So… it seems that the males around this house are becoming more and more insistent on growing our family. By a dog. I’ve known this was inevitable since the day Mother (who does not and has not owned a dog for at least 30 years) said “Amanda, you do know that all little boys need a dog, right?” when I was oh, say, probably five months out from even delivering my first son. And I knew she was right, but I vowed to ride it out as long as possible. At the risk of sounding like an insensitive, atrocious hag, I’m going to be brutally honest and say it… I really just don’t like dogs. Of course, I really didn’t like children either until I had my own :-) I despise dogs that jump and lick and drool, and I have zero desire to pick up poop out of the yard or sweep up hair from the floors. BUT, I’ll do it for these boys and for Honey and fingers crossed I’ll come to like the darned mutt to boot. Until that day arrives, and I’m trying my darndest to hold off until Whit starts Kindergarten next year, I thought I’d share some of the goings on around these parts lately…
The baby came home with this painting from “school”. He has named his future dog Jake and hopes that it is “brown like that bery special chocolate in your jar that you sometimes let me have on my toast.” *more commonly known as Nutella* I am currently trying to figure out where to hang this because it is positively the cutest piece of art either of them have ever brought home in a combined eleven years of school.
A few days later, John came home from a little art class with this rendition of his future pet. It’s no wonder that this is the child that left pre-K with “room for improvement in coloring”. Dare I say he was completely out-done by his four year old little brother?!?!
Aaaaaaaand then this little note came home with the baby. He drew himself and his dog and his dog’s baby bottle and wrote “I like dogs” at the bottom.
So can you feel my pain here? They’re completely putting on a full court press and I have very little ability to say NO to the three sweet males that have so completely won my heart. Now, I know this will run the gamut of replies, but do y’all have any recommendations on a nice, calm, less hairy, super tolerant, unslobbery, not too big and not too small but super cute kind of dog? We’ve always adopted rescue pets in the past (all cats) so we’re not looking to spend a mint or get something pure bred. I am starting from ground zero on this one. (And just because I’m taking this poll doesn’t mean I’m about to get a dog. It just means I’m collecting information. LOTS of information. Because that’s the kind of gal I am.)
xoxo
UPDATE: I cannot thank y’all enough for your overwhelming response! Keep them coming. We’re not moving on this any time soon and have time to do plenty of research!!! :-)
I'm with you on the no pet policy. Too much hair and too much poop. However with that being said Beagles are a nice and smart mid size dog. Good luck!!!!
I would recommend a black lab but they are everything and more that you don't want. :) The pic of "Jake" is adorable.
Amanda,
First, Whit's artwork is truly frame-worthy! Wouldn't that look precious in his room? Or how about the boys' bathroom?
Second, from a girl that grew up in a no-pet house, you can imagine my dismay when my new husband wondered when we were getting a dog! Now we have an eight-year-old shih tzu. What I ove about our little Lulubelle is that she does not shed, ever, and she doesn't eat much and her poo is tiny to pick up.
Our next dog will probably be a miniature schnauzer. They have all the qualities above but are a little less stubborn than the shih tzu.
It might be a hard battle, but I highly suggest going on the smaller side of "small" dog!! Large dogs eat more, poo more, and when they teeth on the furniture, it's much more distructive!
My last bit of advice: try dog-sitting. You can try a particular breed or size and get an idea of what will work for your family!
Just wanted to add my two cents in!
~Kandace
I think a yorkshire terrier (yorkie) is a wonderful pet. They are smart, small, but not too small. They don't shed and are not yappy. They don't smell, and are very sweet and loyal. Overall, a great indoor pet. And really are as cute as they can be. Love the picture of "Jake"!
We have a Silky Terrier. He is awesome. He is on the smaller side, 8lbs, doesn't shed, doesn't eat that much, small poop, thinks he is tough, trainable, likes to snuggle. We also got lucky that ours is a beta dog and does not bark much. My Moms Silky is a bit yippier and sorta passive/aggressive alpha. I found that the way they act as a puppy is the way they turn out to be. Our dog was sweet, quiet, and snuggley from day 1. LHG
Amanda, I feel your pain! While I DO like dogs, I do hate the slobber, fur to be vacuumed, smell, wet muddy paws on my floors, poop, and most of all the guilt I felt if I didn't walk our doggie as much as I should have. Of course, there is so much love a dog will give to your family, and I highly recommend almost any child-friendly doggie! Best Wishes!
