Statistics show that quality of life is greatly improved when a senior citizen adopts a dog.  Although the individual needs of any senior should be weighed carefully before adopting a dog, temperament and size are generally the most important considerations.  If you or someone you know is a senior looking to adopt a dog, consider choosing one or a mix of these breeds.

Top 10 Great Dog Breeds for Seniors

• Schnauzer: Not only is the Schnauzer popular with people, but people are also popular with a Schnauzer!  They come in a variety of sizes from the Miniature to the Great Schnauzer and every size craves human companionship.  Their eager desire to please also makes them easy to train.  Schnauzers have the added benefit of being considered a hypoallergenic dog breed.
• Pug: Pugs are known for being small dogs with big hearts. They can be very playful and are outgoing by nature, soaking up with pleasure all the attention their owner wants to give them. For seniors with a lot of time on their hands, adopting a Pug would energize their quality of life while also giving them a lap companion while watching television.
• Cocker spaniel: Another long-time popular breed, Cocker Spaniels are not high strung, nor are they particularly outgoing by nature.  However, they are patient and docile by temperament, which earns them a spot on the list as one of the great dog breeds for seniors.
• Dachsund: A standard size Dachshund would work well for any senior, but this breed has the added bonus of coming in a miniature size as well. Commonly called “wiener dogs,” they adjust easily to any environment and make affectionate and friendly companions.
• Chihuahua: These dogs have a tendency to connect with one person and become protective of them—a perfect match for a senior living alone. Their small size belies the fact that they make good watch dogs because they rarely hesitate to show off their loud bark.
• Shih Tzu: The Shih Tzu made the list of great dog breeds for seniors because they, too, crave human companionship. Although friendly and gentle in temperament, this dog breed is also very alert to what is going on around it.
• Yorkshire terrier: This breed often fools people when observed in a high-energy state. Like most dogs, they can become excited, but they really prefer nothing better than sitting in their owner’s lap. They also enjoy a quiet home and being lazy.
• Toy poodle: Poodles make the list for great dog breeds for seniors because many owners enjoy fussing over their pet dog. Toy poodles are not only the perfect size, but they love companionship and welcome the royal treatment as suitable for their breed status.
• Pomeranian: People often describe this breed as a “little fuzzy bear.” This handsome breed makes an excellent companion for seniors. Their perky personality will enliven any home and provide constant amusement for their senior owner.
• Boston terrier: This is another small breed that also tends to be protective of its family. Seniors will appreciate the protection, but will especially connect with their mellow and friendly personalities.

Consider Adopting a Rescue Dog

Even nursing homes encourage visitors (and sometimes their staff) to bring in family-friendly dogs for their residents to enjoy.  Not all of these dogs are a recognizably specific breed, but they do bring a lot of pleasure to the residents just by wagging their tails.

A shelter or rescue can be the best place to find the right dog for an older caregiver.  Shelter staff typically know the dogs in their care, and can recommend which ones have the right temperament.  A shelter or rescue is also the best place to look for an older dog.  Adult and senior pets are a great option for a senior caregiver, as they tend to be calmer, have prior training, and require less work than a boisterous new puppy.  Many shelters offer discounts to seniors, and on animal over a certain age.  Senior cats are also a great option for someone who wants companionship but has concerns about meeting the needs of a dog.

Last, while it is important to find the best match for a senior’s lifestyle and limitations, giving a desperate dog or cat a home is also an emotionally satisfying option for any senior citizen.

Animal shelters across North America are filled with homeless pets in need and an all-too-common reason for that is when an adult buys the animal as a surprise gift for a family member or friend, and the relationship doesn’t work.  Animals are living creatures with emotional and physical needs that should be respected.  If you are considering bringing an animal into your home or the home of another, be aware of your situation, the needs of the animal, and what will happen if it doesn’t work out.

Pets and Children

Realistically, no child is able to bear the responsibility of a dog or cat, yet they are the most likely to beg and wish for a puppy or kitten as a gift.  All too often, parents get sucked in with pleas and promises, believing that owning an animal will teach their child responsibility.  Unfortunately, though you can reward a responsible child with a pet, trying it the other way rarely ends well for the animal involved.

If you want to teach your child about pet ownership, start small.  Resist the urge to purchase a rabbit, ferret, or other large “pocket pet” as these animals require more care and social attention than most people realize.  Rabbits in particular, are often the victims of Easter bunny fads, returned to shelters or released into the wild shortly after the novelty wears off.

Fish and small rodents like hamsters or gerbils can make good first pets for children.  Show your child how to clean, feed, and interact with a small animal, but be prepared to assume responsibility yourself if your child loses interest.

