Pets can provide many benefits for older adults, including boosts to emotional, mental, and physical health. According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, 86% of pet owners aged 50 to 80 said their pets made them feel loved, while 88% explained their furry friends helped them enjoy life.
“It’s well-known that as we age, we tend to look for a quieter life with simple pleasures, such as taking companionship with a four-legged friend in the country,” the team at Lottie says. “Our study found that smaller dogs are favored over larger breeds.”
As well as dogs, other animals that are great for later life include indoor birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, fishes, domestic fowls, and tortoises — thanks to their easy-going nature.
Wanting to get a dog of your own? Take a look at the full list of breeds below…
1. Pug
2. West Highland White Terrier
3. Shih Tzu
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
5. Poodle
6. Pomeranian
7. Yorkshire Terrier
8. Welsh Corgi