Amanda,
I have cockapoos (cocker spaniel – poodle mixes. They are SO sweet and don't shed unless they're desperately in need of a haircut (maybe 4X a year).
Despite the adorableness of the Jake picture, go "girl". I think you'll prefer the tummy of the female pups as apposed to that of a male (if you get my drift).
Good luck! So excited for you and this new endeavor!
M.
A cute stuffed animal dog is rally no hassle, except for the occasional bath in the washing machine!
I like having a cat for a pet. No picking up poop, no walking the dog when you're tired, and no problems leaving it for a couple days with some food and water and fresh litter box.
Good luck. Personally, I like big dogs better, like golden retrievers. Do not like yippy dogs that are hyperactive. The big ones are usually calmer and better mannered.
We have a goldendoodle who is 10 months and she is about 50 pounds. We were hoping for a medium dog and she has been terrific. She gets hyper and didn't instantly potty train, but she is remarkable and sheds lightly.
Dachshund. Smart, very little shedding, personality, easily housebroken. Small dog who thinks he is big! Best pet ever!!!!
We have a papillon and Zoe is the sweetest, smartest and most sensitive dog we have ever owned. We were so lucky to be able to rescue her and there are rescue sites available with lots of angels that would love to be a part of your family. Heck, I would love to be a part of your family and my husband says you are my long lost sister because our decorating styles are so similar. Thank you for a beautiful blog that always brightens my day.
Karol
I am putting you on the prayer chain! This is going to be a life changer, these boys have you right where they want you. Whit must be the designated mind changer of the trio. After 46 years of wedded bliss and five dogs, I have said these are the LAST dogs ever. And now my little grands bring their dog everyday, we care for them M-F while their parental unit is at work. There is a perfect dog out there for you that will probably love you best. In the mean time, I will be saying decorating prayers for you.
I have been getting the pressure from my son and husband since the spring. I too have been holding out, but really can not much longer. My son is 8 and is running out of patience with all of my stall tactics! I share your same feelings, and will be watching the replies you receive with great interest.
Good luck!
Becky
I have a shih-poo (part shih Tzu/miniature poodle). She is hypoallergenic (no allergies), she doesn't shed, even though she has long hair, and she is super sweet to the kids. She doesn't eat much and her poo is tiny. She was very easy to train.
Nicole
We love our Labradoodle. She potty trained the first weekend we had her home and after having had Labs I love the fact that she doesn't shed. However, she does need to be groomed but we've started to do that ourselves which saves quite a bit. She can run and chase the ball with the kids for hours but she's also perfectly happy to lie around on lazy kind of days, too. Good luck in your search.
We have a lemon beagle, just the tan and white colors-not the tri-color, and she is the best dog in the world. She was easy to train, not hyper, loves to run and cuddle, sheds very little, easy to bathe, and just a sweetie. She is mid sized so perfect size for your young boys. She's always wagging her tail unless she is resting. They are full of personality and are very loyal to their owners. She does not howl as she's had no other dog to show her how. She's a barker, but only when there is someone at the door or she's excited…usually when we are going outside or for a ride. My husband, who is a self proclaimed cat person, is totally head over heels for her…calls her the "baby." Look into this breed…but get one with papers. As they are in the hound group, they can be over bred if you don't purchase from a reputable breeder with a good reputation. Because you live in a large area, you should not have problems finding a reputable breeder for any breed you choose.
Having a dog is a great way to teach children about life and responsibility. I would have your boys help with researching a dog as much as possible. Have them look at the care, including the vet, etc… Have them make "notes" and create a cool project type experience for them….which I so totally know you would rock… I would also recommend that they look into puppy kindergarten classes which I am sure are offered in your area. They require both the dog and the owners to participate…another great learning opportunity.
Good luck! Just think of the great table and surprise you can set for them…dog bone shaped burgers…LOL
I'm not a dog person either, so I say stand firm and don't bend. haha. Ok, at least get a female dog to help the estrogen level in your house.
We adopted our Tucker one year ago from the pound. Although he is on the large side (try the far side of 70 pounds) he never jumps on anyone, sleeps only on HIS bed, goes potty outide and never ever gets on the furniture. He's a true southern gentleman who has totally taken our hearts. I cant imagine our family without him. We looked over all the dogs carefully and my two kiddies fell in love with him instantly. Pound dogs will be our choice from now own. Good Luck!
