I would love to get a dog. I live in a flat with very easy acess to parks. Which dog would be best?

Question

I'm not really a lap dog sort of person and would prefer not to have loads of dog hair all over the place. Constant BARKING is a no no.

Answer 1

Shiba Inu, Medium size, do not shed, they conform to the amount of exercise their own does, and not a yappy dog. Very stubborn and more difficult to train, obedience school is best. Also, if you have the space, believe it or not great danes are apartment animals.

Answer 2

Lets see if I have this right:

Exercise - walks in park
Not long haired (shedding)
Not a yapper
Not a climb on top of you dog -just hang with you

Basset Hound
Australian Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Scottish Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Pug
Boston Terrier
(English) Bulldog
French Bulldog
Schipperke
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgi

NOT any large breed or one that needs to romp and rip - pretty much all the sporting group, all of the working group, nearly all of the herdng group; virtually all of the hound group....leave out the ones with long hair and that list is what we have left

OH -and NEVER a Jack Russell - perpetual motion machines that never shut up and are an obedience trainer's 4 footed nightmare


http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm.

..You can search by Group, Breed name or all of them at once.

Now, when you click on the picture of the dog and go to the page for that breed, on the left is a column. At the bottom of the column, is a link captioned "National Breed Club". Click on it - that takes you to the link to the National Club for that breed that sets the breed standards.

The Clubs' websites will give you an ENORMOUS amount of information about the breed - the good, the bad, and the why or why not to get that breed. The clubs websites also have:

(1) a breeders list - all of whom have agreed to abide by the breeders code of ethics (which you can read)

(2) a link to the breed rescue for their breed

Do give serious thought to adopting from an adult from a breed rescue. The clubs' breed rescues go to a great deal of trouble to determine the dog's temperrment, personality, likes and dislikes (particularly kids and cats and other dogs in the household), health, and level of training. They make a huge effort to match the right dog to the right home - and if they don't have one they think will be suitable for your home, they won't place it. Great way to avoid the puppy training, newspapers, chewing.......They have dogs that are purebred and part-bred (1/2 or so of their breed.) Dogs that come through rescue are so thrilled to have a forever loving home having once been abandoned to a shelter or rescue that they are typically extra devoted and loving. Dogs lose their homes for reason that are not their fault: death, divorce, a move and they couldn’t keep them, financial problems….


If you decide to get a puppy , please use one of the breeders who are members of the breed club. A well-bred pet puppy may not be a candidate for the show ring (that nose being 1/8th of an inch to long or something else very picky) but they will be very healthy, the parents carefully screened for hereditary health problems, and from a breeder who has devoted a great deal of time to understanding the breed and bloodlines. A responsible breeder will have a written contract with a health guarantee for hereditary problems; require that if for any reason you ever have to give up the dog that it comes back to them; and always be available for help, assistance and advice about your dog. Such a breeder will tell you if they don't think their breed is right for you based upon your needs. They want a perfect forever home for the puppies - not the money. (In 43 years in the dog show world, I have never known a breeder of that caliber who has made a profit on their dogs - it is labor of love.)

A puppy from such a breeder costs no more - and often less - than from a backyard breeder who doesn't do the health checks, knows nothing about the breed or bloodlines, doesn't give a guarantee, never wants to hear about the puppy again and has breed from mediocre or poor quality dogs.

IF A SERIOUS BREEDER OR RESCUE TELLS YOU THAT THE BREED IS NOT SUITED FOR YOUR SITUATION - BELIEVE THEM - NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LIKE THE WAY THE DOG LOOKS

Now once you know what the tendencies and traits of the breeds are, you are prepared to think about adopting a mixed breed. Now you know when they say "mastiff/collie" cross, what you are geting into. PLEASE consider adopting from your shelter. they make just as wonderful pets as those with a pedigree. They are often more loyal and bond more closely when they know that they can trust you not to leave them having already been abandoned and deserted in their lives, and thankful for a loving home. You can go to your local shelter.

Answer 3

Are you sure you wouldnt be better off with a goldfish?

Seriously. Dogs really arn't made to order. There are lots of breeds out there who may do this, or may do that, but you can never know until you are living with them. I can understand the want for a dog, but I am really not sure if you are in the best place, or if you are looking at what you can offer them, just what you dont want to have to deal with instead.

I had to wait 8 years to be in the right place to give a dog a secure happy home and have had her for a couple of months now.

My concern is if you get a dog now and they do not match up to your expectations, they will be another one for the dogs home and very traumatised as a result.

Answer 4

Well you will want a breed that does not demand constant attention and exercise.

I would suggest a bulldog, either French or English as they are generally loyal and calm animals, which don't bark much.

The latter has to be a big requirement for your circumstances- noisy breeds will get you in trouble so stay away from terriers and small, yappy toy breeds.

I would definitely suggest a bulldog but be prepared to pay alot of money for one. £1000-1500 for a French and £1500-2000 for an English.

Answer 5

I would think very carefully about getting a dog and confining it to a flat.Dogs are pack animals and need to have company of either other dogs or it's new pack.i.e: humans.It is not good to keep them locked up alone all day as they need to be constantly socialised and taught where their status in the pack hierarchy is.Constant barking is usually a symptom of loneliness,I amm nearly 60 and have had dogs all my life,the problem with dogs is that they have a very short life span and when they pass away it is like losing a member of your family.

Answer 6

Is it a dog you relay want? The only dogs that don't moult (loose hair) are poodles and Yorkshire terriers, but both can tend to yap a lot. You could try a greyhound, they do moult, but they only need too be taken for a walk once a day, as they tend to be a "couch potato" in other words tend to like to lay on there own bed most of the time. Of course as with any dog they need to be taken out to do there "toilet". You don't say if you have a ground floor flat, or whether your flat is on higher level.

Answer 7

Why don't you go to your nearest animal rescue centre, somewhere like NCDL or the RSPCA, they have loads of dogs wanting homes and you would get a good idea from what type of dog would be best for you by going to places like that too, rescue dogs are wonderful and make wonderful pets, maybe one that is a few years old and is used to be left on its own occasionally so it won't be barking all the time, good luck hope you find a lovely dog for yourself soon.

Answer 8

Any dog that you truly love. All I ask is that you adopt one from a shelter. Adopt a dog that is looking for a new and loving home for the rest of his or her life. That animal is in the shelter for a reason, and you could be the person who gives that little creature a brand new lease on life. I can only hope you will choose from shelter animals. Otherwise, enjoy your new companion! - Chris in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A. (I am 63 years old, and have seen the faces of the dogs in shelters waiting for their new homes.)

Answer 9

Any Dog is gonna demand you attention by barking, or just
'talking'..if you have from a puppy... (its like having a new
baby !!) you can bring it up your own way, A smooth coated Jack Russell are most intelligent, but, unless you can committe
to walking 2 to 3 times per day, why not get a .cat, rabbit, gerbal,
Canary, Budgie, Parrot.....please think... any animal who are
used to be confined...could be good for you !!!

Answer 10

I too agree with ann b. Especially about breed rescue dogs. They are the best. I have 2 Boxers and would not trade them for all the money in Ft. Knox.
Good Luck.