Need Help Picking Out A Puppy. What Kind Of Breed Should I Get?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
I want a small breed, loveable, loyal companion, and good with kids, playful yet laidback, can be a good watch dog, but friendly with people. Easy to train. Non-shedding, don’t mind the grooming. I dislike, a lot of barking, no-running dog for me, non-aggressive, nippy type dog either that digs or jumps over fence. I’m considering a shih-tzu or mix with havanese or lhasa apso. Any owners that can tell me more?
Related Havanese Training & Care posts:
- My Dogs Are Really Close To Being Potty Trained, How Do I Finish?
- I’m Getting A New Puppy, But I’m Not Sure Of How Much It Will Cost To Care For It Overall.?
- I’m Getting A New Puppy, But I’m Not Sure Of How Much It Will Cost To Care For It Overall.?
- Whats The Best Breed Of Dog?
- Bichon Frise Or Havanese Puppy?
Shih-tzu’s to me are the best breed of dog to have if you want something small. I love them. As far as the barking goes, it pretty much depends on how you train them. My definitely lets me know when someone is coming to the house or if they hear an unfamiliar noise.
They are very very friendly, good lap dogs. Playful, and they are very smart too! When mine was just a pup, he learned his name very quickly and also the basic doggy commands.
Make sure you do your research before buying one. The best ones are champion bloodline and AKC registered. If you purchase any pet from a petstore, you are not really guaranteed that what you are getting is really what you are getting. Also, petstores often purchase their dogs from puppymills where they are often mistreated and just seen as dollar signs. I wish I could rescue all animals from being exploited in such a manner, but unfortunately since it is so widespread, it is a hard thing to control.
Go with the shih-tzu. They are not too yappy, they are playful. They don’t really shed, or else mine don’t shed anyway.
I think “Friends with Everyone” got it right. Someone came in the store the other day while I had my Brittany with me. They asked if I thought they should get a Brit. I told them Brittanies are certainly not for everyone, neither is any breed for everyone. I recommended the Animal Planet survey as a starting point. It helps you get a short list and a launching point to do a little research, including getting in touch with a club.
Keep in mind that breed standards are guidelines and each dog, just likea person, has its own personality. I’d be sure to go to a reputable breeder, or a shelter or rescue organization (which will have evaluated the dog before adopting it out).
Insert warning about pet stores and puppymills here.
Good luck.
Dachshund’s are very cute and intelligent. They are a small breed and are very good with people and other pets. My mother in law has a shis-tzu, he is a good dog, but gets easily annoyed, he gets grumpy and likes to nip at people. It all comes down to if you have a lot of time to spend with it, you can make any breed into a great pet! Its all in the owners and how they train and treat their pets!
Shih tzus fit that description perfectly! We have several shih tzus in our family! With barking and nipping though, that’s a training issue. All puppies will nip because they are teething. Shih tzus are guard dogs because they bark- so if you don’t want them to bark when the doorbell rings, then you train them not too. They don’t dig, and don’t need a lot of exercise because they were bred as indoor dogs.
Havanese dogs are still a bit rare in most of the US- it depends on where you live. I wanted one, and had a hard time looking for one!
pomerainian…………………i have a pom-pom…she loves kids…and is playful…but also likes to just lay around……she is a great watchdog ….and they are easy to train…..you can keep the pom-poms hair cut short and that will cut down on..pom-poms only bark when they hear somthing that is not suppose to be around the house…….pomerainians are like shih-tzu only smaller and better lol
Behavior comes more from training than from breed-specifics. Small dogs tend to be reactionary and vocal, but training can correct that behavior. Older dogs tend to be more low-energy and are very loyal. Local rescue shelters can help match you with a good dog for your lifestyle.
My parents have a lhasa apso and she’s a real witch!! She pees all over the house and she bited everyone!! I just got a Yorkie/Bischon mix and she is the most friendly dog I have ever seen and she rarely ever barks…she does cry a lot though….
Shitzu is perfect. My mom has 4 and they are sweet and calm and were crate trained so they are potty trained. They don’t shed and have never dug and can’t jump very high. The only thing is they do require grooming.
Mini or Toy American Eskimo – Very cute, lovable, super smart, easy to train,will bark when someone knocks or shows up at your home, very healthy dogs… downside they do shed alot. They are very good with kids.
