STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

clothes_horse · Dooney & Bourke

dog breed question:

kenzie · Chanel

I vote for the bug or pug. I would also say a puggle (beagle/pug mix), but I have a beagle and she sheds like mad. But that's the only bad thing. My beagle is great with kids, pretty relaxed/doesn't need a ton of exercise (unlike our crazy lab-mix), she does a few tricks (she dances in a circle on her hind legs if we say, "dance" and offer her a treat), no grooming involved, either (just nail clippings). She does have separation anxiety, though, which is a very beagle-y thing.

Anywho, you didn't ask about beagles, but I'm a beagle evangelist! I love my beagle. Oh, and a beagle might not care about your invisible fence. It will follow its nose right through it- shock and all. So, you'd either need to leash it or get a regular fence.

You'll have the least amount of shedding with a poodle-mix, but they'll also be a little more high-strung. We had one of these when I was a kid and she was a very sweet dog, but she was very high-strung and nervous. We managed to train her to stay in the yard without a leash.

I think Boston terriers also tend to be a little high-strung. My neighbor had one when I was a kid and remember that thing being nuts. My neighbor right now has a pug and it kind of screams (not barks, screams). It's the oddest sound. It seems a little nutty, but I would think if you mixed it with a beagle, it might be much more calm. I've heard that puggles tend to get the best traits of both breeds and not many of the bad ones.

Suasoria · Chanel

Please oh please check with some of the rescues out there instead of buying. Shelters and rescues are overflowing because of the economy, and two-thirds of all pets are put to sleep for lack of people who want them. I know rescues make you do paperwork but you sound like the perfect "forever home." There are rescue groups for every breed.

Boston Terriers are my all-time favorites since they're so comical and quirky. Not all of them are high-strung. I've known two and both were really mellow; one even lived with an older retired couple. As with any dog they need to burn off energy through walks and/or play.

Pugs are so great too. Pomeranians are really cute but I think they can be noisy.

www.btrescue.org/
http://www.pugrescue.com/

jj · Kate Spade

I agree to check rescue shelters or orgs - they have a lot more choices than you may think!

I have a Shih Tzu that I adore! He's a good size, 15 pounds, and doesn't shed. We keep his hair cut short in a puppy cut, so grooming isn't necessary. He likes to go for walks, but doesn't need a ton of exercise like other higher-energy dogs.

He's pretty mellow too. I am a firm believer that a dog takes on an owner's personality and energy, so with good training, any dog can be a perfect dog. He is the love of my and DH's life, but we are careful not to spoil or indulge him.

On the down side, Shih Tzus craves companionship, so I woudn't get one if you aren't home much. My DH works from home, which is a perfect situation for us.

I love pugs too, but they snore A LOT, and that would probably drive me crazy!!

Kelly · Hermes

I think any mix would be the best - I'm biased towards mutts but I think they tend to be much healthier and even-tempered than purebreds.

Pom coats look like they'd be a lot of work - that combined with them not being so great with kids, I would be wary about getting that....other than that, I don't know enough about the difference between those breeds to be of much more help

kenzie · Chanel

jj wrote:

I agree to check rescue shelters or orgs - they have a lot more choices than you may think!

I love pugs too, but they snore A LOT, and that would probably drive me crazy!!

My beagle snores, too (another beagle trait). I think it's hilarious!

And I agree to check rescue shelters. Both my dogs were rescues- the beagle didn't come from a shelter but she did come from a home of people we knew who couldn't take care of her anymore. We kept her out of the shelter!

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I love my family's Pom! He is adorable and definitely fits your requirements regarding size, shedding, and learning tricks. He is very energetic at times (but mainly when you get home, needs to go out, etc and has calmed down within 5 minutes of you acknowledging him) and has done well with kids of all ages and sizes. He does require monthly grooming so you'll have to keep that up otherwise they get matted and gross. He's pretty intelligent too and is good with learning words and their meanings.

I'm totally biased but I plan on getting 2 when I finally move into a house.

Not sure where you live but my great uncle had a free to good home one a few weeks ago. I was seriously debating it but with work decided against it. He's in Jacksonville and tends to work with rescue groups. Might be worth a search on petfinder if you are near there.

wetbandit42 · Marc Jacobs

Kelly wrote:

I think any mix would be the best - I'm biased towards mutts but I think they tend to be much healthier and even-tempered than purebreds.

