Can you help me decide on a small companion dog?

Question

i currently live in a studio apartment and i want a small dog who can keep me company. i like small, fuffy dogs but i want a really gentle and calm one who doesnt need a lot of excercise and would just be content to just lie around and watch tv with me. it's also important for it to not bark alot and is not dirty.

Answer 1

I don't think a dog is a good idea in a studio apartment. All dog need exercise, regardless of the breed and any dog is going to bark, especially if it's bored or lonely. I think you'd be better off with a cat or other small animal like a ferret or a rat.

Answer 2

All dogs need daily exercise and all will get dirty at some point in their life. You need to remember that with "fluffy" dogs, they usually need professional grooming every year. You should also know that there is no "calm" dog. All dogs are bouncy and hyperactive when they are young and most until they are 2 years old. Also, not many small dogs are gentle. Most don't get along with children, other dogs or non-canine pets and usually only stick to one person - the one that feeds them. They are a one-on-one dog so if you have a partner, I wouldn't recommend dogs like Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier or Toy Poodle. I think a Pug or even a small mutt from your shelter. If you don't mind dealing with a lot of health problems and snoring, a Pug. All dogs will bark, no matter what. The only dog that is virtually bark less is the Basenji.

Answer 3

I second the idea on getting a cat, but if you have your heart set on a dog, what you need is a sweet, gentle, OLD dog that's been raised in a loving home but who now needs a new home, preferably because its former owner, who took great care of it, died or had to move to a nursing home, something like that. (You're less likely to get a dog that is in a shelter for behavior problems that way.) I would seriously stay away from purebred dogs, because small purebred dogs tend to be extremely high-strung and needy. Talk to your local humane society or even to some eldercare organizations in your community, and let them know what you're looking for. Also remember that fluffy = dirty, or at the very least, lots and lots of grooming. And remember that ALL dogs require daily exercise, plenty of bathroom breaks, and lots of loving companionship.

Answer 4

I agree that a dog may not be the best choice for you. You said you wanted a clean, fluffy animal that will lay around with you- it sounds like a cat would be perfect. If you are set on getting a dog, consider getting a dog that's a few years old (from a shelter perhaps). A full grown dog will be less rowdy and less likely to chew up or pee on stuff in your apartment.

Answer 5

First of all If you want a dog you need to give it at least 15 min of exercise DAILY. Don't get a dog only becaus eit's cute, like a pomeranian or a chihuahua because small dogs are usually very nervous and noisy and nippy. Some of the smaller breeds that are not noisy, yappy or nervous are PAPPILON, CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL,JAPANESE CHIN and PUG. That's if you don't want a really noisy yappy, but cute dog(i think those breeds are cute too though.)CAVALIERS need at least 40 min of exsercise daily so maybe they aren't the dog for you, but research them because they are the most lovable and affectionate dogs out there. PAPPILONS need less about 25 min of excersice would be good for them. They are very fluffy, and cute and not as yappy as other toy breeds. They don't bark without a cause. I think they would be the #1 dog for you. PUGS (not fluffy)and JAPANESE CHINS (very fluffy, shed a lot)need only about 10~15 min of excersise daily, but I find them boring because they only sleep and sleep indoors. They aren't much for playing either. This is a matter of personal taste but I don't really see their squashed up snouts as cute but that's for you to decide personally.



I still think the best dog for you is the Pappilon.
small yet sturdy, clean, very fluffy and cute(for me) not much excercise, and they are not as yappy as the other breeds.I'm repeating myself.
If you don't mind the excersise that much then the CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEIL might be even better. Try all these breed selectors too. http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselectorindex.do
http://www.selectsmart.com/DOG/

http://us.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=DBS



Hve fun and remember~ a dog is a commitment for up to 17 years and Think deeply before you decide which breed you want. If you are a first time owner you should get a dog with a breed because you don't know what you're getting with a mutt. Don't get me wrong I love mutts and adopting one from the shelter is great but be careful coz you don't know what you're getting,


I hope this answers your question.

Answer 6

Shitz Tzu are very loyal and loving.
I used to breed them.
I now have a chow-Jack Russel Terroior. He is wonderful and loving. But he needs to run at least once a day. I t ake him to a dog park and he has a ball running.

Answer 7

Please don't get a dog at all until you have a house with a yard. Dogs and apartments don't mix. Small dogs need just as much exercise as big ones by the way, they need to eliminate more often and they can be snappy and have far more behavioral problems than big ones!

Answer 8

HAVANESE or COTON DEL TULEAR look them both up..... also CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL...... go to akc.org and view dogs in the toy group...... good luck.. the three that i listed ARE GREAT and have not been over bred

Answer 9

i agree with Aleria but if you have 15-20 min. to walk a dog then maybe a pug

Answer 10

Why not get a stuffed toy? Animals need excersize.