What would be a good breed of dog for me to get?

In My Humble Opinion
41

With the benefit of indoor snowing every six months as they blew their coats. My in laws used to show Great Pyrenees. “Sheep with teeth,” was how a relative described them. And what is it with the gazillion dewclaws?

It’s funny how instinctual the wary breed temperament can be in them. When visiting the pet store awhile ago, I saw a boy with a Pyrenees puppy. The puppy placed itself between us and the kid. Asked him how old it was—“four months”----and asked if we could pet it. The dog looked at us the whole time with an expression of, “The kid says you’re OK, but I have my doubts. I’ve got my eye on you.” Like a stereotypical old-school Irish beat cop, swinging a stick.

Definitely different than a Lab.

42

I’m going with this.

And adding, as others have said, that often a mix-breed from a shelter can be the best choice. The most loving dogs I’ve ever known have all been mixed to the point that even guessing any main strain was impossible.

43

FWIW I think Grayhound is the best option for you, the only thing with them is make sure you either have a fenced-in yard or make sure they’re constantly on leash. They’re sighthounds and if they see something worth chasing…you ain’t catching him. I’ve never been the biggest fan of skeleton dogs, but they seem to fit your bill perfectly.

Basically, whatever you do, don’t get a cat.

44

Why?

45

I don’t know about you, OP, but my concern as a women w/ a slight build and not-great back is a dog I can easily carry if it is unconscious. If I can’t get it help it’s irresponsible of me to have it in the first place.
That’s one of the many reasons why I like Shih Tzus.

46

Because I hate cats and us dog people are sorely underrepresented on this board. If I can spare one person from the tyranny of cat ownership then, well then it’s all worth it in the end.

47

Oh. OK. I never noticed the dog people being underrepresented, but whatever.

48

Don’t get a smart dog unless you need a smart dog. Smart dogs get bored. A simpler dog can stare a a wall until you get home and then be overjoyed to see you. (Or snooze all day, like our dog of moderate intelligence.)

Dachshunds are crocodiles with fur, who are predisposed to major back problems. I’ve had multiple friends with them, and they required . . . management. Particularly around children. About half of the ones I’ve known wound up being treated for spine problems.

I’m partial to the bully breeds. Bulldogs, Staffordshire terriers, Boston terriers, French bulldogs, etc., and more specifically very carefully selected mutts in this category. Our current dog is, we think, a boxer/American Staffordshire terrier mix. She is my ideal dog. Around 45 pounds, snuggly, wants to please, but happily a couch potato – she doesn’t follow you around on the off chance you might have a job for her. Smart and obedient enough to go where I point and learn the cues I need her to know, and super calm. She also loves and plays with our cat.

That doesn’t mean you should get a dog like mine. You need to figure out what sounds right to you from various descriptions, particularly of specific breeds or breed groups. Then you still need to be very careful before committing to a dog to determine that that particular dog is a good fit.

49

As it happens, my neighbor is going on vacation so I will be dog sitting a teeny tiny little thing for about 10 days. This will be a good first step.

I did visit two different shelters this weekend and will look into some fostering type options before I make a final decision.

Thanks again everyone.

50

Ooh, that sounds fun. Good luck.

51

All of that sounds like a great idea.

Have fun!

52

You’re going about this really smartly! I’m glad for you and hope it’s helpful in learning what you want from dog ownership.

53

Hint: do not raise THAT hand to scratch your nose… :D.

Is shedding a concern? Relatives of ours wanted a less-shedding dog and wound up with a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Very nice dogs - they supposedly have a lot of the personality traits that make dogs like Goldens or Labs so appealing, along with some of that terrier stubbornness.

I like that you’re dogsitting for a neighbor. See if you can find other opportunities to do that - it’ll give you a good feel for day-to-day life with a dog.

A very affectionate cat can be a good alternative if the dog walking etc. proves to be an issue.

54

Going the fostering route here would be good, and check to see if your apartment has breed restrictions, but if you are looking for a snuggle dog, check out Pit Bulls. I have had a full Pit, and two mixes. One was 1/2 Pit, & 1/2 GSD (I saw the parents). The other is just a mutt from a shelter who was 2 yrs when I got her, and I have no knowledge of her background, but she clearly has maybe, one Pit grandparent.

Every single person I know with a Pit comments on how cuddly they are. Mine have insisted on sleeping me, and they want to sleep right next to me. Most dogs who want to sleep near you want to sleep at the foot of you bed, or on the floor next to your bed, but Pits have to spoon.

Female Pits can be pretty small. Some are under 50lbs. Even males aren’t particularly large-- they usually are smaller than Labs and GSDs.

Ignore all the hype in the news about how dangerous they are. The problem is that people who want a nasty dog get Pit Bulls, they don’t get Chihuahuas or Golden Retrievers. And because of their size, a Pit bite is more dangerous than a Chihuahua bite: but the fact is, the dogs that bite the most are actually Chihuahuas, and after that, Dachshunds, and Cocker Spaniels. Jack Russels have a pretty solid bite record by percentage, but they’re not as common a breed as Pit Bulls. Also, I read a metastudy several years ago that uncovered the fact that many police officers either could not recognize a Pit on sight, and recorded a dozen other breeds as Pit Bulls; recorded many mixes as “Pit Bull mixes,” when they might have been Pit/Lab crosses, so Pits got “credit” for the bite, and Labs didn’t; and some officers apparently thought “Pit Bull” was a synonym for “vicious dog,” and recorded everything from Jack Russels to Akitas as Pits."

Pits are my favorite breed. My brother, who is as far and away from the stereotypical vicious dog owner as you could get, and is married to a very petite woman, has had three Pits. He’s got an album of “Pit Bulls with kittens” on his Facebook page.

They are active, but you can satisfy they need to move with walks or hikes. They don’t need a big yard to run around. In fact, because they want to be with YOU all the time, they are happy without a yard.

Anyway, when you are fostering, if you landlord permits, consider a Pit Bull.

55

Don’t get a puppy. Get one that is at lease 3 years old.

56

Boston Terriers are nuts! Extremely high energy and can be quite aggresive. Maybe you go to a breeder who’s bred especially low-key ones?

57

Absolutely!

Thanks to Gatopescado, too.

58

Dog “intelligence” is rated based on how well they obey human commands. Dachshunds were bred to be independent and use their own judgment (they were bred to go down into badger dens where the hunter couldn’t direct their behavior). You will have a battle of the wills with a dachshund, but if you make a connection with one, they’re fast learners and creative thinkers…sometimes too creative.

59

Heh, our nickname for our girl doxie was crocodile said with a Spanish accent — crok-a-dee-lay. Yeah, it fit her personality. But when she was sweet, she was the sweetest ever. And out of five doxies, we only had one with back issues. Common sense behavior (esp. keeping their weight down) can prevent a lot of those issues.

60

Visiting my friend w/ 2 doxies - “I don’t let them on the couch.”
“Their hair doesn’t look like it’d shed that much.”, I said.
“Oh no, if they get up here they’ll try to eat my sandwich.”