what would be a good dog for this situation?

Question

i need a dog that doesnt bark alot, doesnt shed ( at least not really), that is friendly, playful and isnt a really high-matinence dog. preferably a large-medium sized breed.

Answer 1

The breeds some people have recommended astound me! Short-haired dogs shed way worse than long-haired dogs!!

My all-time favorite mid-sized dog is the English (or Welsh) Springer Spaniel. They require some grooming, but don't shed much, are generally playful, great with kids and easy to train and housebreak. Females are a little bit easier than males, but either should make a terrific pet. They will need a good thirty minute walk every day. They are hunting dogs so they've been bred to be pretty quiet - barking dogs scare away a hunter's prey!!

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money. The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.

Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions - spending their entire lives in small wire-bottomed cages. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there.

Answer 2

Try a retired racing greyhound. They are large, but friendly and low-maintenance. Many greyhound owners affectionately refer to the breed as "80-mile-per-hour couch potatoes". Since they have lived their lives to this point on a racing track, they are used to other dogs, and are already crate-trained. You don't have to mess with all the chewing, potty-training, etc. of raising a puppy. Don't let the "retired" bit discourage you- like most professional athletes, they retire young. Dogs from the ages of 2 to 4 years are commonly available, not just "elderly" ones. There are rescue organizations all around the country from which you can adopt.

PS: a couple other answerers have mentioned Basenjis... no, they don't "bark", but they have this awful high-pitched Yodel that is really no different! They are actually one of the most needy and noisy breeds I know of.

Also: Huskies shed and bark/howl like there is no tomorrow. Not to offend all you Husky lovers out there; there is nothing wrong with the breed, but they really don't fit the description of what you're looking for. Seriously think twice before going for this breed!

Answer 3

I would suggest a trip to the local animal shelter, when you have at least one hour to 'scope out' the dogs. Millions of dogs who might be a perfect match for you are euthanized annually in this country.

Take some time and observe the dogs. There's a lot of stimuli and agitation in the shelters. As such, it's easy to tell who the barkers are. Look for the dog that is not barking, but who touches your heart. Find him or her, and you've found your best bud!

Answer 4

Basenjis are great dogs...also bark less. The Australian Shepherd is a wonderful doggie, and you can now get a smaller one if you like. Years ago when my 5 kids were little we had one, and he was great with them. Never once snapped. These dogs have blue eyes! They are bred to herd, and they will herd chickens, children, anything you have around. Labs are real sweeties but they crave attention and they love to dig under fences and escape. And they do shed a lot.

Answer 5

how about an american foxhound? they are gentile with children, short hair and are very affectionate. although they need to sleep indoors, this dog has a very pretty bark and is not high matinence. it is also a medium to large size breed

Answer 6

4 barking it all depends on the dogs temperment there is no specific breed of dog that doesnt bark aand usually large dogs need some maintenance but i wood have to say goldendoodle they r extremely friendly and playful (mine is great)

Answer 7

Short haired dogs dont shed as bad, and there are golden retrievers with field coats (short) but I think not high maintainence and dog is kind of an oxymoron. Any dog requires a good amount of work and attention. Cats are more low maintainence, maybe you should consider one instead.

Answer 8

A good dog to have is a Sheltie. They only grow to 13-16 inch. They don't bark alot. I have a Sheltie and they are greated dog to have. They are great with kids and with other animals. I have 3 cats and mine get long fine with them. He plays with them. Sheltie are very playful and kind. They don't have a mean bone in there body.They are active, intelligent, loyal and affectionate.

Answer 9

Labs are always a good med/large dog. If you can get an adult from a rescue group, you are more prone to get one that doesn't bark much. Lab's are not known for their "watch dog" abilities, so they don't bark at everything they hear or see. And their sheding isn't bad.

Answer 10

a Husky. if not a husky then maybe a Labradoodle? i heard that they don't shed as much because of their poodle-like furr. no one can get allergic to them either because they're hypo-allergenic. cockapoos are also good for this category. Huskies are pretty large. labradoodles come in different sizes, ranging from tiny to HuGe (i've seen them) but they'res a medium sized labradoodle that may fit ur needs. Cockapoos are a bit small for what ur going for tho.

i hope this helped and good luck.