Help. What kinda dog should I get for my life style?

Question

I go to work from 9-5.. I don't want too big of a dog or too small.
I live in a house by myself with medium size back yard.
I wanna be able to take it for a jog once in a while but don't have time to excersize it regularly. I want the dog to be smart so It can be trained easly.

People I didn't ask if I was too busy for a dog. thats not the questions here.

Answer 1

Dachshund,
They are very good dogs and they are trained very easily and they are very good and listen.
I have a dachshund and we barley ever take her out but when she gose with us she can still keep up.
@(^-^)@

Answer 2

Go to the shelter and get a senior dog that has been housebroken and does well alone. This is the only type of dog that does not need daily exercise beyond trotting along the backyard.

You say you can't exercise the dog regularly. Can you at least play a rigorous game of fetch in the yard every day? That opens up some more possiblities. Try a basset; they're not quite as active as some other breeds.

The downside to a "smart" dog is that it's going to be very bored when you're away all day, and will cause mischief. You might want to consider a more independent breed, one that is less eager to please you in training, will be more content when you're gone. You'll struggle more in training, but its short-term work for better long-term results. The success of the training, no matter how "smart" the dog is, has more to do with YOU than the dog.

ETA: The retired greyhound idea is pretty good!

Answer 3

It sounds like a Labrador is the one for you. They are a medium sized dog so do well in houses with small backyards. However with your current lifestyle if you get a puppy you will need to some how come home in the middle of the day in order to let the dog outside and to check on it. What sounds best for you is to contact breeders and inquire if they have any what I call "leftovers" these are the puppies that the breeder was unable to sell when they were at weaning age and can be a year or more old and are usually already trained and possibly housebroken. I have two labs one black the other chocolate. They are hyper until about 2 years of age. They are a very laid back dog and will forgive you for long days as long as you let it out to play in your yard in the evenings and show it attention whenever you are home. I work 8-5 each day and my dog is not neglected. I'd recommend crate training rather than newspaper but that's another question and answer. I notice that several have recommended pugs and other small dogs these are not good for jogs. My labs like my lifestyle and the "occasional" jog, they're happy as they can be, especially when playing fetch.

Answer 4

This is a tall order. While there are always individuals who do not conform to the breed, most medium size breeds need a lot of exercise and aren't going to be happy with a "once in awhile" jog. If the dog gets bored it will start doing things to entertain itself that you might not like and, in fact, would label as destruction! I would definitely steer clear of a puppy since you are gone all day. Check your local shelter for an adult dog. Many are already housebroken and have basic training. The shelter staff can also steer you toward a dog that is medium sized and more laid back. Good luck!

Addendum: Some people have suggested Pugs but all of the breeds with pushed in faces (Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pugs, etc) have trouble exercising in the heat which will probably be an issue for you. Also, Pugs aren't really into running. I don't recommend a Border Collie! A Border Collie needs hours of daily exercise or you will be sorry!

Answer 5

I would suggest a red or blue heeler, also known as Australian cattle dogs. They're both beautiful, and very intelligent medium sized dogs. Most heelers grow to be about 35 to 40 pounds.

Heelers are instinctively cattle dogs, and are naturally smart. They're "working dogs" and therefore enjoy activity. The best activity for them would be a daily walk, but if you don't have time to do this every day, work on tricks with him. Heelers enjoy working on tricks - they'll see it as a form of work. Not only that, but they're very smart and can learn most tasks in a matter of days. Also, I'm assuming your yard is fenced, so you can let him out occasionally so he can run around on his own.

The only bad thing about heelers is that they can chew up ANYTHING. This is due to their herding nature - they nip at things frequently. If you get a heeler, don't be surprised if he walks behind you, nipping at your heels! However, training them not to chew on your things isn't the difficult part. The difficult part is finding a toy that will last. Tennis balls, stuffed animals, and Frisbees will all be torn to shreds by a heeler. They need durable toys like kongs and nyla-bones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cattle_Dog

Answer 6

Maybe a terrier type breed.. All breeds have good/bad.. As with a pug, most terriers can get eye infections (conjunctivitious) pretty easily.. It's remedied with eye drops, but it's still a trip to the vet.. Some of the really small breed dogs like chihauhaus (sp).. are too small and are hypoglycemic so they require frequent feeding to keep their insulin levels up.. I like Weimeriners/Vizslas (sp) sorry... They are a medium sized dog good with people and other pets.. They are really smart and easily trained.. They also don't shed that much.. However, they are hunting/working dogs so you may have to walk or jog it more often.. We've had two vizsla's and they are truly wonderful animals... Good luck and I hope you find a good companion

Answer 7

Most definitely look into adopting a retired Greyhound.

These are dogs that are retired from racing at age of 3-5 years. They are very well behaved, trained to not bark (which is sad, most have been abused and beated if they bark.)
They are always happy to see their owners, beautifully built animals that love a good run or walk.

They love the softest place to lay in the house because it is more comfortable on their legs ( they have boney legs)

They love children and never heard of one ever biting anybody.

They are so smart and attentive.

Just check them out first and see if there is one that's personality matches what your looking for.

They need homes too and are worth it.

Answer 8

I have a cockapoo and have had others in the past.
Very easy to train,very affectionate and not too demanding.Also,not too big and not too small.
Crate train from the beginning and you'll have no problems.
Just make sure you give whatever animal you buy a lot of attention and play with him regularly.Your yard should be fine for that type of dog.They are also very social with people and other dogs.

Answer 9

i would get a mutt from a local shelter. They have less health problem and are not a crazy as purebreeds. I would look into a dog walker while you are at work. It will help break up they day for the dog and then you wont always have to rush home from work. Try petsit.com locate a pet sitter then type in your zip code and it will show you results in your area. They will be insured and bonded if they are a member. Good Luck!

Answer 10

You can put in your search engine a request for a dog selector. I think Purina.com has one. It will ask you questions as to your life style, etc and then give you feedback as to what type is best for you. You can also do some research at a library like we did. The best way to start is right on your computer however.

Answer 11

IMHO the smarter the dog the harder they are to train. A cockapoo might be a nice fit for you, they are fairly active but small enough that they are easy to exercise. (There is no such thing as a dog that doesn't need regular exercise, but smaller dogs are easier to exercise) to be honest you don't sound much like you SHOULD get a dog at all. Try a cat. You sound like you want the ups to a dog but none of the work. Sorry, they don't work that way. Get a cat.