whats a good dog for me?

Question

I want a medium sized dog that can be alone a few hours in the mornign and a few in the afternoon. It will be walked an hour a day.. and played with. I want an easily trained dog. If you recommend a lab, please also give a second recommendation.

Answer 1

A Queensland Heeler (Australian cattledog) is a highly intelligent breed---perhaps the smartest of all dogs. A dog of this medium-sized breed does not mind being alone, will learn unbelievably quickly, is incredibly loyal and protective, has a strong constitution and is generally healthy, is a marvelous companion. We've had two and could not be more pleased with the breed. Good luck in finding a wonderful canine companion!

Answer 2

I would have to say I recommend a mix breed of some sort. There are many dogs for adoption at local animal shelters and a lot of them are already partially trained or at least house broken. Plus mix breeds have less health problems than purebreds. I have a rottie/lab mix and she is a wonderful dog and was super easy to train. Growing up my family had a terrier mix (also from the animal shelter) who was also very easy to train and very good about being home alone for the day while everyone was at work and school. Whatever breed you decide on, if the dog will be left out roaming the house when you're gone make sure you have toys that he/she can chew on so it doesn't chew on furniture, but the toys shouldn't be something the dog could tear apart very easily. Good luck with finding a good companion:)

Answer 3

It depends on you. Lab puppies are full of energy but they tend to mellow as they age. I personally would not consider a lab a medium sized dog but they are EXCELLENT dogs. You are going to have to walk it for more then an hour when it hits adulthood or get a treadmill. Our Lab-in-law is pushing 100 lbs. He has acres to run and is a well adjusted dog and loves all people. I don't know what to suggest as a second but I am leaving you a link to the AKC site to look at different breeds and the descriptions. Good Luck!

On a side note, not all dogs fit the following catagories but the majority do

Hounds have a "hound" smell
Terriers are high energy
Sight dogs are the ones that bolt after birds and other critters

A standard poodle is also a good dog!
I have (toy) Chinese Crested. They will not fetch a log but they can go everywhere with me.

Answer 4

We just looked into getting a dog for my family, and the answer we came up with is the goldendoodle. You can tailor their size due to the poodle aspect, and their coats are wonderfully soft, with little shedding. The dog we got is wonderful; sweet, loyal, medium amount of energy, and great at playing fetch. Someone is with her most of the day, but she's fine being by herself, and only needs about a half hour walk a day, plus some playtime.

Answer 5

I would greatly recommend a blue heeler. Extremely smart, beautiful and able to function solo. They are loyal and dependable and it sounds like you would provide a lot of exercise which is what they would need.

Labs are wonderful just like Golden Retrievers though they are very high energy. If you're going to be gone a lot this would be a bad choice.

Australian shepards are also good but there are hundreds of breed available. I'd do some digging online to match your life style, tempermant and patience with a good breed.

There are lots of highly trainable dogs but some may be more prone to seperation anxiety than others, some shed more, some have skin allergies etc etc etc. Take some time match your lifestyle and fine what YOU'RE looking for!

Good Luck

Answer 6

Boxers are good dogs. They're goofy and will make you laugh. Clown of the dog world. They're very intelligent and very easy to train. They are medium sized and all that as well. Make sure you get one that is about 5 years old, maybe older, not a puppy, if you don't want to put it in a crate for those few hours, because ours destroyed our house when he got pissed off at us for leaving him alone one day (he was a year old). They're also good house dogs and don't do well in extreme heat or extreme cold (hence house dog status).

Answer 7

A golden retriever would be perfect. I don't recommend a lab as they can become very destructive if left alone. You might also look into a greyhound from a rescue. Actually, a rescue or shelter dog is a good option for you because they are already trained and most are accustomed to being left alone. In addition, you will be saving a life.

Answer 8

Some people have suggested Blue Heelers and Australian Shepherds. I disagree. These are very high energy and smart dogs who need more than 1 hour of exercise a day. Some people have also suggested "mutts" but I disagree. Even if you get a mixed breed dog, you have to consider the breeds it is mixed with. If you got a border collie/ lab mix, you would need to exercise your dog a lot more than 1 hour a day. If you do decide on a mixed breed, think about the traits of all the breeds it is mixed with. I think you should research medium size dog breeds and then opt for a lower energy, older dog. If you get a puppy, regardless of the breed, it will need more than you say you have time for. Good luck to you.

Answer 9

Provided it gets plenty of play and running, a Border Collie makes an excellent house dog. It needs stimulation but can content itself for hours at a time. It is a very clever dog that is easily trained, in fact it is so clever it might just train you!!

Answer 10

Labs are great dogs,But not for you.You're only going to walk him 1 hour a day.You didn't say how long you will play him,Not long ,maybe an hour I'm guessing.Perhaps a toy stuffed animal would be better. If you want a good dog, you have to spend alot of time with them.Rethink why you want a dog.