Julia from SC
Oh Amanda – I remember feeling the same way you did awhile back…and now look at me! I love my big fluffy ball of fur more than anyone else does! I had a feeling one of these days you would be thinking about the doggie addition to your family, but really with boys you kind of have to! Just take your time and research as much as possible. And remember, boys love running around the yard with the dog and like to throw things for the dog to fetch so you might not want to go too little! I have several friends with goldendoodles and they are wonderful. They don't shed much and if they are very sweet. You can try to get one that was bred with a smaller poodle if you want a smaller dog. I also love wheaten terriers – which don't shed at all. They are just precious with adorable personalities but they do tend to be a bit hyper because they are terriers. The website dogbreedinfo.com is pretty helpful in describing the good and bad characteristics of each breed. Good luck and keep us posted every step of the way. And by the way, I used to be a total cat person and I had never been into dogs much …other people's dogs that is…but my Rosie changed all that. It can happen…
Love the artwork – I think John just takes a more abstract approach!
– Shelley
FISH FISH FISH!!
We are a Fish Family – love them and they are very soothing to look at.
I highly recommend a Goldendoodle. We have an F1b medium apricot Goldendoodle. Best breed for a family, non-shedding, intelligent, calm, obedient, eager to please, and a true companion. She's my baby! Google it, you will fall in love with this sweet-tempered breed. They also come in all sizes.
Ummmmm…. a Carolina Dog! Best dogs ever!!!! Piper is very upset she was not even mentioned in this post :( I hope she doesn't send you an envelope of her fur as payback. Hahahahaha!
xoxo
I don't know if my last comment took or not but I can't say enough good things about Goldendoodles! My 2-year-old apricot medium doodle is the best, she is obedient, smart, calm, gentle, sweet-natured, and the best dog I could ask for. She was the easiest puppy to train, potty training was a breeze. Ginger doesn't need a leash when we go out because she always stays close to my side; she's super obedient that way. Everyone is always jealous how good she is. Just remember to do your research, and I highly recommend crate-training your puppy. Even into her adult years, my dog still loves her crate because she knows it as her "nest." This way you don't have to worry what your dog is getting into when you're away. Anyway, doodles are non- to low-shedding and are known to be great therapy dogs because of their gentle and calm nature. I love my baby!!! Your children will no of no other love then the love they will have for their dog…man's best friend…truly.
Yes, Amanda, you will have to give your boys a dog. All Southern boys have dogs to grow up with and yours truly should, too. Your boys will run and play with their dog now and when they become older, they will probably have a dog in the car when they come home for a visit from college. Southern boys love their dogs like their family. In spite of what others may tell you, there is not a dog to be found that doesn't shed, occasionally smell, or make your heart melt when you see the joy it brings to your boys. With that being said, choose a dog that will tumble and play with your boys and sleep next to them when they camp out in the back yard. My children have loved a Lab, Golden Retrievers and an English Pointer. It's not so much about the breed as it is about training. A well behaved dog is a pleasure to have and be around. You can do this, Amanda, and with time, you will begin to understand how special a dog is to your growing boys!!
We have an 11 year old Maltese, who would literally check all your boxes, except for the fact that Maltese are total chick dogs. Can't picture your boys in their teen years toting a 6 pound Maltese around! That being said, my husband's brother and his wife got a West Highland Terrier for their two boys when they weren't much older than your boys. He doesn't shed or drool. He's super playful but not hyper. He's big enough to hold his own against two active boys but small enough that he can cuddle in your lap or hop in the car and go places. He also makes more reasonable messes if you know what I mean… Which is a HUGE benefit of a smaller dog. He's been the perfect dog for my two nephews over the past 11 years! Oh… And I also highly recommend a dog door. It's a total game changer when it comes to low maintenance pet care.
Hello – before we purchased our first dog I did so much research. I wanted a not too small dog that was super friendly. What I found was a Cavalier. King Charles spaniel. They are the most tolerant, warm and friendly dog. They are the largest of the toy breed. As a mother of two rough and tumble, loving boys, our cavalier was the most perfect choice for our active family.
BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY
Sounds like you need a puppy progress chart like I blogged about a few months back. I'm in same boat as you and tracking the kiddies progress has made the "when" question much more manageable. We are on track to kick off the puppy hunt around the Holidays and I'm hoping to have things settled by March when all 3 kids have bdays.
Hugs Dear & Know I Share Your Pain!!!!
XX
Amelia
This was my same story two years ago! I really did my research and came to the decision of rescueing a Rhodesian Ridgeback. He has been a great dog and I will never have another breed. He sleeps in my sons room and all three boys sleep on top of him. He plays with them outside and then curls up and sleeps for hours. Some shedding but not a lot. Not a barker but really keeps watch of his boys. I would certainly suggest looking into this breed and they do resemble the picture.
Good Luck!
Allison
I have had dogs all my life and I have a pekeapoo (part pekingese, part poodle)right now. Great small dogs that don't shed, don't bark and they are very loyal. The one piece of advice I would give would be to not get a puppy. They are a lot of work for at least two years( just like having another child). Just my two cents.
Kristi
You can get dogs from shelters or other organizations already potty trained! That might be a good idea since most of the destruction and chewing dogs do is in their puppy years! My best piece(s) of advice are to DO YOUR RESEARCH and remember, a tired puppy is a good puppy! Give your dog good food (chicken and rice is good if you don't want to buy bagged food) and LOTS of exercise. Dogs misebehave when they are bored or hyper or feel too confined in a small space. Find a good vet and don't be pushed into anything by him/her, do research because you don't want to pay $100 for a shot the dog doesn't even need. Also think about fencing – do you have one? Will you leash the dog? Electric fence? Good luck, and do lots of reading about your new addition! You will love a dog and I know you'll find a great one!
xoxo, Lucy
My husband and I have had 2 dachshunds with our 2 sons,because my husband didn't want any dogs that would shed,cause allergy problems or be to froo-froo for him and our boys.Well,they are the perfect dogs.The first one lived to be 13 and we are now on #2 and she is now almost 3 years old.They are very intelligent,and ours were very easy to potty train.I was a stay at home mom when I was training them. Our dogs were both girls.I did alot of research on them before we got them.Our dog we have now sleeps in the bed with my husband and I and we did not ever use the crate traing method with either of our dogs.I think you would love a dachshund.They are fantastic with kids and very protective of their humans.We had 2 black ones.I of them is a wire haired .You will probably have to look it up on Google search because they look so different from a straight haird dachshund.Good Luck!!! You will do great!!! Your kids will love whatever you choose!!!
lol!!! i just love your posts- you are so funny! i am the SAME way! i actually ended up "adopting" a stray dog bc she pretty much thought my house was hers and wouldnt leave! lol. im not a dog person at all- but my adopted dog is thankfully a good dog. it is a white shihtzu. very cute. i'm allergic to dogs but i lucked out and it s hypoallergenic! doesnt bite, very playful. my brother's dog is a little white havanese (a rescue). very cute, very loyal, doesnt bark- a GOOD dog!!! shes very quiet and behaved and also hypoallergenic! my baby nephew plays with her and she is very tolerant. i dont know how these breeds are so i'm only speaking from my experience since i dont know anything about dogs, but i hope this helps! that is so precious about the "Nutella" colored dog! haha!!
btw- wow your baby painted that?! so nice! and john's looks picasso-esque with the colors and shapes in my opinion hehe! i think those would look great in that collage on the wall you have in their room thats mixed with pictures!
We have a Golden. He is large, he sheds, a lot. He is not allowed in the house. He stays in the back yard that is fully landscaped and in the garage with my husband. (That is my husbands man cave that is very nice with a TV and all the things a man and his best friend could ever want.)
I do not like dogs. I am not an animal lover. I grew up with a "No pet policy." I was upset with my mom. But, since my mom likes a very clean house, which she passed down to me. I can totally understand why she had that policy.
Don't get me wrong. I love our dog, as long as he is outside.He is really a great dog and is so good with kids. He has taken a lot of love…"abuse" from the toddlers, and still can't get enough of them. Goldens are great family dogs that shed a lot!
I would have picked a small dog if it was my choice. Good luck. i didn't have a choice. My husband brought him home as a puppy and it was love at first sight.
My children also wanted a pet dog when growing up, but my husband and I resisted. We were just too busy with working full time and raising our kids to have another responsibility, plus I'm not a dog lover, either. Now my children are adults, and that have no dogs, nor any desire for one. To some extent I think the "I want a dog so badly" is a phase that all kids go through (as well as some husbands), but they will all survive very nicely without one!
