best thing to do is take your Grandpa and Grandma with you to a shelter to pick it out, since they are the ones that will need to live with it.

Answer 5

a miniature or tea cup poodle. they are really small. Hopefully they won't lose it or flush it down the toilet. I think that would happen to me, if I had one. Please tell them that rocking chairs with the little critters around can be dangerous, my G-ma killed our kitten when she came crashing down on it. A small Terrier, the ones with long hair do not shed. The Poodle and I think the Terrier has hair not fur so good for allergies for them and others that visit especially if the dog goes in the car with them. Don't get big dog, it requires too much, great diet, exercise, dog obidience, and they are heavy if they need to be moved.
I would stay away from a Jack Russel terrier, they are hyper and can be mean. So I hear...

Good Luck, you are thoughtful to your G-parents.

p.s.It's a Yorkshire Terrier ("yorky")

Answer 6

Your best bet is to go for an older dog that is housetrained. You don't want to give them a puppy that is going to bounce all over the place or that isn't housebroken and pees everywhere making it hard for your grandparents to clean up. Look into a rescue or a shelter.

here's what i found on elderly people and dogs. What to consider and a list of dogs at the end that would better suit a older person.
While dogs for the elderly can be fantastic, helping to alleviate loneliness and boredom and even improve health, choosing the right canine companion can mean the difference between a joyful partnership or a relationship fraught with stress and anxiety - and possibly even injury. Many people immediately think of breed characteristics when selecting a dog and while breed stereotypes can be a guide, there are just as many exceptions to the rule. Terriers, for example, have long been a popular choice due to their small size but many are yappy, nippy, tough, independent, high energy animals that can roam and be difficult to train. Thus, it is better to think of certain factors when choosing a dog for the elderly, rather than any particular breed:
Size - this is one of the key issues, as the elderly can often be fragile, unsteady on their feet or have physical disabilities such as arthritis which may affect their control of a big, powerful dog. Also, if the dog becomes ill, a small dog is easier to carry and transport to the veterinarian. Thus, in general, smaller breeds tend to be more suitable to elderly people. Remember, however, that many of the small breeds - especially the terriers - can be very energetic and so could still be difficult for an elderly owner to handle, not to mention the dangers of tripping over a small, hyperactive dog. Some large breeds, such as greyhounds, can actually be very placid and inactive and thus make great pets.

Energy Levels - unless the owner is an octogenarian tri-athelete, it is usually better to choose a dog with lower exercise requirements. In general, breeds that have been developed to perform high energy tasks such as herding (Border Collie), hunting vermin (Jack Russell Terrier) or running behind carriages (Dalmatian) have naturally higher mental and physical energy levels. Unless their energies are directed into proper channels with extensive training and exercise, these dogs will often develop behavioural problems associated with boredom. Note, however, that many of the toy breeds - while having high energy - do not actually have high exercise requirements as their extremely small size means that they can get all their required exercise from running around an average-sized home.

Noisiness - in modern society, the close proximity of most homes means that tolerance towards noisy barking is very low and neighbours are quick to complain about any noisy dog they hear. An element of this can be controlled by training but certain breeds (and certain dogs within a breed) will be more vocal than others, particularly if left alone for long periods. Again, terriers can be troublesome in this regard but many small poodles, collies, spitz-type breeds and guarding breeds (eg, German Shepherd) can also be very noisy. However, if personal security for an elderly owner living alone is an issue then a noisy, territorial breed might be ideal and this could be one reason why terriers are so popular.

Trainability - even if you have no intention of taking part in Obedience competitions, the inherent willingness of a dog to please can make a huge difference to how easy it is to live with him. Dogs that have been developed to work closely with humans, such as the gundog breeds, often have a higher desire to please their owners than dogs with an independent streak, such as herding breeds and terriers.

With these factors in mind, there are certain breeds which do seem to be more suitable choices although it is important to stress again that the individual dog is more important than the breed type.

Below are some of the more popular choices for elderly owners:

Pug - robust little dog; very playful, outgoing and affectionate but does not require too much exercise.

Cocker Spaniel - affectionate and keen to please, this medium sized dog does require some grooming and can also be quite energetic.

Beagle - lovely dog with a gentle nature; however, being a hound, it can become deaf to all commands when it is on the trail of a scent.

Schnauzer (Miniature or Standard) - sociable and playful although they can be very protective and have strong guarding instincts. Their coat requires professional clipping.

Shih-Tzu - alert, friendly little dogs who live for human companionship; their coat can require some serious grooming, although it can be clipped to make it more manageable.

Pomeranian - looking like a little teddy bear, these perky little dogs will bring a smile to any face, although note that they can be noisy.

Greyhound - although large in size and contrary to popular belief, these gentle, sweet-natured dogs do not require much exercise and are quite content to laze most of the day away. The docile, low-energy adults can make particularly good pets for elderly owners who want a "big" dog.

Answer 7

If they are both in agreement with it I would choose a toy poodle. They do need to be groomed but they are loving, loyal dogs. I actually raise Cavalier King Charles Spaniels but I have a 5 lb. toy black poodle named Tarbaby and she is my heart. She loves to ride and poodles never shed. I would also get one that is around 2 years of age so they won't have to go through the puppy stage unless they are up to it.

Answer 8

Not a border collie! to much energy nothing big a small dog that doesn't shed much like a poodle if they don't like poodles try a mix like poodle/doxen and it can be a little older like 4 or 5 then its out of its puppy stage and nutered because you don't have problems with puppies

Answer 9

try a stuffed one,they dont need walking, training,no dog poop on the lawn to clean up and cheap to maintain and they dont even bite the postman.if they want something a bit more active then a smooth haired jack russel will be a fantastic companion and they are second to none,tough little blighters that just love attention,my mother lives on her own and is in her 70s and hers is so faithful and good company for her as well as being a great little watch dog that misses nothing.

Answer 10

long hair is nice but requires servicing and u have to grow that out for a long time