What is the best small dog for a disable lady?

Answer 1

Be sure to ask her, if she wants a dog, before giving her one.

Answer 2

There is no "best" breed of dog. Every dog is an individual, and while one Yorkshire terrier may be great, calm and well behaved, the one you get may be snappy and hyper.

A rescue centre would be the best place to go in this situation as you dont want any particular breed. They have a lot to choose from and will set you up with the perfect dog.

I would actually say a larger dog would be better. Less of a tendancy to bark and snap and if the lady in in a wheelchair it's just handier.
But whatever you want.


So I would say go to a shelter to find the perfect dog.
If you choose a breeder you will get a puppy which is totally not suitable for a disabled person. It is immensly hard to look after a puppy, let alone a disabled person having to do it. Also if the dog isn't trained right from puppyhood it may end up as a disaster and she will regret the day she got the dog.

Shelters will have great adult dogs, and you will be saving a life.


Good luck!

Answer 3

There aren't many small breeds that are appropriate for disabled people but it depends on the extent of the disability. If the person is wheelchair bound then there is no such thing as a good toy dog for such a person unless it is an already fully trained adult dog. Even then, care will be a challenge without extensive assistance. It wouldn't be fair to the dog if the person can't give it all the care that it needs, which includes but is not limited to exercise, grooming, play, feeding and socializing. An assistance dog would be best for a disabled individual. You may try seeking out a dog who fell short of becoming a certified assistance dog because he would already be trained but he won't be perfect. However, he will be less expensive.

Like everyone said, make sure she wants a dog.

Answer 4

A healthy, housebroke dog with a quiet temperament. A short coat is way easier to take care of. Try to find a dog through a shelter that checks the dog for health and behavior problems. If you are disabled, you don't need a dog that leaves messes all over or is destructive or has expensive medical needs of its own. Screening the animals for these kind of problems will save heartache and money in the long run.

Answer 5

It really depends on her disability and her personality.

If she's able to use her hands well, she might enjoy a toy poodle or Maltese. They don't shed, but do require lots of brushing and pampering, and love plenty of laptime and attention. Small breed puppies can be a lot harder to housetrain though, so I would recommend rescuing a housebroken adult if that will be an undue burden.

Is she really set on a small dog? I think retired racing greyhounds are a fantastic choice for senior or disabled persons. They're large, yes, but they are extremely quiet, gentle, and guaranteed well-socialized and well-trained. They love to cuddle, don't shed much, and are just fabulous pets. They do require dailiy exercise in a large yard or off-leash park though.

Answer 6

Do not surprise her with a dog but if she wants one get an adult dog. The breed or mix that would be best would depend on how handicapped the woman is. Can she care for a dog properly? A pug might work or a Pekingese (she could have it kept in a pet clip).

Answer 7

I wouldn't suggest any dog that needs regular grooming..like a Poodle, Yorkie, ShihTzu, Bichon etc etc. I would go with a smooth coated breed. Dachshunds made excellent "lap dogs" And the smooth coated ones really do not shed much at all.
I would contact a Doxie rescue and see what they have. Is she able to get the dog out to potty? A fenced in yard off the backdoor would be good. OR..if she is lucky, she may be able to find one that is already trained to go in a litter box.

Answer 8

definately a calm tempered dog, a small dog would also be alot easier to handle. they can be picked up easily, won't eat you out of house and home, and are very content sitting on your lap. they arent called companion dogs for nothing. i would look into one that wouldn't need to get their hair clipped, like a maltese, yorkie, bichon, etc need to get their hair cut because it always grows (like human hair). short haired would probably be easily maintainable. nothing too tiny and fragile, but if it is going to be a lap dog, i wouldnt recomend any dog over 20 lbs. look into certain problems with some breeds also. like someone mentioned a pug and they are great dogs, but even though they are generally a calm dog, they can be very spazy, and also they have some difficulty breathing because of their squashed faces, which means lots of water, and they can't be in the sun too long. you also have to clean the wrinkles on thier face every day.

