So who knows dog breeds?

[Furiey]

Border collies are extremely active and need a lot of exercise, remember they are bred to herd sheep. If she couldn't keep up with a sheltie she'll never manage a border collie. They are my favourite dog and my family have had them all my life but they are a lot of work.

How about a golden retriever? They are very friendly, good to train, much easier to keep up with than a collie, but may be larger than what you want.

Personally I would not go for a puppy or be too set on a specific breed, but go and find an individual dog that is the right size, temperament and age for you want.

 

[tycoonist]

I sense she probably doesn't want a gun dog or a working dog, as they do NEED to be walked. I have a springer spaniel, and he gets grumpy if he doesn't get walked daily at least for 45 mins. This is a pitty, cause gun dogs are awesome and very cool personality wise.

I'd say maybe a poodle cross would be good. They're very manageable, and normally quite agreeable. Or maybe a medium sized schnauzer

 

[Shekwan]

What about a West Highland Terrier?

They've got that hunting dog likeability but I wouldn't imagine they need much walking.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

ALL dogs need walking.

Unless they are potty-trained and have a treadmill available for exercise...

 

[Cutlass]

Mom walks 2 miles most days that the weather is good. On other days, there's a fenced yard that the dog has the run of. The dogs she's had in the past seemed ok with that.

 

[Shekwan]

They've got that hunting dog likeability but I wouldn't imagine they need much walking.

ALL dogs need walking.

Unless they are potty-trained and have a treadmill available for exercise...

They've got that hunting dog likeability but I wouldn't imagine they need much walking.

I hope that cleared things up.

 

[GoodGame]

I googled this: http://www.puppy-basics.com/best-dog-breeds-for-the-elderly.html



BEST DOG BREEDS FOR THE ELDERLY

Affenpinscher
Australian Terrier
Bichon Frise
Boston Terrier
Brussels Griffon
Cairn Terrier
Chihuahua
Cocker Spaniel
Dachshund
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
English Toy Spaniel
Fox Terrier
French Bull Dog
Havanese
Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin
Llasa Apso
Maltese
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Schnauzer
Papillon
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Pug
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Shih Tzu
Silky Terrier
Toy Poodle
Welsh Corgi
West Highland Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier



I'm kind of amazed they listed a Cairn Terrier, though. Makes me think the list is suspect. Fairly feisty, active dog, that barks a lot. I've lived with 3 of them.

I'd looks for a lap dog that gets along well with people, not domineering, etc..

Maltese sounds good. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/choosing-a-maltese/page1.aspx http://www.puppy-basics.com/maltese.html

 

[Cutlass]

Most of those are very small dogs. And most terriers are pretty much non stop yappers that I've seen. I don't think that's a very helpful list.

 

[shadowplay]

What about a pug? They're very quiet.

 

[Cutlass]

I also have to work around what my mother thinks is pretty It's not easy finding a dog for this woman.

 

[GoodGame]

French bull-dog sounds alright---good with other pets, about 20 lbs, good in apartments and with elderly, neighborhood walker.

http://www.puppy-basics.com/frenchbulldog.html

Too ugly?

 

[Cutlass]

Mom would think so. But part of that is her just dithering because she doesn't want to make up her mind. We all think a dog would be good for her, and 1/2 the time she wants one, but won't just make up her mind. We should just grab one and drop it off at her place and call it a done deal. It would save us all a lot of headache.

 

[GoodGame]

Mom would think so. But part of that is her just dithering because she doesn't want to make up her mind. We all think a dog would be good for her, and 1/2 the time she wants one, but won't just make up her mind. We should just grab one and drop it off at her place and call it a done deal. It would save us all a lot of headache.

No then the headaches just begin....dog training with a hard to train dog, getting attached to a BAD dog, etc..

If she can't make up her mind though, I bet she doesn't really want one.

 

[shadowplay]

Most all small breeds have a reputation for barking too much. So this will be a problem.

Maybe get her a cat and tell her it's a dog?

Go to the local library and check out one of those books in the pet/animal section about dog breeds. My friend has a great book (don't know the name, sorry) with lots of pictures and information on all the different breeds. Something like this might help her make a more informed choice of what dog would be suitable for her needs.

Also, I would recommend against a shelter dog for someone that age - unless it's a puppy less than a few months old. In my experience, they're more difficult to deal with, and the people working at the shelter aren't always forthcoming about problems the animal may have. You don't know what's in that animals past... it's previous humans may not have been good to it.

 

[GoodGame]

What cat-lover would not want this?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/sayomg/cat-loves-dog-licking-tah

 

[Supr49er]

Visit a shelter, and the right dog will find her.
An adult dog would be best, you can see its size and temperment.
As several people have pointed out consider a mixed breed or mutt, they have the best of both dogs, and less health issues.

 

[tycoonist]

I know they're huge, but great danes are really cool dogs...

 

[Shekwan]

Tell her its a dog.

 

[Cutlass]

Visit a shelter, and the right dog will find her.
An adult dog would be best, you can see its size and temperment.
As several people have pointed out consider a mixed breed or mutt, they have the best of both dogs, and less health issues.

It's a good idea, and I have suggested this. But the shelters locally are mostly hard to use.

 

[civ_king]

Tell her its a dog.

PIKA-Meow