Dogs can be a great companion for a senior citizen, providing them with day to day love and company when the family cannot be there and these eight breeds are some of the best at doing just that. Remember when picking a dog for an elderly member of your family, an already trained older dog is probably a better choice than a puppy. Also, take into account energy level and the mobility of the person. Make sure the dog and the new owner are a match.
#1 – Allergies
Leah Hatley, owner and trainer at TheFamilyDog.com, says having a dog around your baby can actually reduce the chance of your child developing allergies later on. And not just dog allergies, but also to all the things dog’s track in, like dirt, grass, pollen, etc. There’s even research to support this.
#2 – Noise Sensitivity
Hatley also mentions that having a dog around can help with noise de-sensitization. Your baby will get used to things like a loud dog barking, running through the house, etc.
#3 – Lowers Blood Pressure
We all know dogs are therapeutic. Having a dog around the house can lower the blood pressure of the parents even before the baby comes, which is good for both mom and baby, observes Hatley. And, maybe the dog even helps the baby’s mood once he’s born.
#4 – Respect for Others
Elizabeth Traxler, CPDT-KA, is a dog trainer for Four Paws Up Dog Training, Inc. She says that as your baby grows into a toddler, they will be learning how to love, respect and care for another being by watching you interact with the family dog.
#5 – Immune System
A study found that babies who lived with a dog (or cat!) during their first year of life were sick less frequently than children in homes without pets.
#6 – Fear of Dogs
Having your baby raised around dogs with positive experiences, will minimize the risk that they will fear them when they get older, which is a good thing.
#7 – Protector
Of course, a dog can be a useful guardian of your house and your baby in particular. There are many stories about dogs saving babies or alerting parents of an issues, like this heroic dog that saved a 14-month-old from drowning.
#8 – Floor Cleaner
When your baby has graduated to a highchair, you will be happy to have a dog around to clean up after baby – he will have no problem getting any food your child throws.
Toledo, United States.