Get one that fits YOUR lifestyle.:0)
Try the breed selector quiz and see what breed(s) show up that are right for you. http://animal.discovery.com/breedselecto…
Try a corgi maybe they are great with kids play ful, not agressive and dont shed to much. out of your two choiced though i would go with a shih-tzu.
But make sure its a dog from a shelter! Not puppy mills please!
Siberian Huskeys… My mom has 8 kidz (including me) and we have 2 huskeys and 6 puppies
. They are the bestest dogs ever. Everything you put about what you want. They have. I love them soo much <33
shih-tzu is perfect
dont go with any hound breed of spitz breeds as theyr high energy, as are retrievers.
poms can be nasty and chis.
shih is deffo the best
Get a golden Retriever! Ther are so cute as puppies and they are well behaved and easy to train!
I bought a lhasa-poo a few years ago and he was wonderful. He played great with friends’ kids and nieces and nephews.
If you have small children, you really should get an adult, large breed dog.
a beagle fits the application. they arent very big and have everything else that u wanted.
check out akc.org and learn more about each breed and pick pure or mix from what you like there
MALTESE! They are very cheerful and they love to play!!!!!! Check out http://www.heavenlymaltese.com
There are several breeds which do not shed poodles and bichon are a couple however when you have a dog that does not shed then there is maintenance to contend with. In the poodle and bichon regular trips to the groomer are a must unless you can learn to do it yourself they also must be brushed daily because guess what if it does’nt shed the hair has to go somewhere. grooming removes dead hair and prevents knots. any dog can be kid friendly if trained properly and any dog will bark or not bark depending on the circumstance it is all in the training. I agree with one of the other responses about golden retrievers they are wonderful family dogs and are easily potty trained however they will need to be brushed daily to help cut down on shedding they are non agressive unless you mess with their family. I raise Goldens and they are wonderful but they also need play time and exercise. No meanness intended but it sounds like you really do not want any work just a perfect dog and I do not think you are going to find that, maybe fish would be better. Or you could try to contend with one of the “i don’t wants” a boston terrier is a great family dog, playful and kid friendly if raised with them. Barks when they think someone is invading their territory. Easily kennel and potty trained, not large normally 15 to 25 pounds depending on breeding. They do better inside as they are not heat or cold tollerant. They will shed, but not huge amounts and daily brushing or (vacuming) as I do really helps. They are loving little dogs. Poodles are yippers and it is hard to train it out of them, they do not shed, but tend to get nippy with children as they age, and require yearly teeth cleaning to maintain health and they are definately an inside dog. The bassett are very kid friendly, but hard headed and tend to run off if not on a leash and they are garbage mutts, they will get in the trash this is part of the hound in them, they are the cutest most lovable things in the world and tend not to bark alot unless truly alarmed, and i have never even been around one that would snap unless truly hurt. so hope this helps and rethink the fish or maybe a pet ball python.
u know what u want, dont u? lol. I always give out this site to ppl who have certain wants in a dog, but don’t know what breed to get. All you do is just plug in the info and the results help you pick out a dog breed that is right for ur personality and lifestyle. It’s really cool.
http://www.dogtime.com/matchup/start
These websites are great sites that have lists on breeds that shed very little and have little to none pet dander.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/lightshedder…http://www.small-breed-dogs.com/NonShedd…
I just recently had 2 Pomeranians, a boy and girl who are brother and sister, and they were FABULOUS! I sadly had to give them away this past Monday, and have only had them for about 6 months, but from the time I had them they were awesome dogs! Pomeranians are small, adorable little dogs, and they like to yap, which you may not like. But the yapping definitely comes in handy since they make great watchdogs by letting you know if someone they don’t recognize has arrived at your house. They are great with strangers after they stop barking at them and know that the person/ppl aren’t a threat. They are very bright dogs, I have taught them some tricks in one day, others in about 2 days!! They do shed a bit, but it all depends on the right grooming and shampoo. They do great with kids and other kinds of ppl, and as long as you don’t baby them too much and train them right, they will never be nippy. Mine never were, but I have seen on TV Pomeranians being nippy because they weren’t trained properly and were being treated better than the family was.
These are links that have great info on Poms.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomeranian_…http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pomeranian.h…
I wish you good luck on finding the right dog, and I hope I helped you!
A chihuahua would be good. I have one who just follows me around until I settle down then just sleeps. Lazy dog. no walking outside required. will tire herself out walking around the house. hows that sound?