15 Dogs That Seniors Love

Dogs are a wonderful source of joy and companionship. They provide long years of friendship and love and they come with plenty of health benefits, especially for seniors and retirees. The mere sight of a happy little puppy playing chaotically with its tiny paws jumping from side to side and its precious ears flopping in the wind is enough to lower your blood pressure and bring you a sense of calm joy.

There are many more benefits to owning a puppy. Petting a puppy is known to help boost your mood, relieve stress, and get you in a positive state of mind. Puppies are one of nature’s greatest gifts. They cause you giggles when they get into mischief and keep you on your feet when they want to play. When their puppy energy is spent and they start to mature, that’s when your true friendship begins. Having a dog in your life means always having a friend by your side – whether you’re a child, a teenager, or a senior. You feel cherished, needed, and you are never alone. You will find them curled on your lap while you read your favorite book and at your side at social events. You will share long walks during the day and sweet cuddles on the couch during the evening.  

Choosing a dog that fits your lifestyle is perhaps one of the most important steps you have to take to ensure that you and your new puppy are right for each other. You want to make sure that you pick a dog that you can keep up with in terms of energy, grooming, and other needs they may have. Owning a dog is indeed a big responsibility but it is also a highly rewarding experience that you don’t want to miss out on.

As a senior or retiree, a dog can bring you years of joy and positivity. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of 15 dogs that our senior customers love dearly.  

1. Shih Tzu Puppies

A charismatic little lapdog that thrives on love and attention, the Shih Tzu is one of the favorite companion pets of seniors around the world. These beautiful long-coated dogs are affectionate, kind, friendly, and calm. They are also hypoallergenic and a great choice for pet lovers that suffer from allergies.  

• Shih Tzu exercise needs – a daily walk is enough to keep them happy
• Shih Tzu size – 8 to 11 inches  
• Shih Tzu weight – 9 to 16 pounds
• Shih Tzu lifespan – 10 to 16 years
• Shih Tzu grooming – regular – a daily brush is required  

2. French Bulldog – Frenchie Puppies

A laid-back dog that loves to nap and play in equal measure, the French Bulldog is an ideal companion pet for seniors and retirees. These small dogs are goofy, entertaining, and very loyal. Their nature is caring and they exude joy.  

• French Bulldog exercise needs – 1 daily walk
• French Bulldog size – 11 to 13 inches
• French Bulldog weight – 22 to 28 pounds
• French Bulldog lifespan 10 to 14 years
• French Bulldog grooming – low maintenance – 1 weekly brush  

3. Cavapoo Puppies

Cavapoos are a crossbreed of a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a Mini Poodle. These perfect little pooches are very loving of their pet parents and a joy to have around. They love cuddles, smooches, and bonding moments, and are very fond of social interactions. They are also hypoallergenic and a great fit for allergy sufferers.  

• Cavapoo exercise needs – 30 minutes per day
• Cavapoo size – 9 to 14 inches
• Cavapoo weight – 8 to 20 pounds
• Cavapoo lifespan – 12 to 15 years
• Cavapoo grooming – regular – daily brushing  

4. Maltipoo Puppies

A beautiful mix of a Maltese and a Mini Poodle, the Maltipoo pups bring new meaning to unconditional puppy love. The Maltipoo loves deeply and wants to be involved in every activity their owner does. These toy dogs are hypoallergenic and a great choice for seniors that suffer from pet-related allergies. They are also excellent candidates for therapy and emotional support work.  

• Maltipoo exercise needs – 1 or 2 daily walks
• Maltipoo size – 8 to 9 inches
• Maltipoo weight – 5 to 7 pounds
• Maltipoo lifespan – 13 to 15 years
• Maltipoo grooming – 1 brush every other day

5. Pug Puppies

Even-tempered, gentle, and generous with love, Pugs are an excellent fit for seniors and retirees. These cute dogs love to spend their days curled up on a couch next to their humans. They are friendly, non-aggressive, and wonderful with children.  

• Pug exercise needs – one short daily walk
• Pug size – 10 to 11 inches
• Pug weight – 14 to 25 pounds
• Pug lifespan – 12 to 15 years
• Pug grooming – weekly brushing  

6. Pembroke Welsh Corgi Puppies

Dogs for kings and queens, the Pembroke Welsh Corgis are excellent pets for active seniors. These energetic dogs love to go on long walks, jogs, and adventures. They are friendly, upbeat, and very keen on pleasing their owners.

• Pembroke Welsh Corgi exercise needs – 30 to 60 minutes each day  
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi size – 10 to 12 inches
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi weight – 20 to 30 pounds
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi lifespan – 12 to 15 years
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi grooming – weekly brush during the non-shedding season, daily during shedding  

7. Mini Bernedoodle Puppies

Mini Bernedoodles are the little teddy bear dogs that everyone wants to cuddle. They are a mixed dog breed of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Mini Poodle. These cuddly dogs are laid-back, relaxed, and completely devoted to their humans. They love playing with chew toys, cuddling, and napping on a lap.  

