8 Best Dog Breeds for Older Adults

Bichon Frise

The bichon frise is a joyful and affectionate companion dog, weighing 7–12 pounds. They need periodic grooming and moderate daily exercise, making them relatively low maintenance.

Cavalier King 

Cavaliers are affectionate, adaptable, and easy to handle, weighing 11–18 pounds. They require regular grooming but are well-suited for apartment living and enjoy snuggling with their owners.

French Bulldog

French bulldogs are cheerful and compact, weighing 19–28 pounds. They need moderate exercise and minimal grooming but may have health concerns like brachycephalic syndrome.

Greyhound

Despite being racing dogs, greyhounds are couch potatoes who enjoy daily walks and occasional runs. Weighing 60–80 pounds, they are easy to handle and responsive to training.

Maltese

Maltese dogs are small lap dogs, weighing 4–7 pounds. They require regular grooming and enjoy short walks, making them easy to handle and train.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Corgis are small-to-medium herding dogs, weighing 24–30 pounds. They are smart, easy to train, and need routine exercise. Corgis have minimal grooming needs.

Pomeranian

Pomeranians are tiny, affectionate dogs weighing 3–7 pounds. They enjoy companionship, playing with toys, and can be easily carried in a bag.

Poodle

Poodles come in three sizes and are highly intelligent and loyal. They need basic daily walks and professional grooming every month or two, adapting well to various households.