I’m thinking of getting my dad a dog for Christmas. I want it to be a surprise and I’m not sure what breed to get. Any suggestions you may have would be hugely appreciative. The dog must, however, fulfill the following criteria:
1). It must be quite small. Something like a Labrador would be too large.
2). It absolutely MUST NOT be a “yappy” dog, so something like a Jack Russell terrier would be right out.
3). It must have an affectionate disposition.
4). It must be intelligent enough to house train relatively quickly.
5). It must preferably be a short hair dog that doesn’t moult.
My mum has ruled out the following dogs: Bulldog (too slobbery), pit bull (too strong and excitable), and Staffordshire terrier (same) but other than that I’m open to suggestions.
I’ve never known a really small dog to be anything but a yappy dog. ymmv. I have a labradoodle. Other than the fact that she’s quite lovely and we love her loads, she does not shed. She’s quite small for a labradoodle, they can run large but maybe one of the smaller mixes like a cockapoo or something.
and yeah, what Tapu said. Be really really sure your dad actually wants a dog or it could end up being your dog.
Getting a pet for someone as a surprise is a really bad idea. Even if your mom is behind the idea.
My suggestion would be to take your father to the local pound/animal shelter and let him browse the available dogs.
That way he picks his companion and some of your criteria can be met. The shelters can usually tell you if the gently used dog is housebroken… the smaller the dog the older they tend to be for that to be 98% (all animals can get sick and have accidents). They might be able to tell you the animals’ true personalities… being behind bars can change a dog. I have 3 “yappers” but only 2 of them actually bark at mouse farts, the wind in the willow or at cars driving by. The third seldom barks. They are all the same breed.
But if your mother has said she’ll take care of the dog if your father fails to… and you are set on getting a purebred… then a Miniature Schnauzer might fit your list of wants. They are low shedders… other than a Mexican Hairless there are no non-shedding dogs. Even poodles shed. Which is another breed if you go for the Miniature sized (not the Toy size) that might fit your desires.
I highly, highly recommend this book: Right Dog for You by Daniel Tortora.
It contains a lot of information on a wide variety of breeds, but, more importantly for you, it has a number of assessment vehicles at the end. Short questionnaires and so on that help rank exactly what qualities you want in a dog. It also has charts that break down which breeds meet your criteria. If you want a tall dog that doesn’t shed, is kind to children, etc, this book will help you find it.
I was going to mention mini Schnauzers too. My sister got two Schnauzer pups a few months ago. They’re brothers and one is more excitable than the other. Someone told her to not to get brothers because they tend to be rowdier together than on their own or with other dogs and this seems to be so in this case. She wound up giving that one to someone down the street a few weeks ago. He is mellower there and gets along really well with the family’s other dog.
The calmer one that my sister kept is, in my opinion, an absolute joy. He seems to radiate intelligence and picks up commands easily. He loves being around people and she’s planning to take him visiting people in nursing homes and hospitals once he’s certified. Though he does bark on occasion, he is not yappy. The most I’ve heard him is when he catches his reflection in a mirror. He gives a couple of startled barks, runs off and that’s that.
I don’t know much about Schnauzers in general but if these two are typical of the breed, I’d definitely get one myself if I could. I hope that you will check them out.
I agree with tapu, and want to add this: I’ve read that it’s not a good idea to introduce a dog to a household around Christmas, when the routine’s disrupted and people are extra busy and some things are more likely to be around that are hazardous to a dog’s health (such as chocolate and certain plants.)
How about this? If you’re still set on the dog idea, why not buy and wrap a dog collar? Then (if he likes the idea) you can get the dog later, when things are calmer, and it can be walked when it’s less likely to be slippery outside.
And if he doesn’t like the idea, you can return the collar and buy him something else.
Really great dogs. Incredibly loyal and make great companions. Reasonably smart, but a little stubborn. They kind of stink, too, but some folks don’t mind (I kinda do). They come in miniature, and can be very small. They don’t bark too much. They do like to dig, and might tear shit up if kept inside all the time, so consider that. They catch mice, too.
But overall, good dogs that fit your parameters. Through a comedy of errors, we ended with four of them. They are all great dogs.
Please do not surprise someone with a dog. Just tell your father your giving him a dog and then you two can go through the process of choosing a dog and find one together.
Also, trying to get a dog on a deadline may lead you to make a make a poor choice because you’re in a rush. Take your time, talk to and visit a few breeders of a few different breeds. Visit a few pounds/rescue centers, get to know a few different breeds. That’s part of the joy.
You may be surprised too; your Dad may discover he’s a Great Dane or Papillon man!
I really like the idea of getting him a collar! Although, if your mom’s in on it, that’s a little different. But still. Let him choose his own dog.
Couple things:
You should think about getting an older dog that’s already house trained. Not an old dog, necessarily, but a grown up. Puppies are as much work as babies - for the same reason that they are babies!
The problem with house training and small dogs is that, from the dog’s perspective, the House is collosal. So where dogs don’t like to make a mess in their special place, a tiny dog won’t consider the whole house to be its special spot. Potty training small dogs requires ruthless adherence to a generous schedule - the dog’s schedule, that is, not yours!
You want a poodle or a poodle mix. A Cockapoo would be a good choice, as long as it has the poodle fur. A bichon frise would be a fine choice for a purebred.
I would recommend a 1 or 2 year old from one of the local rescue societies. You should contact the rescue societies in your area. Sadly, they are usually overflowing with cute and fuzzy little poodle mixes, especially at the holidays and between semesters. People buy these dogs as gifts for their dates, then the couple breaks up and the little dogs are unwelcome reminders.
Start looking at Petfinder.com to see who’s available. You’ll probably need to fudge the actual date of your Christmas gift, but that’s better than rushing into a commitment you’re unsure of. Of course, this will require a certain ruthlessness on your part, as well, but it can’t be helped.
Lotsa people in this thread seem to agree: Getting someone a surprise pet is a bad idea.
In fact, we had another thread on a similar topic, with a similar consensus, just a couple days ago. Its the thought that doesn’t count. To be sure, that was all about getting someone a surprise pet turtle and converting the living room into a turtle pond. But its [sic] the thought that counts (or not).
No shelter is going to let you adopt a dog as a surprise for someone else. In fact, no responsible breeder will either.
Getting a pet as a surprise for your child, with the understanding that the actual responsibility is yours, is okay, depending on the circumstance, but for an adult the gift of chores and responsibility is not a reasonable present.
Please don’t discount Jack Russels. They are not ‘yappy’ if trained properly although they have a considerable amount of energy when young.
Consider rescuing an older dog from a shelter. They are not just trying to get rid of dogs and will help you pick one from the bunches they have according to your requirements (which could include non-yappy). This is another reason for buying an older dog. I don’t know your father’s age, but some shelters have a senior discount. I have gotten two very lovable Jack Russels from the local shelters.