some dogs you could look into are

brussles griffon:
one of my favs
pros: low activity level, small dog, very big personality
cons: needs grooming and not always good with small children (although neither are chis - i have 2- and mine are fine with kids)
also check out affenpinschers, a cousin of the brussels griffon

cavalier king charles spaniel
great dog, also one of my favs
Pros: around fifteen pounds, low activity level, does well w/ individual, very affectionate
cons: needs grooming and exercise

chihuahuas
i own 2
pros: small dog, low activity level, comes in smooth and long coat, and "the chihuahua makes an excellent... companion for an elderly or sedentary adult", you dont have to groom the smooth coat chis
cons: almost too small, some temperment issues
if you get this, look for a larger one, the tiny ones are unhealthy. 4 lbs at the smallest

any bichon dog
maltese, coton de tulear, bichon frise, etc
pros: small, sturdy dogs, good tempermant, mod activity level
cons: needs grooming

english toy spaniel
also king charles spaniel (not to be confused with cavalier king charles spaniel)
pros: basics - small, mod temp, low activity level - affectionate
cons: grooming (whats new)

french bulldog
sorta ugly
pros: basics good companion for elderly
cons: need to clean their faces,bigger,

havanese
pros: basics
cons: grooming

japanese chin
pros basics
cons grooming, really small

lhasa apso
pros basics
cons grooming, not good with kids

lowchin
miniature pinscher

papillon
one of my favs
pros: basics
cons: grooming

pekignese
peruvian inca orchid *really ugly

pomeranian
i heart these dogs
pros: basics
cons: grooming

miniature/toy poodle

pug
so cute
pros basics, short haired = no grooming
cons clean their wrinkles, not good in heat

schipperke
shih tzu
tibetan spaniel *very cute
tibetan terrier *not at all cute
yorkshire terrier

also look into mixes between small breeds
they are called designer dogs
designer dogs are less likely to have potential health concerns that you find in a certain breed
examples
chug = chi/pug, yorkiepoo = yorkshire terrier/poodle, affendoodle = affenpinscher/poodle

just make sure to check with the potential owner before you get the dog
ask them which off of the list they like the most

also look into other groops of dogs, like hounds, terriers, etc., not just companion group
for example, the dauchsund is a very good dog, i believe it is a hound also known as dutch hound, also corgis, beagles, italian greyhounds, etc

my recomendations are
1 cavalier king charles spaniel
2 pomeranian
3 papillon
4 larger chihuahua
5 brussles griffon/ affenpinscher
6 bichon dogs
7 yorkies
not in any particular order

non companion dogs:
1 dachshund
2 corgi
3 italiean greyhound
4 smaller terriers (silky, jack russel)
*jack russels are very hyper
*silky terriers are probably the most healthy breed of dog because they were recently accepted as a breed of dog and they are desighner dogs, which means less health concerns, i believe they are a mix between the yorkie and hte australian terrier
5 smaller hounds ( basset hound, beagle)
not in any particular order

larger dogs
* im not familiar with all of the larger dogs, they make of most of the breeds of dogs, but my favs are:
1 australian shepherd
*extremely inteligent dog, very friendly
2 greyhound
* if you are interested in a greyhound, i would recomend looking up a greyhound rescue group and getting one from there. they make great, loving pets, but do take some special attention. since they have never been inside, they have problems with things like stairs and sliding glass doors,and also slippery floors. the dogs in the shelters are actually retired racers, which is why they are not used to the love of a good home. my greyhound shelter in northern ohio is north coast greyhound connection website is www.northcoastgreyhoundconnection.org



good luck

Answer 9

I would say find one at the pound that is already housebroken, and trained. one thats likes to be by themselves, so they will bond with her fairly quickly. Itailan Greyhounds are fantastic cuddlers and make great small dogs.

Answer 10

If she wants one and can really take care of the dog. Feed him, train him, let the dog out, groom him, etc.. Try adopting one, www.petfinder.com Adopted dogs make the best pets!

Answer 11

If you mean wheel chair bound,get her a medium dog.Small dogs have to be picked up and down.I have a medium size JRT/mix and he does well going and doing for himself.A Yorkie is good to set on her lap..