Okay all you sheltie lovers, remember the OP doesn’t want a dog that barks or one that sheds profusely! Don’t get me wrong, I have 2 shelties and they are the loves of my life. I will never have another breed. They are easy to train, they are cute, they are smart, they do well in a townhouse (though I wouldn’t have them in a small apartment if you don’t walk them several times a day), they are extrememly respectful and submissive, and they are playful! They are wonderful, fantastic dogs.
But they bark and they shed! Oh boy, do they bark and shed! Mine know the “quiet” command–but they don’t know any “don’t bark until I tell you to” command. “Quiet” last about 5 minutes, then they’re off barking again. I’ve had shelties all my life. Some have been more prone to barking than others–but all have been quite fond of the sounds of their own voices! As for the shedding, that darn undercoat comes out in buckets! I brush and brush and it seems to spontaneously regenerate! I have them clipped each spring in puppy cuts, and the groomer removes about a pillow case from each dog!
As for basengis, we had one when I was growing up and my brother now has 2. I didn’t notice these dogs being particularly destructive. They can be trained, but they seem much more independent than other dog breeds. They’re great dogs when they are trained, but it’s a bit more of a challenge with them. Also, just because they don’t bark doesn’t mean they’re silent. They make this howling/yodeling sound. It can be quite disconcerting the first time you hear it. Your neighbors sometimes think you’re beating the poor dog!
I still say smooth collie (a short haired version of the more familiar rough collie). They have a lot in common with australian shepards or border collies in that they’re herding dogs that are easily trained. They are more energetic than, say, a greyhound. But 2-3 times daily walking and a fenced yard should suit them. They are generally very gentle and respectful of you. And they don’t have all that rough collie fur (though even short-haired dogs will shed as others have noted). They do bark, but they’re not as notorious a barker as, well, shelties!
They can be shy with strangers though. If you’re looking for a dog that will interact with your guests and respond well to attention from strangers, they’re not the best breed for you.
As for the male vs. female thing, look more to the temperment of the individual puppy rather than chose one on the basis of sex. My male dog is by far the more submissive of my two. The female is definitely dominant over him (though she’s never challenged me once). My mother always said that male dogs wander more, but I never found that to be the case in my experience.
