The breed for me?

[benjihairybutt]

Hello,

I am a 14 year old girl looking for a dog. I want a toy or small breed. It should be easy to housetrain. I would be willing to bathe it every few weeks and brush it a few times a week. I want a friendly dog, maybe even one that could be friendly enough to visit hospitals and such. It should be active, yet not too active, if you know what I mean. I want one that likes to play and snuggle for a long while. Also, I want one that doesn't shed too much. I would enjoy taking it for walks every few days and I have a small yard. I tried a pet finder on the internet already and found it somewhat helpfull but I want your oppinions. I was thinking of a chuhuahua or a pug, but I would enjoy a longer haired breed too.

 

[oriondw]

Beagle?

 

[bubbatd]

Being a big dog lover , I can't help you with small breeds... good luck !

 

[Gempress]

Toy breeds are considered difficult to housetrain and usually tend to be more one-person dogs (not very social). But I think a pug would be good. They need minimal grooming and usually love everyone. A 13-inch beagle would also be good.

 

[rottiegirl]

Toy breeds are considered difficult to housetrain and usually tend to be more one-person dogs (not very social). But I think a pug would be good. They need minimal grooming and usually love everyone. A 13-inch beagle would also be good.

Pug is a bad idea. They shed tons!! My parents have a female pug and she sheds like crazy. Their mustang GT is full of fur, and so is their house. That dog shed more than their chow/lab mix.

I would suggest a chihuahua, because they love to cuddle, they hardly shed, and they are easy to take care of. First you would need to get one from a responsibe breeder, and socialize at a young age, because they are known to become aggressive. If you do everything correct, a chi would be perfect for you.

 

[rottiegirl]

Toy breeds are considered difficult to housetrain and usually tend to be more one-person dogs (not very social). But I think a pug would be good. They need minimal grooming and usually love everyone. A 13-inch beagle would also be good.

I agree that a beagle would be good if she is ok with a larger dog, and if shes ok with their "houndy" smell.

 

[FoxyWench]

Hello,

I am a 14 year old girl looking for a dog. I want a toy or small breed. It should be easy to housetrain. I would be willing to bathe it every few weeks and brush it a few times a week. I want a friendly dog, maybe even one that could be friendly enough to visit hospitals and such. It should be active, yet not too active, if you know what I mean. I want one that likes to play and snuggle for a long while. Also, I want one that doesn't shed too much. I would enjoy taking it for walks every few days and I have a small yard. I tried a pet finder on the internet already and found it somewhat helpfull but I want your oppinions. I was thinking of a chuhuahua or a pug, but I would enjoy a longer haired breed too.

a chihuahua would NOT be a good choice, they are notoriously difficult to housebreak and there typiclaly a one peron dog. (some make fine therpay pets but its their nature to have their one favorite person and be wary of any others. short haired chihuhauas tend to shed, the longhaired chihuaua sheds less but again you have the social issue. they also tend ot have very short suprts of energy, they do love to cuddle though.

on that note MOST toy breeds are difficult to housebreak...but from what you said your looking for as much as i adore chis i dont think a chihuaua would fit well...
on the bathing note, a dog should be bathed once amonht unless it gets extreemly dirty between baths...shampoo dries out the skin and coat...

from what ive seen of pugs, they do shed (not as much as say a lab) but would definatly be more the kind of dog for you from the sounds of it, they tend to be playfull yet still cuddlers and a little easier to housebreak than a chi, and are alot more people friendly.

if you like toy dogs with long hair look into the pappillion. they are wonderfull small dogs, loving sweet tend to be quicker learners than some of the other toy breeds, and usually good with people. they would require a good brush every couple of days though and a quick comb through every day to keep the hair in good shape but they dont realy shed too much in comparison to some breeds

if your looking into asmooth coated (short coat) breed, take alook at minpins, manchesters and toy fox terriers, they all have a more outgoing nature being terriers but can be stubborn, training is amust but there wonderfull breeds and most make great therapy dogs. (i know a group of 13 therapy dogs composed of those 3 breeds...)

and if your looking for more of a clownish dog look into the affenpinscer or brussels griffon, both are playfull inteligent and sweet and usually VERY outgoing. they have a wirey coat and do require a bruhing once in a while but not quite so much as a papillion.

a boarder or cairn terrier might also work they too are wirey haired and are playfull and sweet, but definatly terriers, they NEED a job, (which being a therapy dog is) and training!

or even a boston terrier, every boston ive ever met LOVE people.

id probbaly suggest a papillion or a pug or a boston terrier from what you said though.

