<p>I tried the Iams dog breed selector and made some guesses for your couple. The dog it came up with was the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Low maintenance, smallish dog. If it’s good enough for the queen…</p>
<p>Tried the same thing for the Animal Planet pet selector and came up with…the Cardigan Welsh Corgi!</p>
<p>Some runners up were the English and American Cocker Spaniels, Pug and assorted breeds of terrier.</p>
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I agree with your breed-specific comments, but the couple that the OP referenced has a fenced yard that is 1 acre. Not all dogs are dependent on their owners or require a leash for exercise. In fact, contrary to the “no terrier” caution, I find terriers to be quite independent natured… my dogs are out running around my yard hours before I am even up and about in the mornings. </p>
<p>I did find that 2 dogs were better than 1 in the self-exercising department. They do an awfull lot of running about and chasing each other. In fact, one of my dogs use to love to play tug with me, and stopped that game entirely once she had another dog to play with.</p>
<p>Also, a small dog might be a very good choice. You might have noticed that you rarely see anyone walking a chihuahua on a leash. Our local pound has such a glut of chihuahuas that they waive the adoption fee. Any small breed can get quite a lot of exercise just running after balls indoors. (By “small” I mean under 20 lb. My 8lb dog does a huge amount of running and furniture leaping indoors. I also have a 15 lb Bichon/terrier mix who does the Bichon-blitz – that’s when the dog just starts racing madly about the place for about 5 or 10 minute. It’s fun to watch.)</p>
<p>I actually think that a slightly older toy breed might be a good choice for seniors. The toy breeds really DO like to snuggle and cuddle more – they are bred to be lap dogs, and the bigger problem is that they tend to be very attached to their people, so not a good choice for someone who is away from home all day for work or school. A dog that is 15lb or less is also easy for an older person to lift or carry about, and down the line if the couple needs to move, more likely to be allowed at an assisted living facility. </p>
<p>I made the shift to small dogs precisely because I was worried about my dwindling strength as I get older. My last dog weighed 65lb and as she aged and began to have mobility problems, I was terrified that one day her hips would give out and she wouldn’t be able to get up, and I wouldn’t be able to lift her to carry her to the vet. </p>
<p>But the point is that small dogs have different personalities. They really are much much more attentive & dependent on their humans – they follow me from room to room, park themselves outside the bathroom door when I am showering, etc.</p>
<p>Human’s imposing cuddles on dogs??? Dogs are pack animals. They thrive on contact. Human owners are their pack. I certainly do not force my dog to lay on the couch next to me every time I sit down…</p>
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I don’t “force” my 8 lb terrier to crawl under the covers and snuggle up in bed with me every night either. (I think that’s the terrier/burrowing instinct. My terriers are utterly useless when it come to catching mice, but the little one definitely has a talent for bed tunneling). </p>
<p>I think that large breed dogs are less likely to be “cuddlers” simply because they are less likely to be allowed on furniture or welcome on their owner’s lap. I used to own a 100 lb Rottie who tried to sit on my lap anyway… but I really did try to discourage that sort of thing. With small dogs my only problem is that sometimes it gets hard to type when they are resting their chins on the laptop keyboard…</p>
<p>We have a papillion and a chinese crested (hairless) and both would be good dogs for older people. Both of ours at least will be as active or as sedentary as their people want to be.</p>
<p>I’d suggest a rescue greyhound. Beautiful, smart, loving, low-maintenance - the ultimate couch potato dog.</p>
<p>I agree with calmom that a large fenced yard would work for an older Golden. We have about have about half an acre with an underground fence and our Golden patrols the whole area during the day and wears himself out. Ours sheds much less then our neighbors lab. His personality is sooo sweet. </p>
<p>Another choice would be a King Charles Spaniel. A friend has a couple of them and they seem like really nice dogs. The only drawback I would think would be their coat might require too much maintenance.</p>
<p>I love goldens. I own two goldens. I would never recommend one for my 80 year old parents.</p>
<p>Sure goldens are mellow, sweet and trainable. They’re also big dogs who need to be kept busy. You can put the dog out in the yard but without stimulation he’s going to get bored. A bored golden is likely to dig, roll, bark, chew or do other things to entertain himself. The couple might get lucky and find a golden who does none of these thing. Chances aren’t good. </p>
<p>How will these people care for a 50-80 pound dog? What happens when the dog gets sick, develops arthritis or has other mobility issues? They could get a ramp for the car, but the ones I’ve seen aren’t light themselves. And washing a dog this size? Two years ago our now 8 year old golden got skunked and there was no way we could have put him in the car to get him to a groomer. The process of destinkifying him took a ton of physical work.</p>
<p>Even the best behaved golden will occasionally pull while on leash, usually because they’re eager to interact with a person or another dog. I wouldn’t want my still fit but 80 year old mom on the other end of that leash. A 50 year old can get pulled off balance and end up with a scraped knee. An 80 year old can end up in a nursing home with a broken hip.</p>
<p>As I’ve said, I love goldens. They’re the first breed I’d recommend for a young family. I just don’t think they’re the best choice for someone the age of the couple the OP is trying to help.</p>
<p>BTW, somemom I think a smart dog would be fine for your couple. A smart, submissive smaller dog would be great. What you don’t want is a dominant dog. As an illustration, goldens are very smart but they’re people pleasers. With some basic training you can get most goldens to do pretty much anything you want. Mine will mind the babysitter’s 3 year old. On the other hand, you have a dog like the Australian shepherd, a beautiful and highly intelligent dog. Unfortunately this dog needs a strong owner or it will refuse to recognize the person as the alpha of the pack. I’ve watch my friend spend an hour trying to corral her shepherd so she could leave the park. This was after multiple sessions with a dog trainer.</p>
<p>My terrier is playing video games with the kids…well, sitting on our son’s friend’s lap while he plays video games…</p>
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<p>Our 140 lb. Saint would have gladly sat in anyone’s lap, but particularly my H’s. She was his dog. He would sit on the floor next to her so she could climb in his lap - and she did. Thank heaven she couldn’t physically get on our bed or she would have gladly kicked me out and taken my spot so she could snuggle next to H.</p>
<p>Yes, but if you have a 140lb lap-sitter, that’s not a particularly good choice for a senior who lacks the strength to push the dog off.</p>
<p>Again, I am very, very glad that I have downsized my choice of dogs as I have grown older. I have to laugh when I read about “dominant” dogs as my 8-pounder thinks he is “dominant” and can be quite feisty… but he’s too teensy to get away with anything with me. 
