I want to get a dog. What kind fits this criteria?

Question

I know nothing about dogs, except that I want one. Here is my situation. I live in a 2 BR condo with a roomate. We both work 7-4pm jobs M-F. I want a dog that can be alone in the house for that extended period of time. I'd like it to be small - medium size, that doesn’t shed too much and is friendly to all and not too loud. Can someone please make some recommendations! All help is appreciated!

Answer 1

You definately DO NOT want a puppy of any kind. May I suggest that you adopt an adult dog? Believe it or not there are many very good adult dogs that are already housebroken at the shelter. Not all dogs are dumped because they had problems. Many times it is because the owners were the problem.
They have lots of purebreds as well.
That is all that I can suggest to you if you are serious about wanting to get a dog that would stand a chance of fitting into the scenario that you have given.
~Tyed~
If you can not find the breed that you decide on at the shelter then contact a rescue for that breed and they can help pair you up with an adult dog.

Answer 2

First off - you have to ask yourself how much time and energy you are willing to invest! A dog is a 10-15 year commitment!!! Secondly you have to learn about the different breeds! Someone on here suggested a Jack Russel - and those for instatnce have a ton of energy and are happiest when running and excersising! Most dog require a lot of walks and off leash time - especially if you will be gone that many hours each day! Please - research all small breeds before making a decision - the reason shelters are so full is because people do not know what they are getting into and then they abandon dogs because they can't handle them - their energy, etc...
Secondly - you should adopt an older dog - since you work that long - you would have a lot of issues potty training a puppy...
There is websites out there where you can take a compatibility test and it tells you what dog would be the best fit!

Answer 3

Your best bet is to think of the personality traits/abilities you want your dog to have instead of a specific breed. All dogs in the same breed don't always act alike, just like all people from the same city don't act alike! Next, find rescue groups in your area that foster dogs. (Petfinder.com is a great way to find shelters and foster groups in your area) The foster parents will have a working knowledge of how that particular dog acts and what its needs will be. The other benefits are that the dog will probably be a mutt (less health issues than a pure breed), it's much cheaper than getting a dog from a pet store or breeder, and you'll be rescuing an animal (good for your karma). The only other thing I'd recommend is shooting for the 1-3 year age range. They're old enough to be fine with not going to the bathroom all day, but still young enough to be easier to train than a really old dog.

Answer 4

Reguardless of what breed you choose, I would strongly suggest you get two. Because of your busy work week, the little guy will be home alone alot. By having a pair, they will be able to keep each other company.
I think breed wise, a terrier of some kind would work well. Theyre sturdy little dogs, who can handle some rough housing, but arent real big, and dont shed much if at all. Some of them do have barking issues (like Snauzers) but that can become a training issue and easily fixed. I also would say to go to the local pound or shelter. I am a firm believer that a mixed breed can be the best!

Answer 5

I had a Cockerpoo who was named Buttercup. Size-wise I think a Cockerpoo might fit your criteria because Buttercup never got heavier than twenty-five pounds. Unlike a Labradoodle, though, Buttercup did shed a bit but that was primarily because her non-Poodle parent was a Cocker Spaniel and they seem to shed a bit.

My aunt Terry's friend Fred has a Bichon Frisee and that might be more to your liking as they don't seem to shed at all and seem fairly small. However, before you take my advice, talk to a verterinarian about potential health problems your dog may experience as Buttercup eventually developed throat cancer and had to be "put down" at age nineteen and Kabuki (Fred's dog) has a kidney problem that requires her to be on a special diet.

As a puppy, Buttercup had a barking problem when left alone, but once she got older, she didn't bark so much as long as we left a radio or TV on for her for at least an hour after we left.

As a couple other people who have contributed answers to your question have also said, a dog needs to be trained. I agree. But how will you do so if you are gone most of the day?

I hope I have helped.

Answer 6

My husband and I have a MinPin. He works for us, but you need to make sure that the dog (as an individual) can handle the separation.

I'd look into local shelters and rescues, that way you can both meet the dog and make sure that it's personality fits with you and the shelter can also give you some ideas on how the dog would react to that amount of time alone.

Also, whatever breed you end up with, I'd get a book on that breed - it will help with training and anticipating potential problems.

Good luck!

Answer 7

don't get anything with terrier in the name. don't get whippets either. a dog will behave how you train it to behave so unless you got some kind of hound, a dog won't be a barker if you train it to do otherwise.
bichons are good cause they're small and don't shed, but they require some grooming, either u brushing them out or a professional groomer once a month. poodles are the same way but they get very owner attached and won't be friendly to strangers or visitors. shelties are good too, they're a little bigger, and they shed but brushing them will help with that. finish spitzes are also good. they are medium sized and they don't have dog smell.

if you want more info, try this website. it has all akc registered breeds, plus the pluses and minuses concerning personality, grooming, and health.

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselectorindex.do

Answer 8

I like the idea of visiting a shelter and talking with the senior volunteers there. Tell them your situation and ask if they have a good candidate for you. One thing I AM certain, is that you do not want a Jack Russell. They are wonderful dogs, but NOT for a situation where they will be alone for that long. They will be destructive if left alone and will not thrive if "crated" that much.

Answer 9

I think every dog is adorable, idk what you consider cute, but I'm sure any dog you get you'll grow fond enough of it that you'll think it's the cutest thing in the world. (: Here are some breds that have longer hair but don't shed so they wouldn't make a mess, but they may need grooming (though some can have their coats cut short) so idk if that would be an issue or not: Yorkshire terrier Shih Tzu Maltese Miniature Poodle Lhasa Apso Silky Terrier Affenpinscher Here are other small dogs with short hair: Chihuahua Beagle French Bulldog Dachshund Boston Terrier Pug Miniature Schnunzer

Answer 10

I'm going to get a lot of flac for this but I would say go to the SPCA and get a nice mutt! Mutts (mixed-breed dogs) usually out-live purebred dogs and have less health problems. I would avoid dogs that are mixed with hounds and large breed dogs such as laboradors. If you are looking for a nice purebred dog that isn't too large and rarely barks, Golden Retrievers are the best. Good luck in your search!