 

[rottiegirl]

a chihuahua would NOT be a good choice, they are notoriously difficult to housebreak and there typiclaly a one peron dog. (some make fine therpay pets but its their nature to have their one favorite person and be wary of any others. short haired chihuhauas tend to shed, the longhaired chihuaua sheds less but again you have the social issue. they also tend ot have very short suprts of energy, they do love to cuddle though.

on that note MOST toy breeds are difficult to housebreak...but from what you said your looking for as much as i adore chis i dont think a chihuaua would fit well...
on the bathing note, a dog should be bathed once amonht unless it gets extreemly dirty between baths...shampoo dries out the skin and coat...

from what ive seen of pugs, they do shed (not as much as say a lab) but would definatly be more the kind of dog for you from the sounds of it, they tend to be playfull yet still cuddlers and a little easier to housebreak than a chi, and are alot more people friendly.

if you like toy dogs with long hair look into the pappillion. they are wonderfull small dogs, loving sweet tend to be quicker learners than some of the other toy breeds, and usually good with people. they would require a good brush every couple of days though and a quick comb through every day to keep the hair in good shape but they dont realy shed too much in comparison to some breeds

if your looking into asmooth coated (short coat) breed, take alook at minpins, manchesters and toy fox terriers, they all have a more outgoing nature being terriers but can be stubborn, training is amust but there wonderfull breeds and most make great therapy dogs. (i know a group of 13 therapy dogs composed of those 3 breeds...)

and if your looking for more of a clownish dog look into the affenpinscer or brussels griffon, both are playfull inteligent and sweet and usually VERY outgoing. they have a wirey coat and do require a bruhing once in a while but not quite so much as a papillion.

a boarder or cairn terrier might also work they too are wirey haired and are playfull and sweet, but definatly terriers, they NEED a job, (which being a therapy dog is) and training!

or even a boston terrier, every boston ive ever met LOVE people.

id probbaly suggest a papillion or a pug or a boston terrier from what you said though.

My chihuahua was very easy to potty train. My rottie mix took way longer to potty train.

Yes they are a 1 person dog, but I have met many that adore other people. The ones that I have met, run up to the first person they see, and jump up to their lap, followed by tons of kisses. Good breeding and socialiation is the key.

My smooth coat chi hardly sheds at all.

 

[FoxyWench]

both my chihuhsus were easy to potty train also but those 2 are not the entire breed as a breed in general they are a VERY hard (if not the hardest) breed to housebreak!

again in GENERAL short haired chis do tend to shed and they do so much more than a long haired chi and IN GENERAL they are NOT social dogs...

i do agree trainign and socilization are amust just as they are with every breed, but from what this young lady was describing as looking for in abreed (and at only 14) a chihuahua in general would NOT be the best choice for her...

not the IN GENERAL...chis are a breed i know very well i grew up with the breed and am a 3rd generation chihuhaua breeder, i grew up with a pack of 25-35 dogs (not including puppies) at any one time... as my grandfather also did chihuauas rescue.

chihuahas are an absolutly WONDERFULL breed, but i feel its VERY important to tell people of the negatives AND positives of any breed...and as i already said i think a dog such as a pug or a boston or a pappillion would suilt this girls needs and wants better than a chi.

i wasnt at all bashing the breed or stating that eveyr single individual chihuahuas was like that, but when you look at the numbers on average it shows chis tend to shed, there hard to housebreak and there not social dogs. rember a therapy dog MUST be able to handle ANY situation from a grasping baby to a twitching elderly person to shakey people to sick people to crying and noise and all sorts of instruments...i have met a small number of chihuhauas who are also threapy dogs, however they are a small number compaerd to the many chihuahas in the world!

hope this clears my thought pattern up...

