Dogs for seniors

A few years back, I had a conversation with one of the guys at the office, he was around 67 years of age, a senior manager of the sales division, usually very out going guy, always saying hi to everybody, but that particularly Wednesday was different, he came through the door directly to his office , looking at the floor immerse in his thoughts. Curiosity kicked in hard, so I decided to ask what was the matter, he looked at me saying " yesterday our family dog died" , it is one of those situations where you really do not know what to say, just I am sorry for your loss, and walked away to my cubicle.

He knew my interest in dogs , so after a week or two he called me to his office saying , Daniel I miss my evening walks with my dog, my wife urged me to find a new dog I sat down in front on of him and grabbed a pen and a piece of paper, together we reviewed his day with some questions like:

- Is there someone at home all the time? or do you both work?

- Do you live in an apartment or a house?

- Do you have a budget for grooming?

- Are you able to walk him/her daily?

- Do you travel a lot? if yes, do you have arrangements to leave your dog while you are away?

- What is your activity level?

- Do you, or your wife have any allergies?

- Would you be able to take care of a puppy? or do you prefer a mature dog?

After reviewing all different options we found a breed that was the best fit for their lifestyle , a hypoallergenic dog that has enough energy for a walk in the park and then cuddle in the couch with them while watching TV.

If you are a senior and looking for a companion, please ask yourself the same questions about your lifestyle, her is some information of breeds usually recommended for older folks