What are Some of the Best Dog Breeds for Seniors?

 

Bichon Frise pictured above

🐾 For seniors, the best dog breeds tend to be those that are:

• Low-maintenance in grooming and exercise

• Gentle and affectionate in temperament

• Smaller in size for easier handling

• Adaptable to quieter lifestyles or smaller homes

Here are some top picks that consistently show up across expert recommendations:

Breed	Size	Temperament	Grooming Needs	Why It’s Great for Seniors
Bichon Frise	Small	Cheerful, affectionate	Moderate	Hypoallergenic, easy to train
Maltese	Toy	Loyal, calm	Moderate	Great lap dog, minimal exercise needs
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Small	Gentle, loving	Moderate	Excellent emotional support, very social
Pug	Small	Playful, charming	Low	Low exercise needs, great for apartments
Shih Tzu	Small	Friendly, calm	Moderate	Good with visitors, adaptable
Miniature Schnauzer	Small	Alert, friendly	Moderate	Hypoallergenic, good watchdog
Greyhound	Medium	Quiet, gentle	Low	Surprisingly low-energy, great for relaxed homes
Toy Poodle	Toy	Intelligent, loyal	High	Hypoallergenic, trainable, great for active seniors

And if you're considering adopting rather than buying, senior dogs from shelters can be a wonderful match—they’re often already trained and have mellow personalities that align beautifully with a quieter lifestyle.

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