 

[rottiegirl]

both my chihuhsus were easy to potty train also but those 2 are not the entire breed as a breed in general they are a VERY hard (if not the hardest) breed to housebreak!

again in GENERAL short haired chis do tend to shed and they do so much more than a long haired chi and IN GENERAL they are NOT social dogs...

i do agree trainign and socilization are amust just as they are with every breed, but from what this young lady was describing as looking for in abreed (and at only 14) a chihuahua in general would NOT be the best choice for her...

not the IN GENERAL...chis are a breed i know very well i grew up with the breed and am a 3rd generation chihuhaua breeder, i grew up with a pack of 25-35 dogs (not including puppies) at any one time... as my grandfather also did chihuauas rescue.

chihuahas are an absolutly WONDERFULL breed, but i feel its VERY important to tell people of the negatives AND positives of any breed...and as i already said i think a dog such as a pug or a boston or a pappillion would suilt this girls needs and wants better than a chi.

i wasnt at all bashing the breed or stating that eveyr single individual chihuahuas was like that, but when you look at the numbers on average it shows chis tend to shed, there hard to housebreak and there not social dogs. rember a therapy dog MUST be able to handle ANY situation from a grasping baby to a twitching elderly person to shakey people to sick people to crying and noise and all sorts of instruments...i have met a small number of chihuhauas who are also threapy dogs, however they are a small number compaerd to the many chihuahas in the world!

hope this clears my thought pattern up...

Ok, I completely understand what you are saying. Well, you know more about the breed than I do.

I agree that a boston would be great for her.

 

[RD]

If you want an "easy" dog I would steer clear of the Papillon. They're awesome, but not the frou-frou little lap dogs that they are made out to be. They are intelligent. Not "oh look how smart he is" intelligent but infuriatingly, incredibly, "sucks to be you, pathetic human" intelligent. There is very little that you put in front of them that they cannot figure out. I have to lock my dog's crate since he has figured out how to open both latches.
My dog's goal in life is to cause as much trouble as possible. He is adorable, hilarious and incredibly manipulating. He is the stereotypical "little guy" with the massive ego. He is challenging and extremely dominant.
All Paps are friendly? My Pap detests strangers and it's taken almost his entire life to get him to accept them and be even remotely social. I've found that while some are outgoing, most Papillons tend to prefer their masters to anyone else.
If you do not want an insanely active, extremely busy dog, do not get a Pap. I absolutely cannot wear my Papillon out. I'm an active person and can go-go-go for quite some time, even enough to wear out a pack of Border Collies... but my Papillon runs circles around them all. Hyperactivity is part of living with my dog. He will take a toy and run around with it for a good 45 minutes before "settling" to chew it obsessively. He needs to be running, doing agility and playing chase for 4-5 hours before he will be ready to sleep on a lap or in his bed.

So now you've heard what's difficult about Paps. Not all dogs are like mine, in fact a lot of Papillons are much sweeter and calmer, but chances are you could wind up with the oddball who possesses the breed's more extreme traits.
They are great as far as grooming goes, I run a comb through my Pap's ear fringe and tail every few days and bathe him about once a month. He has no doggy smell and since he's an indoor dog, he stays clean for quite some time.
Paps are smart little guys, and quite trainable once you figure out how to push their buttons. They are excellent problem solvers and are capable of learning some very complex, intricate tricks. They make superb service dogs. Apparently, the majority are fairly obedient. Mine is quite a bit more independent and terrier-like, but even he will respond decently to commands when he is in the mood to do so.

They are hilarious little dogs and I love sharing my life with one, but "low maintainance" they are not.

 

[stevinski]

maybe a daschund???????

 

[rottiegirl]

maybe a daschund???????

Hey, that could be a good match.

 

[benjihairybutt]

Of gosh, I forgot to tell you. I have a chihuhua at my dad's house. My parents had him before I was even born. He was potty trained well and doesn't shed much, that's what made me suggest that breed. However, he isn't all that friendly or active, so probubly not my ultimate match. I love how they cuddle though. He lives with my dad though and so does my pomerainian, that's why I'm looking for a dog accually, I miss them so much.

Anyway, I need a dog that is easy to housbreak, that's important. I love my pom to death, he is extremly active, never gets tired, but doesn't like to cuddle much. His problum was the housbreaking, he sprinkles here and there everywhere so my mom got rid of him. Are the dogs you are suggesting tipically easier to housbreak?

I'm not opposed to an active dog, I love playing with them and taking them for walks, and if I had the equitment I would love to try my hand at training one in a sport, but I don't so I kind of want to see if I could train a therapy dog, as I mentioned.