Consider Costs

Not everyone is able to comfortably adjust to the cost of owning a pet.  According to some estimates, annual spending for a dog or cat is over $1,400 or $1,000 respectively.  Some costs are flexible depending on brand names and location but basic needs like routine veterinary care and food can’t be ignored.  Without a pet insurance plan, unexpected illnesses or accidents could break the proverbial bank.

How Committed is the Recipient

Who is the pet for?  Has he or she ever owned a pet? Are there roommates or family members that might object?  Are there potential pet allergies?  Does your recipient have the time to devote to an animal?  Puppies in particular require time-consuming training and patience as they grow and learn, and not every pet owner is ready for the commitment.

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What is the lifespan of the animal you plan to give?  Cats can live to be 20 years old and as pets age they require more frequent and expensive veterinary care.  Students and young professionals liable to pick up and move are not good candidates for new pets that may get left behind.  Your clean-aholic roommate might love cats, in theory, but the reality is a constant battle against cat fur.

Give Pets the Smart Way

If you think your gift recipient can handle the costs, care and responsibility, and you still want to give a pet as a gift, don’t do it unexpectedly.  Make the person a part of the process.  Take a trip to your local animal shelter and make the adoption a special event that you can share together.

For kids old enough, you can make the process an educational experience by researching dog or cat breeds together.  Study the pros and cons of each breed before a final decision is made.  If you are able to bear the costs of a new-pet-owner starter kit, go shopping together for all the items needed before bringing the pet home.

Last but not least, before you give the gift of a pet, ask yourself this:

If all else fails, are you willing to take responsibility?

If you have fallen in love with Max, the one-eyed dog, or Marshmallow, the deaf cat, here are some important tips for adopting a disabled pet that can help you adjust to your pet’s special needs.

Disabled pets come in many forms. Some special-needs pets have persistent health problems like diabetes, skin or foodallergies, frequent urinary tract infections, or behavioral issues like aggression or defecating and urinating in unwanted areas. Other common disabilities are missing limbs, hind limb paralysis, profound deafness, blindness and edentulism (having few or no teeth).

Educate Yourself

Read everything you can about the pet’s disability so you won’t be surprised by the amount of time or effort you might have to expend to keep your pet healthy and happy. Depending on the pet’s disability, you might need to consider the extra cleaning, veterinary bills or pet-sitting fees you might incur after adopting a disabled pet.

Consult a Veterinarian

Your veterinarian is a great resource and will give you professional tips on adopting a disabled pet. Veterinarians are aware of the medical and social problems that can arise when a pet has special needs. They can guide you through the extra medical care, grooming or food preparation you might need to do to keep your disabled pet comfortable and content.

Trial Basis

Adopting a new pet is often nerve-racking and eye-opening, especially during the first few days of getting to know your new family member. Adopting a disabled pet is fraught with more issues than an ordinary adoption. That is why it is strongly advised that you take your disabled pet home for a trial visit to see if you and your family are able to love this animal despite the special care it might need.

It is better to realize in a few days that you cannot handle the work, time or money involved in caring for a disabled animal than to decide after an adoption has been finalized. Most likely you will find out that, along with the extra work in owning a special needs pet, you will benefit from the extra rewards of giving a home to an animal that most people would pass over.

Tips for Dealing with Specific Pet Disabilities

• If a pet’s disability causes it to soil itself, keep a container of baby wipes available in each room of the house. You can quickly swipe a dirty rear with a pre-moistened towelette and keep your pet and your home smelling clean.

• Blind pets can move around easily if you keep your home’s interior the same. Don’t move furniture unnecessarily or add items to your home since it will confuse or frighten a blind pet. Always leave your blind pet's food dishes in the same area and keep a blind cat’s litter box in the same spot.

• Pets that are missing a limb usually adjust and adapt beautifully. They learn to navigate on three legs just as well as most pets do on four. However, balance issues do arise, and it’s important to watch them when they are walking up or down stairs, or on uneven terrain. Animals that are missing a limb will often tire quicker than those with all four limbs. Watch out for fatigue if you take your pet for long walks.

• Deaf animals will respond to light, and some will respond to vibration. You can use these tools to get your animal attention since it cannot hear you call.

• Cats with chronic urinary infections will need to be monitored carefully to ensure they are urinating. Clean the litter box two times a day to check for signs of urination as this condition can worsen quickly when a cat stops voiding.

• Animals with no teeth will need to have a special diet. To make sure your pet is getting the proper nutrition, consult with your veterinarian about food choices and textures. Sometimes a liquid vitamin supplement will provide needed nutrition.

• Both diabetes and arthritis can be helped by keeping your pet at an optimal weight.

Seek out online blogs or groups that offer discussions and articles on living with a disabled pet. True experts in the field of adopting a disabled pet, they can offer help, advice and support to the “angels” who choose to give a good home to a pet with special needs.

