My Fiance' & I are considering getting a puppy in the summer. I am a teacher, so I will be able to be home with him/her to train them. We cannot decide what kind of dog would be best for us. We want a medium sized dog that does not shed alot. We have a nice sized town-house with a large fenced in yard. ???
2007-01-31 06:00:42 · 26 answers · asked by Kirsten S 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Get a labrador they are great...
2007-01-31 06:07:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, I hate it when people say they want a dog that doesn't shed much. Really all dogs shed, even the ones advertised as nonshedders like poodles and yorkies. They ALL shed. The best you can do is keep up with the grooming and vaccuum regularly. (In my house I tell people to get over the hair. The dogs live here and the visitor does not.)
Generaly, though terriers tend not to be overwhelming shedders, and same for poodles. Some breeds though need regular professional grooming. Some people have recommended labs and they are notorious for shedding constantly.
I would recommend you go to the shelter and pick out a nice adult mixed breed that appeals to both of you. The summer is not long enough to train a puppy before you go back to school all day, and I've never known a teacher that could come home in the middle of the day to walk her puppy. Having taken home both adults and puppies I can tell you I will never willingly take home a puppy again.
Plus with an older dog you get fewer problems such as accidents in the house, chewing and general bad behavior. You will have some issues as the dog gets used to your house rules, but generally adult dogs are WAY easier to deal with than puppies. With a puppy you don't know whether you are getting a placid easy spirit or a raving maniac. With an adult shelter dog you see what the personality is (at least a general idea) before you take it home. And you'll know what it will look like and weigh in 6 months.
Plus shelter dogs are a good financial deal. Way cheaper than going to a breeder and usually they are already spayed or neutered.
And of course they need homes and you would not be contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. Good luck finding the right dog for you.
2007-01-31 06:18:57 · answer #2 · answered by Robin D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the dogs people are suggesting aren't really medium sized, with the exception of the bulldog. I assume you're looking for a dog between 25-50 lbs, which rules out labs, boxers, and most of the working breeds. You may want to consider a standard schnauzer, they are 35-45 lbs. and don't shed very much, however some are noisy. Poodle mixes, such as the cockapoo or labradoodle, may work for you, but not all are non-shedding. Many take after the non-poodle parent in that respect. Shiba Inu are very clean, quiet, almost cat-like dogs that may work well for you, although I'm not sure how they do with kids. Remember to consider that if you plan on having kids in the dog's lifetime!
2007-01-31 08:18:01 · answer #3 · answered by Luv big dogs 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you considered a shelter dog/mixed breed? If training is an issue, there are tons of young adult dogs looking for homes. Many times they're already housebroken and spayed/neutered as well.
Terriers are usually really good medium sized breeds, and so are shepards. Check out the akc website for more breed-specific information, but my best advice is to go check out some dogs. Even if you don't adopt a shelter dog, you can sometimes get a pretty decent idea of what a particular breed is like.
Oh, and don't know when your wedding is, but if you're going on a honeymoon, wait until after you get back to get a pup. You'll miss him/her too much!!
Good luck, and have fun!
2007-01-31 06:09:16 · answer #4 · answered by Casey 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All puppies are cute, but they don't stay puppies for long. The real question is, what kind of dog will fit into your life, and are you prepared to properly care for it for the next 10-20 years? Do a search for 'dog breeds' or 'dog breed selector' and you'll get plenty of information on the different kinds of dogs. You can also visit your local shelter and spend some time with the dogs and puppies there.
2016-05-23 23:15:50 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i thought you were looking at weim's. if you are looking for just any medium type of dog, and by the way a weim is not a medium dog. please visit your local shelter or humane society. research what a good owner needs and needs to do with a pup. some spring and summer there will be a multitude of various breed mixes at your local shelter that will fit exactly what you are looking for. you can reduce the amount of hair shed on any dog by regular brushings, grooming and feeding a high quality dog food. try petfinder and put in your zip code. speak with the shelter and have an app on file with what you are wanting and keep in touch and they can give you a heads up when a pup that fits your description comes available. you are best to adopt from a shelter if breed does not matter. not only are you saving a life, but you willl be getting a friend for life.
2007-01-31 06:08:40 · answer #6 · answered by cagney 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check out your local shelter, lots of mutts there that need homes, and they come fixed and vaccinated.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay away from petstores, and don't fall for the "Labrodoodle" craze!!
If you want a pure-bred, go to www.akc.org and look for dog show in your area, that way you can go and see many different breeds and make direct connections with breeders. You're a good candidate since you have a fenced yard, and someone will be home with the dog...that is something we look for:)
As for breeds, if you don't want shedding or oil, stay away from the hunting dogs (labs, retreivers). Believe it or not poodles are great dogs, they don't shed, but you have to take them to a groomer. They are excellent family dogs too. If you like high energy, look at the Irish Terrier. Terriers are stubborn though, but fun dogs. Other breeds to look at: Boxer, Viszla, Schnauzer. I highly advise going to a dog show, you'd have a great time. Good luck!
2007-01-31 06:15:03 · answer #7 · answered by Nevermore 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a Bulldog would be the way to go. They are very laid back,medium sized dogs. They love everyone and do not know a stranger. They are great with kids, and the wrinkle face is just to cute. They do have a one thing you must watch for though. You must not leave them out in hot weather for long, or let them get super excited. It will cause them to overheat and it can kill them quickly. I have one, and other than that she is awesome. They are expensive though about $1500.00 and up. They are usually artificially inseminated and then c-sectioned to get the pups out. They are very difficult and expensive to breed. That is why they cost so much, but they are worth every penny. Good Luck.
2007-01-31 07:45:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bought a Miniature Schnauzer about nine months ago. He's very smart and loyal, and house trained very easily. He's about 14 inches tall and around 20 pounds. I've never noticed any hair that he's shed, so I think that for the most part schnauzers don't. He's the sweetest dog I've had yet, you should consider the breed!
2007-01-31 06:22:12 · answer #9 · answered by winstonbad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want an easy to train, loveable, fun going dog, I recommend the Cairn terrier. They are Hypoalergetic and do not shed. They would love the yard to run in and they are excellent with children. They weigh up to 15 pounds and are good with other dogs.
2007-01-31 06:20:10 · answer #10 · answered by Ghostly Ghost! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to the shelter, save a life, gain a pal for life. If they have a german shorthaired pointer, you will struggle to go wrong.
Almost every breed will still require walks and exercise outside the yard, so don't use the size of the yard as a reason to dodge that responsiblity.
2007-01-31 15:05:12 · answer #11 · answered by bonesetter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