One consideration when getting a pug: shedding. A pug will shed every day of its life. I could build a new pug out of what ours sheds in just a few weeks. So, if you have furniture that’s likely to show pet hair, keep in mind that you’ll have to clean it a lot more often.
Apart from that, pugs are superb. Their little faces are so expressive, they’re very loving and playful, and they’ll make you laugh a lot. Owning a pug is like living with a midget clown who always wants to perform.
The shedding is a big reason I am kind of leaning toward the French Bulldog. I know any dog (well any of the one I like) will shed some, but I had a neighbor that had pugs and she was always covered in hair (both her pugs had double coats).
My dog Fred was that best apartment dog.
He was self-trained housebroken. :o
When it was cold, he would jump up in bed and become an additional source of heat.
He would bathe himself, in that he was a water dog and would jump into the shower to tub whenever the water was turned on.
Boston Terriers were created from a cross between the English white terrier and the English bulldog, and were later bred down in size as companion dogs, so they don’t tend to have the same sort of … obsessive quality in their personalities that many terriers do. They are nice little dogs!
And while I don’t know how much exactly my neighbors paid for their French Bulldog, I have seen prices around here in the range of $1,200. It’s not a common breed, which I am sure affects the price, plus there won’t be many rescue dogs to adopt due to their relative rarity in comparison to, say, pugs. Personally I’d rather save my money for vet costs, but our neighbor’s pup IS a very nice dog. He doesn’t seem to think he’s small either - he wants to blunder right on up to our (much bigger) dogs.
Boston terriers are the only dogs I actively dislike, so I may not be the best source. However, I formed that opinion after knowing several of them, and each one was more hyper than the last. They yapped, they jumped 4 feet straight up in the air, they climbed furniture and even trees, they ran around uncontrollably, and when they couldn’t run, they just stood there and quivered. They. Could. Not. Be. Still. Even worse, they’re hard dogs, physically speaking. They don’t have any squish or cuddle to them, they’re solid muscle. Even my son, an active boy with a huge yard in which to play with Grandma’s dogs finally asked her not to get another boston when her last one died. She rescued a dachshund instead, but after this one she’s going back to her beloved pugs.
Yes - they really are companion dogs, and as such are placed by the AKC in the non-sporting group, as opposed to being in the terrier group. But the non-sporting group strikes me as sort of a ‘miscellaneous’ category - Dalmatians are in there, which don’t particularly make good pets, but I guess they aren’t considered true working dogs either, despite the original purpose for which they were bred.
See, the problem with pugs is that they are so darned cute and sweet, they are like potato chips…one will not suffice.
Seriously, they are almost uniformly the best companion dog ever. Yes, they shed and snore. They can be prone to eye, ear, nose, skin and trachael problems but won’t be necessarily. I’ve owned two and both are/were healthy. They are affectionate and fun loving and will definitely worm their way into your heart.
Dogs with short to no muzzles will generally tend to have breathng problems and/or snore.
If your priority is a very affectionate and quiet, well-behaved dog that doesn’t want or need a lot of exercise, consider the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Downsides are that they will set you back as much dough as a French Bulldog, require regular brushing of their medium long coats and like many purebreds, have some associated health problems (the most prominent in my experience being ongoing need for dental care, since they aren’t big on chewing (nylabones or anything else)).
First, I would love to agree with the people who have mentioned Pugs. I never liked pugs, or even little dogs, until I got with Mrs. Small. Her family used to breed pugs and so they owned a few when we got together. About a year later, though, they ended up having our puppy, and she isn’t complete pug. She is a Pekinese/Pug mix, both parents were purebred. I have never met a more loving and intelligent puppy. My hound was a good dog, but now that he’s gone I realize how impracticle he was (a hound in an apartment = bored dog who doesn’t have enough room) but my little Peeka-pug is amazing. She has never had a problem with being in the house, or with being around children.
She has also never had a problem without being around other puppies, but sometimes she gets depressed acting after long days at home by herself. (For her, this means more than an hour) but within minutes she is back to her excited self. All the other pups in the litter seem to keep this disposition as well.
The only downside to pugs is the hair. I have always had bigger dogs, Golden Retrievers and Rottwielers, and never had a problem with that much hair in the house, but that was when I lived at my parents. In my apartment, it is hard to walk from one end of the house to the other without being (at least partially) covered in white hair. If you don’t mind the hair, it’s not a problem.
For the record, here’s a picture of my pug mix. Link.
The breed most prone to heart conditions. I advice aganst it.
Why are we only talking small dogs? I live in an apartment with a boxer and it’s no problem at all. Actually, the bigger the breed, the lazier they are. A berner sennen, great dane, leonberger - all are comfortable leading a live as a selfpropelled rug.
There seems to be a nation that big dogs aren’t good in an aprtment, but one doesn’t excercise the dog in the apartment. There also seems to be a notion that small breeds are small maintenence. Not so. Many time they require more than the larger breeds. Jack russels are insane (Sorry Lissa) and need a lot of obedience training, or they will become hell hounds.
A riesen schnauzer does need grooming but are very good companions and extremely affectionate towards the owner.
OH; and if you don’t get a dog from a rescue center/shelter - do your research and buy from a good breeder. The higher cost is worth it.
FYI, my pugs cost around $400 each. They are purebred and AKC registered (or, they would be, if I’d sent the paperwork in instead of sitting on it for 3 years…) Their breeder wasn’t raising puppies for show or anything like that; she’d just ended up with a few pugs and decided to have some puppies. (In other words, she’s not what I’d call “a reputable breeder.” But I walk on the dark side, having bought puppies from pet stores.)
Apart from all that, they are great little dogs. No health problems so far (the oldest is 3) and happy, social, and loving.
Also, I have to disagree with all the other people who mention that pugs shed more than other dogs. I’ve had dogs all my life, and I can’t say that the pugs shed any more or less than any other dog. If you have a furry pet, you need to vacuum and should probably shy away from black clothing. I don’t see a way around that.
Boy, is that the truth. I had a very quiet calm Chocolate Lab. I have a friend with the same dog that acts like he’s full of super balls. He is lovable and all but an absolute nut.
I have friends who lived in the middle of a fairly large town with a greyhound. Bailey really thought he was a lapdog and didn’t want to do anything but curl up on the couch. Very loveable and affectionate.
A word of warning though - their hunting instinct is extremely strong and if you live in an area where small furry animals are abundant… Well, life’s not gonna be easy.
**BluePitbull ** - unfortunately, some of the huge breeds do have short lifespans, but then again, it comes down to the individual dog, how responsible the breeder is and how responsible you as the owner is. I doubt there are many leonbergers living to 15, but the medium large dogs - riesen, dobie, rottie, german shepherd usually reach ten and sometimes twelve.
Our next-door neighbors (we live in a townhouse/apartment) have a Great Dane. I don’t know how well-behaved he is inside the house, but I know it can be done.
I would encourage you to look into shelter/rescue dogs. It costs less than buying a purebred, and more importantly, you can rescue these animals from a bad home at best, or being put to sleep at worst.
Unless you want a puppy, I think it would be a good idea to foster a grown dog for a while before adopting it permanently. (My parents got into a bad situation with a dog with severe separation anxiety, aggression, and health issues that were not disclosed in any way by the rescue before they adopted him.)