Few experiences are more fun and exciting than welcoming a new puppy into the family. The first few weeks after a puppy is introduced into your home is a sensitive time, and it is important that you bond with him during this period. The following are some tips for bonding with your new puppy the first week home that will help establish a loyal and loving relationship for many years to come.

Why it’s important to bond with a new puppy

Bonding with any new pet is important, but it’s especially vital when dealing with a new puppy. If you want your puppy to grow into a well-behaved dog, he needs to know who’s in charge. During this first week, give your new puppy plenty of love and affection, but also establish yourself as the leader of the pack. The more your new puppy feels he needs you, the more likely he is to bond with you and look to you for commands.

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Tips for bonding with your new puppy the first week home

• Groom him: Animals groom one another as a sign of affection. By grooming your puppy, you not only show him that you care and make him more comfortable, but you also establish a good habit for years to come. If you start grooming right away, your dog is more likely to sit still and even appreciate grooming and bath time as he grows.

• Walk him: Another one of the tips for bonding with your new puppy the first week home is to take him on regular walks. One of the major responsibilities of being a dog owner is making sure your puppy gets enough exercise. During the first week home, take your dog on a walk every day. This one-on-one time not only helps bring you closer together, but also helps your puppy associate you with an activity that he enjoys and looks forward to.

• Train him: It’s never too early to start training a new puppy. Start slowly and reward your new puppy with treats to keep him happy and bolster his self-esteem. Early training also helps to establish who’s in charge and makes gaining obedience much easier.

• Socialize him: Of course you’ll want to spend a lot of your time during that first week bonding one-on-one with your new puppy, but it's also important to introduce him to other people. Be supportive and affectionate toward your new puppy in these situations, so that he feels protected. This way, he’ll learn to be less cautious toward guests in your home. Expect him to need some reassurance that these new people are OK and won’t hurt him or his new master.

Now that you have read these tips for bonding with your new puppy the first week home, you’re more prepared to welcome a new puppy into your family. Remember to provide lots of love and affection and make him feel safe, while still establishing yourself as the alpha dog. Puppies are surprisingly perceptive, so be sure to create an atmosphere that is upbeat and happy, so that he feels safe and welcomed. Avoid bringing a new puppy into your home during times of strife or tragedy as he’ll pick up on these negative emotions.

Many animal shelters and rescue groups are in need of patient and loving individuals to foster special-needs animals. With a little preparation, you can become a foster parent for a special-needs animal, providing an important service and potentially saving a life. The following is a guide for how to foster special-needs animals.

What qualifies an animal as special-needs?

Special-needs animals require special care and attention due to health issues, injuries or other conditions. Many special-needs animals are either quite old or very young and may need to be separated from other shelter animals for this reason. Others exhibit behavioral problems because they have been neglected or abused. Special-needs animals may require more individual attention than a shelter can provide, or there may be limited space in the shelter to house them. As a foster parent, you provide a temporary home and lots of TLC for cats, dogs and other animals with special needs.

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How to foster special-needs animals

Fostering any animal requires certain resources, such as time, space and pet supplies. However, special-needs animals may require special conditions, veterinary care and more time and energy than the average foster pet. Outlined below are some of the basic steps involved in fostering special-needs animals.

• Find an animal shelter in your area: Locate an animal shelter or rescue organization in your area and ask about fostering a special-needs animal. While most animal shelters are in dire need of good foster parents, they typically won’t hand over a special-needs animal to just anyone. You may need to complete an application process and provide proof that you have the resources to care for a special-needs animal. You might improve your odds of being selected as a foster parent by volunteering your time at your local animal shelter first.

• Prepare your home: Once you have been approved as a foster parent for a special-needs animal, the next step is to prepare your home and family for the new addition. Young children especially need to be prepared to deal with a special-needs animal so that neither party is endangered. You should prepare an area that is safe and comfortable for the animal and minimizes the damage it can do to your home. If you have pets of your own, it is typically recommended that you keep them separated from your foster animal until they have had time to adjust. Over time, you can gradually introduce the foster animal to other pets in a controlled setting. Of course, you’ll need additional supplies, such as food, grooming tools, medical supplies and any other items that your special-needs animal requires.

• Keep a list of emergency contacts: A guide for how to foster a special-needs animal wouldn’t be complete without discussing the risks involved. Fostering a special-needs animal is extremely rewarding, but it can be challenging as well. These animals need special care and attention for a good reason, so keeping a list of emergency contacts handy can provide peace of mind for your family. Include the animal shelter's or rescue agency’s contact information, as well as the telephone number for your local vet and emergency animal hospital. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where to find this important information.

These are just some of the basic factors to consider when deciding to foster a special-needs animal. Now that you know the basics of how to foster a special-needs animal, you can continue your research and look into fostering programs in your area. Call your local shelter or ask your veterinarian for more details or look for reputable animal rescue organizations on-line.