Dogs, Cats, and Other People by Matthew Margolis

A friend of mine decided to give his mother a dog for her birthday; thought she might enjoy some companionship around the house, a little fur ball to keep her company. So he went out and bought a pup. An 8-year-old lab. Anxiously, he awaited the arrival of his mother's birthday. Her 92nd birthday. When he dropped that last detail, I asked him, "Is this an episode of 'Columbo'? Are you plotting to kill her?"

That's way too much dog for a 92-year-old woman!

The intentions were good; the match was bad.

Many of my clients have lost spouses or loved ones. Bringing a dog into the house after such a loss brings life into the house! The pooch gives them a reason to get up in the morning, puts a smile on a sad face, brings joy to someone who might otherwise sink into despair. The gentle nudge of a cold nose is sometimes all it takes to get someone out of bed and into the sunshine. And for someone suffering from depression, getting out into the world is mandatory. That's where you meet and interact with people. Who doesn't want to stop and chat with someone who's walking an adorable dog?

I know of an elderly romance that blossomed out of dog walking. Both had lost their spouse, and both had got a dog. Every day, she'd walk her pup. And every day, she'd run into him walking his. Eventually, they started walking and talking together. After a while, this daily routine turned into a new relationship.

Of course, not everyone is looking for love. There are the grumps of the world. They're grouchy, they're cranky, they're just plain cantankerous. They love to complain and prefer to focus on what ails them — and the last thing they want to hear is "Everything's going to be OK." Where's the fun in that?

For these folks, there is no better companion than the canine. Rover doesn't care what she's prattling on and on about. He won't lose patience with the moaning and groaning, nor will he irk her with a well-intended wish for a brighter future. As long as she feeds him, walks him and takes care of him, she can be as ornery as she wants.

And feeding, walking and caring for a living creature means responsibility. It creates a routine. Feeling useful and keeping a routine are incredible buffers to the onset of old age.

There are unbelievable benefits to pairing the elderly with pets, but there are also risks. You have to be careful in your selection of a dog.

Large dogs can easily knock a frail person to the ground. Hyperactive dogs require a lot of exercise and attention. Longhaired dogs shed all over the place, which creates extra housework and means more time spent grooming. Many purebreds and older dogs have health problems of their own, which require frequent trips to the vet, medication and special care. In other words, they can all be a handful, in the wrong hands.

Or under the wrong feet.

Small dogs get underfoot, which could trip anyone up, but especially someone whose sense of balance isn't keen. Toy dogs send more people to the emergency room than you'd believe. Paula Abdul broke her nose in May when she fell on her face trying to avoid stepping on her Chihuahua. And she's a dancer and choreographer! Insert someone with less natural grace into that scenario and get out of the way. Broken hips, broken arms, broken legs, broken noses … a broken bone is a very big deal for an elderly person.

This is why training is so important. Training prevents these kinds of accidents — for the person and the pooch! Many a toy dog has been run over by a wheelchair.

So before you give the gift of canine companionship, be ready to do some training, and make sure you have a good match. Dogs and the elderly are great together when their energy levels, temperaments and needs are in sync. When that's all aligned, what you have is a match eHarmony would envy, and what you've given is a renewed sense of vitality and purpose that someone, maybe even you, might have otherwise missed out on.

Woof!

Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Read all of Uncle Matty's columns at the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com, and visit him at http://www.unclematty.com. Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.

COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.