# Help Me Choose a Dog Breed **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112 "2009-12-30T23:55:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/61 "2010-01-05T19:53:20Z")
> [@horsetech](#): > > I agree with the suggestion of checking out rescues. Whether it’s a breed rescue or one that deals with all types of mutts, a dog that has been in a foster home is more of a known quantity than one that has just been living in a shelter kennel. The rescue will be able to help you find a dog that best fits your needs based on their experiences with the dog in its foster home. > > Unfortunately, Labs do not fit with the requirement of not knocking things over with a wagging tail. The ones I’ve known were happy all the time and could knock over a small child with their tails! > > Lanzy, a 51 lb Jack Russell?! That’s about twice as big as any I’ve met – I’d love to see a picture! > > ETA: If this thread proves anything, it’s that individual dogs vary and you have to meet them to know for sure what you are getting! he is 19 inches at the shoulder: Hercules is at the pool with his slightly smaller brother Blaze (46 lbs) hope the link works, never tried it before [Link](http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l89/usbunch28/PhotoJacks/) ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/62 "2010-01-05T20:15:08Z")
I will 3rd (or 4th) a nomination of the Boston Terrier. a low maintenance dog. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/63 "2010-01-05T20:47:51Z")
Someone mentioned [basenji](http://www.dogsindepth.com/hound_dog_breeds/images/basenji_h02.jpg)\*s upthread. We loved ours and it meets most of the OPs criteria, with a couple of exceptions: 1. They always seem to be rated as one of the least trainable breeds, although they are very smart, they don’t take instructions well (see _cats_). 2. The don’t bark, but they do “yodel”, although ours didn’t yodel very often. We currently have a chihuahua/something (some kind of terrier)? mix, and I thought it couldn’t bark, until fairly recently. But it doesn’t bark or yap or do much at all. She is a rescue animal who lost a leg to a car, so she takes some special consideration, but absolutely loves her mama and the kids. Me she’s not too wild about, but she’s become tolerant. \*This pic is what ours looked like. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/64 "2010-01-05T21:00:42Z")
> [@wonderlust](#): > > I think the barker next door is a beagle. Are they all that way? > > The Animal Planet video of whippets really got to me. What amazing creatures! We live next to an elementary school with a large grassy area perfect for running and frisbee tossing. I just wish there weren’t a cat issue with whippets. Beagles will bark. Since they can not take a bugler down, they will alert you if someone is around. You will also know if a rabbit, a raccoon or a cat is in the area. Those are good things to know. I am pretty sure beagles look down on people as being bipedal no-noses. Very inferior . ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/65 "2010-01-05T21:22:41Z")
As far as dogs are considered, it is a well known fact that there are golden retrievers - and all the rest. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/66 "2010-01-06T16:21:30Z")
> [@wonderlust](#): > > The Soft-coated Wheaton Terrier looks like about the right size. You got me with the soft-coat, heh. My BIL / SIL have a Wheaten and she’s a great dog - not hyper, just an all-around nice dog. Not so small as to be intolerable to a boy, not so large as to be tough to handle. At such point as we think we’re ready to get a dog, Wheatens are definitely in the top 3 breeds we’ll look for. Someone I know has a labradoodle (mix of labrador / poodle) and she is also a very nice dog. I went over to their house for something once and the dog didn’t know me from adam, but just stood there calmly, watching me, wondering if perhaps I’d care to offer up some pettin’s. I was sorely tempted to indulge in a little dognapping 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/67 "2010-01-06T19:51:40Z")
> [@Screw you, Earth. I'm people...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-you-earth-im-people/58105/6): > > If you do decide on a whippet, do not go with a rescue. In searchiing petfinders - any skinny, short coated dog is called a whippet cross, none of the ones I saw actually look like purebreds or even close. Why do people say things like this? OF COURSE you can get purebred whippets at rescues; like all other breeds, irresponsible people have produced more than they can be bothered to properly deal with. Ten seconds of Googling produced this: [http://www.whippet-rescue.com/](http://www.whippet-rescue.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/68 "2010-01-06T20:19:36Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Whippets would concern me from the cat angle and also because what I’ve read about them makes me believe they are maybe not great beginner dogs, simply because they are more sensitive than many breeds. I’ve read that punishment or anything but positive reinforcement is a very bad idea with whippets. > > I love sight hounds, so I find whippets enormously appealing, as I do all of the others in the category, like Salukis, Wolfhounds, Deerhounds, Greyhounds, Borzois, etc. Whippets are sensitive but not _that_ bad. I have no problem telling mine ‘no’ in a forceful tone. I haven’t found any other ‘negative’ reinforcement necessary except an occasional light swat on the rump to get his attention. If anything, the sensitivity makes him more responsive, unlike a more stubborn breed. If you do go with whippet, the cat issue may be a concern if the whippet has not been around cats before. You also need to commit to letting a whippet run daily or near daily. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112/69 "2010-01-06T20:27:47Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > BEWARE! > > I just really wanted to post a possible warning against a cat-like dog. Obviously it won’t be horrible in every situation, but it was awful for a couple friends of mine. > > They’ve been cat people and had 3 cats. J wanted a dog and E wanted to make sure it was more cat-like. They wanted one that was more independent, intelligent, etc. and they got a Shiba Inu. > > Oh.My.God. Absolute disaster. > > They really would’ve been better off getting a more doggy-dog (ALSO getting an adult instead of a puppy). Eva was absolutely adorable but _my GOD she was smart_. And devious. And independent. > > The end result was a dog that could try anyone’s patience because she was so stubborn and smart. She was just about potty trained at only 3 months, which is good. But she really didn’t pay attention to J and E. She liked 'em enough, sure, but the cat-like independence made her more indifferent to them. > I’m not saying to rule them out, but I’d _definitely_ make sure you can spend a few lengthy visits with the dog before getting him/her. That way you can see if your personalities mesh and if the behavior seems fine to you. I’ll third this. I was a cat person for years, and I’ve had a Shiba. They’re wonderful dogs, but they have all the bad qualities of cats, not the good ones. Plus, they have a lot of doggy needs as well. Unless you’re prepared to spend a lot of time out walking & running this dog, or if you have an absolutely huge fenced yard with another dog for it to play with, don’t get a Shiba. They so need space to run, and a ton of exercise. And they’re incredibly independent. Ours was constantly trying to get out, even though he did have a really big yard to play in AND another dog to play with. I have pugs now, and I have to say - if you like cats - a pug has all the BEST qualities of cats & dogs. They cuddle and sit your lap like cats, they don’t have a huge need for walks, but at the same time, they come when you call them, and they looooooove you in that way that only doggies can looooove someone. I’ll never have a different breed of dog; I’m a pug person now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-dog-breed/523112.md?page=3)