Looking for a small dog - what breed for apartment?

Question

I've been looking into buying a puppy a long while now. Looking for small breed, suitable for 2 bd apartment. My husband and I both work though, the time the puppy would be left alone during the day would be up to 5 hours.. No kids, have a fenced in backyard as well. Any advice?

Answer 1

This isn't a very detailed answer, but if you go to

www.Pets.yahoo.com

there is a test you can take that asks questions like how much living space you have, how many hours alone, outside arrangements.. Ect, Ect.. Check it out, take the test and see what results they give you. From the breeds that they select, look into each one and see what you prefer.

I also recommend going to your local animal shelter and look for a dog that meets your weight/size requirements for your apartment. Most of those dogs will be put down if they are not adopted. Talk to the people at the desk and ask which dogs have been there the longest and will be put down sooner than the others.. See if any of them suit you.. I've adopted 4 dogs from animal shelters, and they are the most loving and caring dogs you will ever find... They appreciate the second, and possibly their last chance at life.

Answer 2

How Do I Choose the Dog That's Right for Me?
From Krista Mifflin,
Your Guide to Dogs.
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©2003 Krista Mifflin

Now that you've thought out your decision to make a dog part of your life, and are resolved to becoming a responsible dog owner the main question you are facing is : What kind of dog should I get?

In order to find out what type of dog is best for you, you need to think about what you expect from a dog.

Do you want a jogging partner? Higher energy breeds, such as herding dogs, or working dogs are ideal exercise partners. They require a lot of exercise though, so if you aren't prepared to spend several hours a day exercising your dog, maybe these types aren't for you.

Do you want a dog who's content to snuggle on the couch? Some hunting breeds, such as Basset Hounds, or sighthounds, like the Greyhound, are content with shorter periods of exercise, or a good walk twice daily.

Do you want a dog that you don't have to bend down to pet?

Do you want a dog that you can lift onto your lap, or cuddle in your arms while standing?

Once you've decided on size and energy, it's time to look at other factors.

Are there children in your home?
A breed known for tolerance in children is a good idea then.
Although any dog can be trained to be a family pet, some are more known for tolerance to the things children do (ie: screaming, running around, jumping). Never bring a dog into the home until your children have been taught how to behave towards animals. No animal should have to put up with a child's abuse.

Are you ready to deal with all the problems, training, and time consuming tasks of a puppy?
Puppies take a lot time, both in training, and in proper exercise. Young puppies need to be walked many times a day, they need to be constantly socialized, and they need a veterinary care. Are you ready for that? What about an older puppy; not quite a mature adult, but older than 12 weeks?
Many shelters and rescues have both purebred and mixed breed dogs in this age.

How about a fully grown adult dog?
The puppy exuberance and hyperactivity is no more, and you have a fully mature dog on your hands. One of the many benefits to skipping the puppy stage is starting off with a dog who may have already had training, likely knows the commands, and is most definitely ready to learn more.

Are you an apartment dweller? I have strong oppinions about dogs in apartments, and others do too.

You can also use these Purebred Dog Breed Selectors to help you narrow down the choices. Just remember, the breeds suggested by online selectors are suggestions only, and some of the suggested breeds may not be a good fit to your household.

Recommended Reading
Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family

Answer 3

Okay, really, I think the BOston terrier is the best u can get. I have two, Nibbles and Bits, they can be left alone, sweet, frinedley but need to be housebroken. the love people. here is some info. on them:
Boston Terrier

Owning
His coat is easy to care for when it comes to grooming, a few strokes with a soft brush will keep his short, smooth coat gleaming. He is loving and sensitive, merry and bright, at times a clown and has a deep love for his family and children. Usually he will get along well with other family pets if introduced to them at a young age.

Characteristics
The Boston Terrier is a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short-headed, compactly built, short-tailed, well balanced dog, brindle, seal or black in color and evenly marked with white. The head is in proportion to the size of the dog and the expression indicates a high degree of intelligence. The body is rather short and well knit, the limbs strong and neatly turned, the tail is short and no feature is so prominent that the dog appears badly proportioned. The dog conveys an impression of determination, strength and activity, with style of a high order; carriage easy and graceful. A proportionate combination of ''Color and White Markings'' is a particularly distinctive feature of a representative specimen.

Did You Know
The Boston Terrier is one of America's native breeds having been developed in Boston, MA. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1893. The Boston Terrier is also sometimes called ''the American gentleman among dogs.''

Answer 4

An grownup at 50 kilos opens your concepts to toy breeds and canines labeled as small or perhaps medium. because you're actually not interested in a organic bred canines and the grownup weight is a controversy, verify with section shelters. you would be waiting to discover a completely grown, totally vetted, grownup canines who would be your ultimate chum. Chihuahuas have become so over-bred which you will locate many Chis and Chi mixes at shelters. those would be small canines. i like terriers, and various do in superb condition your standards. yet terriers are lively and can be barkers. Many terriers are intense-strung. My buddies have Cocker Spaniels or perhaps their chunky boy could fall below the load decrease. Your ultimate wager could be reviewing the AKC internet site and finding on the breeds that allure to you. The breed standards for each would be indexed and supply weight stages. purely you may choose what canines appeals to you based on the seems, yet as you understand, there is much extra to possessing a canines than its seems. additionally, you have a decrease of fifty kilos, make useful there are not any breed regulations. some residences won't enable specific breeds. sturdy success, and notice the linked hyperlink to the AKC to help which includes your study.

Answer 5

i as well live in a two bedroom apt. and recently decided to get a puppy. i chose a chihuahua. they are a great breed of dog, i recommend researching any breed first, my parents have a long hair chihuahua so i know what great pets they can be, i opted for the short haired version. the breed only gorws up to be anywhere from 2-6 pounds. because i'm in an apartment i decided to litter box train him...due to your puppy being alone this is a good idea to consider. my paco has picked up on this very quickly and when i'm away i put the litterbox and him in the crate. this method has kept his litter box very clean! he loves to go outside too, but i've noticed he heads straight to the litterbox as soon as we go inside. i've only had him for about a month and there have only been a handful of accidents.

a couple of websites i found helpful are:

www.chihuahuainstitute.com
www.akc.org
www.dogbreedinfo.com

Answer 6

Miniature long- hair dachshund. I have had one for 17 years and he is totally wonderful. When he was younger, we lived in a small apartment and he did great. With his small legs, he loved to zip around the apt. and hide under chairs. Now, he likes to sleep alot but we'll always remember him as "A BIG DOG IN A LITTLE DOG BODY". Great fun and very loving.

Answer 7

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are great dogs for apartments. They are small dogs and are spaniels, which means they will run a marathon when you want them to and also will sit at home quietly when you want them to. This breed is optimal for people who cannot provide constant attention and play.

Answer 8

Miniature Dachshund. Absolutely the best dog for small homes and loving families. Ours is a black and tan male named Lamar. Sometimes my wife calls him Lamario because he's such a loving dog. NEVER bites. He will grip my finger in his teeth and pull but never hurts. I didn't teach him this, learned it on his own. Plus he plays with the cats.

Answer 9

Schnoodle

Answer 10

I would go for a Chi. They make wonderful apartment dogs due to the fact that they don't need much exercise.