Please allow me to suggest the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Corgies are small, around 25-32 lbs at adulthood and they stand 12-16" high at the shoulder. Because they are herding dogs, they are small dogs with big dog personalities. They are not yappy or destructive. They are not escape artists. They love to play and go for walks, but they do not obsessively demand attention. They can be left alone during the day while you work; crated or not, it’s your decision. They love children and are protective of their families.
We’ve had a number of Corgies over the years and we find them to be the perfect solution for the urban family. They have good thick coats, but would require someplace to get out of the weather.
I hope you check them out; I can’t say enough good things about these dogs.
I have been wanting to get a dog for quite a while now. Hopefully after I move into my townhome I will be able to do that. I have been looking around and talking to people, and have the same restrictions mentioned in the OP. For me it looks like a greyhound would be the best option for me and my lifestyle. Also, I just think they are the coolest looking dogs. I haven’t decided defiitely if I am going to get a dog, but if I do I think a greyhound is the way to go. Also, I want to get one from a rescue, and fortunately there is one nearby.
If you can manage, you might want to think about getting two dogs. It’s really not much more work than 1 in terms of feeding, walking and letting out to poop, but they can keep each other company when you’re gone.
Not sure about the Bulldog. They’re great, but genetic nightmares that can cost a lot as they age. My wife is a vet and would never own one just for the health problems. They are great though.
I agree wholeheartedly with the greyhound suggestion. They’re a little big, so I suppose you could look at italian greyhounds or whippets, but I’m not so sure that those beeds take to the couch as well as greyhounds. And of course they’re not waiting for owners by the hundred.
I’ve got two border collies. Not the best stay at home, sporadic exercise dog, by a long stretch.
Following MaggietheCat’s suggestion I looked into the Corgi and found that it would fit my needs well. So I moved it near the top of my list.
Today while waiting for the bus I noticed a lady walking a Corgi, naturally I ran her down and asked her a barrage of questions. She wasn’t too eager to answer questions in the cold but I got the impression that she was extremely pleased with her dog. The dog itself was extremely friendly. When I bent down to say hi it hopped up rested two paws on my knees and licked my hand (won me over right there).
So, tonight I e-mailed a breeder (they’re expecting a litter in two days!!) (!!!Only one spot left on the reserve list!!!).
The breeder has her dogs X-rayed, DNA tested, eyes tested, breeds the dogs for temperament, requires you to fill out a questionnaire, everything.
But I still don’t know if I really want a Corgi (15 years is a long time!). I’d appreciate it if someone could persuade/dissuade me from getting this dog
Corgis are lovely little dogs. I’m not going to dissuade you from getting one. However, given what you’ve said about your availability at home, I am not sure you should be getting a puppy. A puppy can most certainly NOT be left alone in a crate for 8 hours. Do you have a way to make sure someone can potty and play with the pup every 2 hours or so in the first few months? Can you arrange to feed and water it 3 times a day until it grows big enough to go to two meals? A puppy can only be expected to reasonably wait to go out an average of one hour per month of life and it will be very lonely if you are away at work all day.
Hey now, you may want to look at a Keeshond, they are bred as companion dogs and are very sweet and smart. Take your time making a decision because a dog that is not right for your situation can make life difficult
We’ve done some talking here. And you’re right Calliope we don’t have time in our lives for a puppy. I really should have realized it sooner, especially considering the messages here (Correspondence with the Breeder helped bring things into focus as well).
The tragedy is that I’ve been unemployed for months; a great time to raise a puppy. But now that I have a new job and can finally afford a dog I’m not in the position to get one. I’m sure there’s a lesson to be learned here.
I suppose that once I’ve managed to accepted the obvious I’ll shuffle off to the animal shelter and look for a premium-deluxe-slightly-used dog. But today, I’ll be in mourning for what could have been.
I got my first dog in August (a Staffie, and I’m not recommending one because much as I love her, she’s clearly insane!) from a rescue centre. She’s 3 years old (roughly), but like you I initially wanted a puppy. I’m so glad now that I didn’t get one - she’s brought more joy to my life than I could ever have imagined, and while it wasn’t the instant “awww isn’t she adorable” love affair I would have had with a puppy, I feel we have a better relationship because we had to take the time to get to know and trust each other. At 3 she’s still very playful and energetic, but had the benefit of coming to me ready-housetrained! Go on - give a rescue dog a chance!
Shibas are great. Mine can go all day or spend it curled up on my lap sleeping.
However, they are known as a stubborn breed and can be difficult to train. A Shiba’s motto is, “What are you going to do for me today?” Forget about ever letting a Shiba off leash because they will run - fast. And they know just how long your arms are and will stay just out of reach. Oh sure, he knows what “come” and “stay” mean and even passed obedience with flying colors, but off lead and in an open area - forget it. He will laugh at all efforts to catch him. If you can put up with “keep away”, then Shibas are fun doggies. The only other thing I’d add is that they can come with very expensive knee problems so finding a good breeder who does health checks can save a lot of heartbreak and money in the long run. And never buy one from a pet store. I’ve seen pet stores selling Shiba puppies for $1200 - and most of them don’t even look like Shibas. I didn’t even pay that much for my show quality dog.
My Shiba - from a pet store, no less - runs free both at our new house and at our cabin. He’s never not come when he’s called. Now, I wouldn’t allow him to run free where there’s cars and busy streets, but I’d never let any dog do that. He’s been so reliable that we’ve decided to put off building a fence for the doggies at the house we moved into last weekend, because he comes running every time we call.
He’s a bit more obstinate than your standard golden retriever, but overall he hasn’t been THAT hard to train. He also runs free at our cabin. Sometimes we’ll stay there for 2-3 days in a row, and he’s never on leash. He’s never gone out of earshot, and comes right away when we call him.
And yes, we got him from a pet store. We used to live near a pet store that my veternarian - a GREAT guy - highly recommended. Not all pet stores are horrible. He’s a bit larger than a show quality shiba, but we love him anyway. He’s a beautiful animal, very smart and very obedient, and we get many compliments on both his physical aspects and how nice of a dog he is.
Interesting. I tested 100 for a Border Terrier, and 95 for a Lab. jeevpup is a pound mutt who we strongly suspect is part border terrier and part yellow lab.
Are you sure he’s a Shiba?
That’s great that you can do that, however it’s extremely rare. I’ve been around a lot of Shibas including one of the only dogs in the country with a CDX title, and they are always leashed unless they are competing. I’ve known a couple people who swore their dog was trustworthy off lead only to end up with roadkill when that high prey drive hunting dog instinct kicked in. It’s not worth the risk to me. The fact is, a majority of Shibas are not like yours and I think everyone should know the pros and cons of a breed before they jump in with both feet. I see too many people dumping these dogs after an impulse buy - because it was cute. It’s only after a few weeks that they discover that Shibas are really manipulative little hell hounds. Did I mention they scream like an enraged bobcat when you do something they don’t like to them - like make them wear a collar? Don’t even think about trimming nails unless you’d like to learn sign language. Oh and they shed. Buckets. I can make another dog.
OK, I’m being tongue and cheek here - kinda. I love my guy and wouldn’t have anything else, but they aren’t for everyone. People need to know that these are very common traits so they can make an informed decision. That advice goes for any breed.
I really should have realized it sooner, especially considering the messages here (Correspondence with the Breeder helped bring things into focus as well).