It's neat, the breed finder pointed me to the papilon, the pug, the beagle, and the boston terrier. I am more interested in the papilon and the pug. I've never had a terrier, arn't they supposed to be kind of hard to handle? I don't know much about them. I don't think I'd like a beagle as much, a little too big, and just not my type. I also like daschunds, but again, I don't know much about them.

I'm also ok at grooming, so as long as they don't need clipping like a poodle or something, that's not a problum.

 

[benjihairybutt]

P.S. rottiegirl, what kind of dog is that in your sig, it's seriously the cuteist thing I have ever seen.

 

[rottiegirl]

P.S. rottiegirl, what kind of dog is that in your sig, it's seriously the cuteist thing I have ever seen.

She is a chihuahua/min pin cross. Her mom was a black and tan min pin, and her dad was a white and black chihuahua. She is the sweetest thing ever!

I would suggest a pug if you are ok with heavy shedding. I also suggest a boston. Bostons are different than most terriers, because they arent as hyper. Just my opinion.

 

[Dreeza]

Anyway, I need a dog that is easy to housbreak, that's important. I love my pom to death, he is extremly active, never gets tired, but doesn't like to cuddle much. His problum was the housbreaking, he sprinkles here and there everywhere so my mom got rid of him.

i dont know much about breed characteristics as i am a mutt kinda gal...

but i just wanted to point out that your mom needs to understand that dogs arent disposable...im sure she didnt get rid of you if you accidently wet the bed when you were little!!! I guess i cant be too hard on her if your pom went to your dad...at least she didnt drop it off at a humane society or anything...

i was just wondering if you were thinking of getting a dog from a breeder, or from a rescue? Im all about rescue dogs, so going on that...you could make sure to get one already housetrained, and one that fits the other things you are looking for (if the rescue knows its temperment obviously)

anyways, good luck!!!

 

[JennSLK]

I would stear clear of a beagle.

They are bred to be able to hunt a rabbit 23hrs a day. This means ALOT of natural stamina. Which more often than not (yes there are exceptions) this can mean hyper. Not to mention they shed like a ******, and are stuborn, inedpenent and can not be trusted off leash.

Boston sounds like a goos fit.

 

[mjb]

My prior dog was a Pug. He was my first dog, and I thought he was quite easy to housetrain. I had heard they weren't easy, and I had never done it before, so maybe my expectations were low, but it wasn't that bad at all.

He was quite a shedder. Once again, I didn't have anything to compare him with except for cats, and they're shedders, too!! However, now I have a wirehaired terrier mix, and I know that Pugs are heavy shedders in comparison.

You can't beat a Pug for sweetness. I've heard that's a pretty fair generalization, and ours was the sweetest guy you could ever hope for. If you want a cuddler, that seems to be what they're made for.

He was also ready to play anytime. We live in Florida, and we had to be careful that he didn't run with the kids too hard in the heat.

Since we didn't know he shed more than other dogs, the only drawbacks we had to the Pug was having to be careful that he didn't overheat in our hot humid climate, and having to periodically clean all the folds and creases in his face. Ours also had chronic ear infections, but I don't know if that's a Pug trait. We knew other Pugs that didn't have this problem.

I would highly recommend a Pug for anyone who wants a fairly low-maintenance companion dog.

 

[rottiegirl]

My prior dog was a Pug. He was my first dog, and I thought he was quite easy to housetrain. I had heard they weren't easy, and I had never done it before, so maybe my expectations were low, but it wasn't that bad at all.

He was quite a shedder. Once again, I didn't have anything to compare him with except for cats, and they're shedders, too!! However, now I have a wirehaired terrier mix, and I know that Pugs are heavy shedders in comparison.

You can't beat a Pug for sweetness. I've heard that's a pretty fair generalization, and ours was the sweetest guy you could ever hope for. If you want a cuddler, that seems to be what they're made for.

He was also ready to play anytime. We live in Florida, and we had to be careful that he didn't run with the kids too hard in the heat.

Since we didn't know he shed more than other dogs, the only drawbacks we had to the Pug was having to be careful that he didn't overheat in our hot humid climate, and having to periodically clean all the folds and creases in his face. Ours also had chronic ear infections, but I don't know if that's a Pug trait. We knew other Pugs that didn't have this problem.

I would highly recommend a Pug for anyone who wants a fairly low-maintenance companion dog.

My parents pug also has ears infections. She has eye problems too. Sadly, she is going blind and shes only 3 (thats what you get if you buy from a pet store).