I am much more familiar with the personality of larger breeds, so I thought I’d see if y’all could help me a bit.
My grandmother and I feel that her husband would really do well with the companionship of a dog. He’s also interested in the idea, now that we’ve brought it up. He dotes on his cats, but they just don’t give enough back. My grandma is a very young and active 73 (still has some horses in training) and is completely capable of all the care and training a dog needs. Plus, I would happily take any of their animals should the need ever arise.
Her husband is older and isn’t able to do as many of his hobbies these days, so he heaps love on their two cats, but they just don’t have the same connection and needs as a dog.
The reason I’m a little at a loss: they fly to Arizona for the winter every year or two and would really like something small enough that they could fly with it. Other than that, the criteria are something that would be happy to be a lap dog but confident and playful enough to enjoy going on car rides, walks and playing easy games in the yard and the house.
My grandma very much prefers what she describes as “fox faced” dogs, and I think one of the short-nosed breeds would probably not interest her. An older rescue is definitely what we’re thinking, and I thought a purebred rescue might be easier for them to work with, based on their needs. I was hoping they might be able to do a foster-to-adopt situation with the right group.
Anyway, thoughts on breeds, just to get started? The first one that came to mind for me was a papillon, and my grandma has known a few that she really liked. She’s also always had and preferred larger dogs, so her small dog familiarity is limited, like mine.
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