I think this is a myth - if you breed two dogs who both have problems, it won't be any healthier than a purebred, whereas (reputable) breeders try to breed their dogs with an eye toward breeding only their healthiest dogs with the least amount of inherited diseases/problems.

My parents have a miniature poodle, and she was pretty high-strung when she was little. However, we bought her when she was 6 mos. old and I think her previous owners kept her locked in a crate in the basement, so take that with a grain of salt. I will say, she's very laidback now, but she's 10. Also, poodles are very intelligent dogs.

Have you thought about a dachshund? Both of my brothers have them, and they're very nice little dogs. They bark a lot, but all of my family's dogs bark a lot, so it may have been a "learned trait." The male dachshund knows quite a few tricks, and while doxies do shed, it's not a lot. Both of my brother's have long-haired doxies.

I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Bichon mix, and while I LOVE her so much, she's pretty wild. =)

wetbandit42 · Marc Jacobs

Also, poodles need to be groomed frequently - I think my parent's dog goes in either once a month or every other month. I don't think poodles need to be brushed all that much if you keep up on the grooming. I've never seen my parents brush Belle.

My brother usually just shaves his doxie down every couple of months. I don't think they need to be brushed frequently either.

ETA: My friend's sister has 5(!) poms, and apparently one of them is very mean. They also are constantly barking. Just something to think about.

-- Edited by wetbandit42 on Thursday 29th of October 2009 10:25:15 PM

Metric · Gucci

wetbandit42 wrote:

ETA: My friend's sister has 5(!) poms, and apparently one of them is very mean. They also are constantly barking. Just something to think about.

-- Edited by wetbandit42 on Thursday 29th of October 2009 10:25:15 PM

My mom has a Pom and he barks his stupid head off constantly. Also he hates kids and sheds like crazy.

IMO, a Pom is probably not your best bet.

kenzie · Chanel

wetbandit42 wrote:

Kelly wrote:

I think any mix would be the best - I'm biased towards mutts but I think they tend to be much healthier and even-tempered than purebreds.

I think this is a myth - if you breed two dogs who both have problems, it won't be any healthier than a purebred, whereas (reputable) breeders try to breed their dogs with an eye toward breeding only their healthiest dogs with the least amount of inherited diseases/problems.

I think it might be a myth, too. My beagle has fewer problems than our mixed breed. Her original owners bought her from a breeder who bred dogs for show (her parents were both champion show dogs), so she's as good as it gets when it comes to a purebred.

The only exception I can think of is these new "designer dogs" (like puggles). They usually breed those with the best of each breed so they come out okay. But just straight-up 57-variety mutts? They tend to have issues. I know ours does.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

(I def agree with the shelter/rescue plea!)

Have you tried the breed quizzes/finders that are online? They're not always super effective, but they're fun. Sometimes they can help too.

Animal Planet has a great one

FYI - a friend of ours rescued the sweetest, most beautiful Australian Shepherd I have ever laid eyes on from a shelter, so getting a purebred is definitely possible. Plus, the more time you spend looking at the shelters, the more human contact each dog gets to enjoy! Please pet the cats while you're there, too!

-- Edited by pollyjean23 on Friday 30th of October 2009 01:11:36 PM

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I think with any dog you just have to train them not to bark. I know it sounds crazy but it can be done as our pom doesn't bark and an old coworker's chihuahua didn't bark because he trained it as well. It is just like teaching them to sit. You pick the word to use and then teach the behavior you want.

fairywings · Dooney & Bourke

I rescued a Lhasa Apso last year and couldn't be happier. They range in size from about 7-20 pounds (mine is about 17, but he's a big boy.) They are hair dogs, meaning that they don't shed one bit and allergies aren't a problem. I get him groomed about once ever 3-4 months but I also live in FL and he tends to get hot. He is the quietiest, calmest dog I have ever had. I was prepared for a typical puppy (when I rescued him last year he was one year old) and he is not a yapper (which is awesome because I live in an apartment.) Even though I got him at one year, he has been a dream to train, he never has an accident in the house, and he gets along well with people and other dogs. I highly recommend the breed (they also live up to 20 years!) And I also recommend rescuing...there is something about a rescued dog that is go greatful and loyal. A Shih Tzu is actually in the Lhasa family, they're very similar breeds. Good luck and please consider a Lhasa!

clothes_horse · Dooney & Bourke

THANK YOU everyone for all the great suggestions and all the info! it helps a lot!
we'll definitely check out the shelters