I understand that dominance is a very different problem with a large dog – I mean, I did once share my home with a Rottie – but it’s just not much of an issue for the little guys. Positive, reward based training solves the training issues – in the dog’s mind, it’s not a matter of who’s the boss, it’s just another potential opportunity to earn a treat. (“Potential” because intermittent rewards are more motivating)</p>
<p>I accept that I am very biased because I have cavalier king charles spaniels and I love them so much, but…</p>
<p>It is such an obvious breed for your seniors. The most sweet, loving gentle breed possible. They are about 20ish pounds, love to go walking but it is definitely not required. They would be happy running around in a yard, chasing after things. Especially an older dog, which may not be that active. They are submissive to absolutely everything and everyone, and are very focused on their job in life, which is to be a comfort dog. They want to be on your lap, near you, touching you, snuggling you, comforting you. My husband had surgery and laid on the couch for most of three weeks. Those dogs stayed on the couch with him for three weeks, only leaving to go to the bathroom and eat, it was their job to comfort him. They elderly lady who used to take care of him was sick for awhile. She never walked them, but said they stayed on the couch with her to comfort her during her sickness the entire time.</p>
<p>They are fairly smart, but not terribly clever (at least not the ones I know). They desperately want to please and are very friendly, but don’t bounce all over the walls. They are so soft and silky, but rarely need bathing because the dirt just falls from their coats (onto your carpet). They do periodically shed, but not abnormally so. Your seniors already had a Cocker Spaniel, and a cavalier is a smaller, gentler version.</p>
<p>The only problem may be finding an older one. People don’t want to get rid of their cavaliers, usually, but I’m sure they’re out there somewhere.</p>
<p>“Another choice would be a King Charles Spaniel. A friend has a couple of them and they seem like really nice dogs. The only drawback I would think would be their coat might require too much maintenance.”</p>
<p>Coat requires very little maintenance, unless you’re into the show dog thing. We rarely bathe them, maybe only once a month, because the dirt just doesn’t stay on. We have a brush that every now and then we use to brush their ears if they get a little snarly. We take them into the groomer about every 2 months for a haircut, mostly because we don’t like to cut nails, and they get another bath, and cut their hair pretty short.</p>
<p>I have a yellow lab rescue. He’s 7 and he’s been with me just under a year. The sweetest, most lovable dog. I truly adore him. He’s smart and pretty funny too. And he would get in my lap if allowed. Sometimes he sneaks in the bed when I’m not looking. But at 100 pounds, I’ve told him that he is indeed my last big dog. I’m not sure what happens after him, but I know it’s not a 100 pounder! :)</p>
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<p>lol, I was only trying to point out that the large dogs we have had were very happy to cuddle and be cuddled. I would NOT suggest a Saint for an elderly couple - too opinionated, too large to move when they don’t want to be moved, not concerned with what or who they knock over.</p>
<p>I love the Cavalier King Charles. I have known a few over the years. They are very sweet and adorable to boot.</p>
<p>They should get small dog(s) that bark a lot when strangers approach their home. We had a murderer going around our town for months killing old widows in their homes a few years ago; I remember the local sheriff recommending people get barking dogs to help maybe chase off bad guys and to alert residents someone was in their yard maybe up to no good.</p>
<p>This thread reminds me of the AKC list of top breeds that was released a couple of weeks ago. The list was based on what the trends were for people , yet I saw so many offended people whose dogs were not listed. Let’s face it , we dog owners all think ours are the best dogs ever !
My corgis fit my life because they are not particularly demanding with their exercise needs / energy levels. They are lap dogs and fun size so I can easily take them in my car wherever I go. They are loving, loyal , affectionate and protective in a barking, alert you kind of way when they hear a knock at the door, or a plastic bag is loose in the yard :D</p>
<p>I don’t know that breed is as important as size and activity level for elderly people. I think most people here are just pointing out that you can’t make generalizations about any breed. The concern here is that this couple is 80 years old and while they may be very active, having a 150 lb dog isn’t a good idea. Not only are they big, but they are more expensive to feed, groom, and take care of–medications are more expensive, etc. The other concern is what will happen to this dog if this couple can’t take care of it in say 5 years. Is there a plan in place for that?</p>
<p>I know when my Grandpa died my sister was going to take his cat, however the cat had other ideas and ran away. Thankfully the people that bought his house took care of him when he came back. He loved that cat and none of us could see putting him down but none of the rest of us could have taken the cat because of cat allergies.</p>
<p>My sister is a physical therapy assistant who works with rehabilitating seniors who have fallen and broken their hips and such…and often the culprit is, the family dog! Now when I go to visit my 90-year-old parents, I put my dogs in the kennel or leave them at home with my husband. I will not risk having my parents trip over or be knocked over by my dogs. As much as I love dogs, they are not the best choice for seniors.</p>