Best Dogs for Seniors Over 65: What to Consider Before You Choose

There is something rather lovely about having a dog waiting for you when you get home, joining you for a walk or simply keeping you company while you sit and read the newspaper.

And retirement can be a wonderful time to bring a dog into your life.

But if you're in your late 60s, 70s or beyond, there is an important question worth asking before you fall in love with a particular breed or puppy:

Will this dog still suit the life I expect to be living in five or ten years?

That is the question David Kershaw explores in our latest video.

Because finding the best dog for seniors over 65 isn't necessarily about finding the smallest dog, the quietest dog or even the breed that appears on every “best dogs for retirees” list.

It is about finding a dog that fits you.

And perhaps just as importantly, the life you're planning for the years ahead.

Best Dog Breeds for Seniors: Why Size Isn't the Only Consideration

When people start looking for the best dog breeds for seniors, one of the first assumptions is often:

“I should get a little dog.”

That might be exactly the right decision.

But it might not be.

Size is only one part of the equation.

Exercise requirements, temperament, grooming, training and how confidently you can manage the dog all matter as well.

A small dog can sometimes require considerably more energy and maintenance than expected, while some larger dogs may surprise you.

In the video, David looks at several very different types of dogs, including some of the smaller companion breeds many people naturally consider.

But he also talks about one considerably larger breed that might not immediately spring to mind when you think about a dog for retirement.

We'll leave David to explain that one.

▶️ Watch the video below to see which breeds David believes are worth considering — and why size can sometimes be misleading.

Getting a Dog After 65? Think Beyond Today

One of the more important parts of this decision has very little to do with breed.

It is about timing.

Perhaps today you are fit and active. You enjoy walking every day, you have a large backyard and managing a dog doesn't concern you at all.

But dogs can be part of the family for many years.

So it is worth thinking a little further ahead.

Could downsizing be part of your future?

Would you still want the same amount of garden?

Might you eventually prefer a unit, villa, townhouse or retirement community?

Would the dog you choose today still fit comfortably into that lifestyle?

These are not reasons to avoid having a dog.

They are simply questions that can help you choose the right one.

And this is where the decision becomes particularly relevant for many of the homeowners we speak with on the Mornington Peninsula.

Downsizing With a Dog Changes What You May Want From Your Next Home

When people start thinking about downsizing, they often focus on bedrooms, bathrooms and whether they can get rid of the garden.

But if you have a dog — or are considering getting one — your pet becomes part of the property brief as well.

Suddenly you may be thinking about:

• secure outdoor space

• nearby walking areas

• whether there are stairs

• access to parks

• suitable fencing

• proximity to a vet

• whether the dog will cope with a smaller home.

If retirement village living is something you may consider in the future, there may be additional questions to ask as well.

The interesting thing is that a large backyard isn't necessarily the deciding factor you might expect it to be.

David explains more about that in the video and discusses why understanding the individual dog's needs is more important than simply looking at its size.

Puppy or Older Dog? There May Be Another Option

There is another assumption David challenges in the video.

When we decide we'd like a dog, many of us immediately picture a puppy.

And who doesn't love a puppy?

But puppies also come with training, toilet accidents, chewing, energy and a fair amount of work.

So David raises an alternative that can make a lot of sense for some older dog owners:

What about an adult dog?

Or even an older rescue dog?

There are some very practical advantages to considering an established dog rather than automatically choosing a puppy.

We won't go through those advantages here because David explains them in the video — including why knowing more about a dog's existing personality can make the matching process quite different.

▶️ If you're assuming your next dog should be a puppy, this section of the video is particularly worth watching.

One Conversation Families Should Have Before Getting a Dog

There is also a more difficult question that doesn't tend to appear on lists of the “best dogs for seniors”.

If something happened to you, who would look after your dog?

It isn't the most enjoyable part of planning for a pet, but it is important.

Many people understandably assume their children or another family member would step in.

That may well be the case.

But it is much better to have that conversation before the situation ever arises.

Could somebody care for your dog temporarily if you were in hospital?

And what would happen if circumstances changed permanently?

The answers may influence the type of dog you choose in the first place.

David talks more about this in the video because it is one of those unspoken conversations that is much easier to have before a decision has been made.

So What Is the Best Dog for Someone Over 65?

We could give you a neat list of five breeds here.

But that would rather miss the point of David's video.

The best dog for one 67-year-old could be completely wrong for another.

Your activity level matters.

Your home matters.

Your future housing plans matter.

Your willingness to groom, train and exercise the dog matters.

And the individual dog's temperament matters enormously.

David discusses several breeds and options in the video, including:

• smaller companion breeds

• an unexpectedly larger breed

• adult rescue dogs

• and why a puppy may not automatically be the best choice.

Rather than giving all of David's conclusions away here, watch the video and see which option sounds most like your lifestyle.

Watch: Getting a Dog After 65? Watch This Before You Decide

David's main message is simple:

Don't just choose a dog for the life you have today.

Think about the life you want to be living in the years ahead as well.

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Helpful Australian Dog Resources

If David's video has prompted you to do some more research, these organisations are useful starting points:

Dogs Australia – breed information and exercise considerations
https://dogsaustralia.org.au/

RSPCA Australia – dog ownership and Greyhound information
https://www.rspca.org.au/

PetRescue – adult and rescue dogs looking for homes
https://www.petrescue.com.au/

Greyhound Adoption Program Victoria – information about adopting a Greyhound
https://gap.grv.org.au/

You can also find more practical downsizing and retirement lifestyle videos on the McNeill Real Estate YouTube Channel.

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Thinking About Downsizing Too?

If questions about your dog are also making you think about what your next home might need to provide, that is exactly the type of planning we encourage people to start early.

You don't need to be ready to sell.

Sometimes the first step is simply working out what you want the next stage of life to look like.

At McNeill Real Estate, we help homeowners across the Mornington Peninsula navigate the practical and sometimes emotional process of downsizing from a long-term family home.

You can request our free Downsizing Guide for practical information to help you start planning.

Downsizers Home Selling Guide - 49 page download https://morningtonpeninsulahomes.com/DownsizingGuide

 

About David Kershaw

David Kershaw is a licensed estate agent with McNeill Real Estate in Mornington, assisting homeowners throughout Mornington, Mount Martha, Mount Eliza, Somerville, Frankston South and the wider Mornington Peninsula.

David also presents practical videos for the McNeill Real Estate YouTube channel covering downsizing, retirement living and the lifestyle decisions that can influence what people need from their next home.