• Mini Bernedoodle exercise needs – a daily walk of 30 minutes
• Mini Bernedoodle size – 12 to 22 inches
• Mini Bernedoodle weight – 20 to 50 pounds
• Mini Bernedoodle lifespan – 12 to 18 years
• Mini Bernedoodle grooming – one weekly brush  

8. Cockapoo Puppies

Little bundles of joy designed to keep their owners on their feet, the Cockapoos are ideal companion dogs for active retirees. These small dogs love to hike, swim, engage in friendly dog chases, and play fetch. They are very affectionate of their pet parents and devoted to pleasing. Cockapoo puppies are a mix of a Cocker spaniel and a Mini Poodle. Cockapoos also shed very little and are considered a hypoallergenic dog breed.

• Cockapoo exercise needs – 2 or 3 walks per day
• Cockapoo size – 10 to 15 inches
• Cockapoo weight – 12 to 25 pounds
• Cockapoo lifespan – 13 to 15 years
• Cockapoo grooming – 2 or three brushes per week  

9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies

Active and friendly, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a dog that loves to have fun. These energetic dogs are perfect for seniors that like to be on the move. They are also very gentle and loving and make wonderful therapy dogs.

• Cavalier King Charles spaniel exercise needs – one or two active daily walks
• Cavalier King Charles spaniel size – 12 to 13 inches
• Cavalier King Charles spaniel weight – 12 to 18 pounds
• Cavalier King Charles spaniel lifespan – 9 to 14 years
• Cavalier King Charles spaniel grooming – daily brushing

10. Bichon Frise Puppies

Playful, gorgeous, and adoring of their humans, Bichons are ideal dogs for companionship. They enjoy accompanying their owners everywhere and are just as fond of lazing on the couch as they are of going to the dog park.  

• Bichon Frise exercise needs – 30 minutes per day  
• Bichon Frise size – 10 to 12 inches  
• Bichon Frise weight – 10 to 16 pounds
• Bichon Frise lifespan – 12 to 15 years  
• Bichon Frise grooming – frequent weekly brushing  

11. Maltese Puppies

The Maltese are cheerful little toy dogs that love to entertain, cuddle, and please their people. They are full of life, very loving, and quite fond of spending their days glued to their owners. These pooches also make excellent therapy dogs as they are attentive and very caring of their humans.

• Maltese exercise needs – two daily walks  
• Maltese size – 9 to 10 inches  
• Maltese weight – 4 to 7 pounds  
• Maltese lifespan – 14 to 16 years
• Maltese grooming – one brush every other day

12. Havapoo Puppies

The Havapoo is a Havanese Poodle mix designed to enchant dog lovers the world over. These gorgeous dogs are playful, energetic, affectionate, and great at making new friends. They love their owners dearly and are known to bond for life.  

• Havapoo exercise needs – up to one hour a day
• Havapoo size – 9 to 12 inches
• Havapoo weight – 8 to 12 pounds
• Havapoo lifespan – 10 to 15 years
• Havapoo grooming – a brush every 2 or three days

13. Teddy Bear Puppies

A natural-born comedian with a knack for tricks and an infectious good mood, the Teddy Bear dog is a most wonderful addition to a senior family. The Teddy Bear group has many excellent dog breeds, but two of our senior fan-favorite are the Shichon (Shih Tzu Bichon mix) and Mal-Shi (Maltese Shih Tzu mix). These toy dogs are popular for therapy work and emotional support.  

• Teddy Bear exercise needs – 2 or 3 brisk daily walks
• Teddy Bear size – 9 to 12 inches  
• Teddy Bear weight – 6 to 14 pounds
• Teddy Bear lifespan – 15 to 18 years
• Teddy Bear grooming – weekly brushing  

14. Yorkshire Terrier – Yorkie Puppies

A spunky little joy bringer that needs all the attention he can get, the Yorkie is a delightful treat for retirees. These tiny dogs love big and are very keen on spending every waking moment following their humans around. Yorkshire Terriers love cuddles, belly rubs, and the center of attention.  

• Yorkshire Terrier exercise needs – 30 to 40 minutes of daily walks and play
• Yorkshire Terrier size – 8 to 9 inches
• Yorkshire Terrier weight – 4 to 6 pounds
• Yorkshire Terrier lifespan – 13 to 16 years
• Yorkshire Terrier grooming – daily brushing

15. Pomeranian Puppies

A charming little dog with an animated personality and a great deal of love to give, the Pomeranian puppy is truly a sweetheart dog for seniors. These perfect pups are caring, attentive, and highly receptive to their owner’s needs. They love to join their humans in every outing and are quite fond of adventures.  

• Pomeranian exercise needs – 2 daily walks
• Pomeranian size – 8 to 11 inches
• Pomeranian weight – 4 to 7 pounds
• Pomeranian lifespan – 12 to 16 years
• Pomeranian grooming – brush a few times per week  

Scroll down to see FAQs about the best dogs for seniors!