The Perfect Dog

[CaliDave Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close CaliDave]

Ok, I am considering going against my better judgement and getting a dog.

I am looking for the perfect dog..
Here is my criteria. in order of priority

Good with kids - ages 4,6,8
Easily house trained
Small but not yappy & hyper
won't ruin my furniture
I hate having animal hair on everything.. and no matter what people say.. you can never keep your house that clean. so the less shedding the better.
my kids have some allergies.. i doubt dog hair will be good for them

I'm sure I will think of more.. and what is better a male or female dog?

[urple2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close urple2]

How about a cat instead. You can still go on vacation without the Kennels costing you more than the vacation.
I have 3 cats.


___

Bill

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Do you want mine he is a good boy a 23lb Pomeranian fully trained. I can bring him with me in February .

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Ok, I am considering going against my better judgement and getting a dog.

I am looking for the perfect dog..
Here is my criteria. in order of priority

Good with kids - ages 4,6,8
Easily house trained
Small but not yappy & hyper
won't ruin my furniture
I hate having animal hair on everything.. and no matter what people say.. you can never keep your house that clean. so the less shedding the better.
my kids have some allergies.. i doubt dog hair will be good for them

I'm sure I will think of more.. and what is better a male or female dog?

I have a Shih-tzu

She fits the criteria that you are looking for in a dog.

She is very friendly, small, but not too small...about 10-12lbs. She has never chewed anything in my home, or shoes etc. Shih-tzu have hair, not fur, so they are completely hypo-allergenic, and they DO NOT SHED. Best of all....she is adorable.....

Edited to add:

Lhasa Apso's are very similar to Shih-tzu's in every way, however, they are about double the size if you like a little larger dog.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

And to add to the list of fru fru possibilities, we had the same criteria and settled on a minitiare poodle, about 15 lbs. NOT a toy poodle (too small/delicate for young kids, for starters). She has become a great family dog... If you want something bigger in the hypoallergenic category, people like Portugese Waterdogs and Wheaten Terriers. The standard poodles are wonderful, but they take a lot of grooming work/expense, and need A LOT of exercise... Keep in mind that you will have grooming expenses in any dog with hair rather than fur...

Many people like females since they are reputed to be easier to train in terms of "in the house" accidents/spraying. But I have learned that female dog urine contains an enzyme that kills grass, absent in the urine of male dogs. Doesn't bother me, but it's worth considering if you are considering letting your dog "go" on your property.

Saving your furniture is mostly about training... They make some spray that repels dogs (tastes nasty), works great.

Our dog is my first. I had always been a cat person but became allergic. The first year (puppy year) was really rough on me, but I will do it again when the time comes...

[CaliDave Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close CaliDave]

Thanks.. I prefer the smaller the better.. like hamster sized..lol..
I saw some Shih-tzu that say they will be 7-9 lbs full grown. Are some smaller than other?

No FRANK.. I dont want you dog.. he'll be dead from second hand smoke pretty soon.

NO CATS!!! I'm very allergic.. plsu they shed all over everything

Does anyone know anything about
Bichon Frise or Yorkies?

I have a Shih-tzu

She fits the criteria that you are looking for in a dog.

She is very friendly, small, but not too small...about 10-12lbs. She has never chewed anything in my home, or shoes etc. Shih-tzu have hair, not fur, so they are completely hypo-allergenic, and they DO NOT SHED. Best of all....she is adorable.....

Edited to add:

Lhasa Apso's are very similar to Shih-tzu's in every way, however, they are about double the size if you like a little larger dog.

[CaliDave Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close CaliDave]

ohh.. and I'd think I'd rather have a male dog.. doesnt it matter?
The dog will be inside most of the time.. I think?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Does anyone know anything about
Bichon Frise or Yorkies?

I love Yorkies....they are very small, maybe 5-7 lbs. They are really adorable, and the ones my friends have are very friendly. They are a little more delicate than a shiht-tzu/poodle type dog.

They sure are cute though.......

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Ok, I am considering going against my better judgement and getting a dog.

I am looking for the perfect dog..
Here is my criteria. in order of priority

Good with kids - ages 4,6,8
Easily house trained
Small but not yappy & hyper
won't ruin my furniture
I hate having animal hair on everything.. and no matter what people say.. you can never keep your house that clean. so the less shedding the better.
my kids have some allergies.. i doubt dog hair will be good for them

I'm sure I will think of more.. and what is better a male or female dog?

The only dog that doesn't give you allergies is a poodle. They do not shed either and do not smell.

We had a little one and she was easily house trained, was never yappy or hyper or sick. She never did damage in the house or sat on the sofa or chairs. She loved to jump on our lap and had her own basket but she did jump on the bed and we allowed it because the cats did too.

She was scared of children because she wasn't used to them but she loved cats. She didn't like swimming in the ocean either which poodles normally like to do. They are water dogs.

Our cats shed, have ruined the house and you cannot tell them what to do either but I love their independent streak and they own YOU.

If you train your puppy early and are firm, a dog will do what you tell him and you will have a good pet and they are great for children too and you can't help but get attached to them. Our dog was a female.

Before you decide, read some books about caring for animals because it is a responsibility for many years. A dog gets very used and loyal to his master and would hate to be abandoned later.

Your kids will love a dog in the house and the pound is full of them waiting for a good home.

[Barbeque Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Barbeque]

ohh.. and I'd think I'd rather have a male dog.. doesnt it matter?
The dog will be inside most of the time.. I think?

Will never get a male they like to pee on everthing. Before I got married I had a roommate that had a little dog, a pug. What a piece he peed on my couch.


A labradoodle might be ok for allergies too. But they are a little larger but they may have some smaller strains. I like Golden Retrievers but they have lots of hair and are over 50 lbs.

[socalgal Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close socalgal]

Dave,

The perfect dog (at least I think so) is a Maltese. My male Maltese is slightly over a year old, is playful and gentle with my 5 year old, is "hypo allergenic" and barely sheds but has a beautiful coat of white hair. He's one of the few "males" that I know that doesn't pee all over the place , and if weren't for my hubby he'd be sleeping on my bed. They only weigh between 5-9 pounds (typically about 5-7 pounds). I've heard they can be yappy but mine is ok, I admit he can be excitable when he first sees you but he is just too cute...believe me they're keepers!

Mary

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I saw a new bread called Pug-ales(SP) It is a a mixed bread of a PUG and Beagle and they are cute.

[Oracle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Oracle]

The best dog:

Sombody else's

[reddiablosv Member Find all posts View Profile Close reddiablosv]

My wife has FIVE great danes! They are short haired, don't really shed much hair, they are great with kids, strangers stay away from our house!. They make great apartment dogs. How about it? Ben

[Sandcrab Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sandcrab]

Reddiblosv (sp?)

And you compost/fertilize/bury your entire neighborhood.