Senior Spotlight: Talking About The Top Dogs… Among Baby Boomers

“People love dogs. You can never go wrong adding a dog to the story.”

~ Jim Butcher

As dog lovers through and through, the Bobbi Decker blog has covered the benefits of animal companionship for a long time. (Many of you may even remember pictures of our beloved dog Honey B – and her countless outfits ideal for all her outings!) Today we are taking a bit of a new spin on the topic as we reveal the most popular dog breeds among Baby Boomers – and this one is a bit of a shocker!

Just a few weeks ago, Newsweek reported that the #1 canine of choice among those aged 59 and over is… the Chihuahua! This is one of the key results of a survey that was conducted in collaboration with Rover (a pet-sitting platform) and DIY market research provider, Pollfish. University of Denver researcher Philip Tedeschi, who specializes in studies on the animal and human bond, suggests that the popularity of the Chihuahua among older adults “…may be a more recent phenomena driven by the fact that many boomers are also empty-nesters and that these pint-sized dogs often remind people of having a child.”

Side Note: Online sources report that Chihuahuas are the most common breed in shelters, and in California, they can make up 50–60% of the homeless dog population. Perhaps seniors also enjoy the rescue aspect of this breed and prefer a dog who is out of the puppy phase and in their own second act! 

Earlier in 2024, Shelter Animals Count (a national database) published an article on the 17 best dog breeds for seniors. While most of the top-ranking dogs are small, such as the Maltese, the Welsh Corgi, the French Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the small Poodle, Shih Tzu, Pug and Bichon Frise… a few larger dogs are in the running! Highly ranked big dogs for seniors include the Greyhound, the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Features of the best dogs for seniors include size and temperament manageability, low shedding/easy care, affection and intelligence.

Personally, we feel that the right fit for your family has much more to do with the match of the dog's individual temperament and your lifestyle, rather than any specific breed (rescues and mixed breeds can in fact offer the best of all worlds!). Perhaps who you choose isn’t as important as the reason why you are adding another family member and what kind of life you plan to give him/her. Look forward to future blogs on all the considerations of pet ownership as a senior, and how to plan for your pet’s care if your health situation changes.

Until then… please give your furry friends a pet and a hug from us; we love them all!

Best wishes,

Bobbi

Bobbi Decker
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Broker Associate
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www.bobbidecker.com

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