Absolutely LOVE that artwork:-)
In my opinion, a shih tzu is the absolute best house dog and family pet. We actually have two, which we never thought would happen, and everyone who visits (kids to adults) falls in love. They don't shed, they don't yap, and they are very fun and playful. Truly the best pets ever, even my manly husband adores them. They also are low allergen since they have hair instead of fur, which is essential for our family. Good luck! I can't imagine having a dog in the house if I didn't love them- hope you will find the perfect little pal for your family.
We had purebred Corgis and they are wonderful family dogs, but they shed! Then we got a rescue, and he is the most loyal dog ever. With a rescue, you do get a fair amount of crazy with the bargain. You never know how they were treated before you got them. Our guy is a Springer Spaniel and he is awesome! I would start with a smaller dog first and see how that goes.
My boys LOVE Hank and are getting more responsible about walking him and letting him in and out.
whatever you do, get apple bitters. My sweet Scottish Terrier destroyed some furniture while teething and a few spray of apple bitters was all it took to stop that nasty habit (and A LOT of Chew toys).
We have two miniature Dachshunds. One long hair & one short hair. The long hair sheds none, short hair sheds quite a bit.
I recommend getting one as a puppy, do not adopt one already grown. They are FABULOUS watch dogs, sweet, loving, don't eat much, very little shedding. They LOVE my kids and follow me everywhere. Best dogs ever!
We have a lab that stays outside. I have NO cushions or furniture left, as that horrid animal chewed every bit of it up (I also had to buy our neighbor's son new shoes because he chewed them up when he left them out on our porch)! He's grown now & is just a precious baby, but for long time I could not understand why on earth anyone would want one of those dogs because he destroyed everything!
I feel the exact same way. My kids want one also. But I do not and neither does my husband. There are 3 reasons I haven't gotten the kids a dog—1. Dogs smell
2. Dog hair. 3. Frankly, I will be the one who takes care of the dog as I am at home and I have more than enough to do. :)
I also don't really love the idea of a dog in the house but my husband loves animals so we got a rescue mixed supposedly boxer/golden retriever but who just looks like a yellow lab. He was suppose to be a medium large 70 pound dog and is now a 90 pound dog. When I sweep and vacuum there are lots of tumbleweeds of soft downlike hair even after six years. All that being said, he is the sweetest dog who has never had an accident in the house. Hs never chewed on anything. Never gets on furniture. Let's the kids and grandkids crawl all over him. Barks to alerts you if anyone is in the yard but will love on anyone who comes in. Never slobbers. He's just the best dog ever. I think it helps that my husband always picks up the dog poop and gives him baths. Ha. I think once you get your dog you will love it.
I was the same as you… did not care for dogs, but caved and got my child a cocker spaniel when she was six, because that's the dog she wanted. She loved him and he loved her, but to be honest.. he was not a child's dog. I didn't do the proper research, just bought what she wanted. He was a good pet and we loved him, but he could be tempermental and had no interest in playing with a child.
Since then I've gotten a larger rescue dog, and she has completely changed my feelings about dogs. I love her, and have come to realize that it's small, yippy, high maintenance dogs that I do not like. She is big, loves to play, is a good watch dog, and as loving as can be.
So… based on my experience, and my OCD obsession with a clean house and no dog hair, I'd recommend that you get a Weimaraner. They are sweet, loving dogs. Large and playful… which I think would suit two young boys who will undoubtedly want to play ball with her/him. ;) They do NOT shed, are easily trained, and have a sweet disposition. They are very smart, but they are energetic… so they will require regular walks and lots of playtime. You want to tire them out so they sleep at night. Kind of like a child. LOL They are a big dog, around 60 lbs when fully grown.
Good luck with your search. I'm sure whatever you decide you will come to love it.
I never comment on blogs, but I just went through this myself. I did a lot of research. I ruled out labs and goldens because of the horror stories I have heard about chewing. Literally chewing the molding and wood off of houses, not to mention the shoes and toys. And goldens are diggers and my husband loves to garden and we just couldn't have that.
We finally decided on a springer spaniel and he is perfect. He potty trained very quickly, he has never dug a hole or chewed a shoe. He does still have a lot of puppy in him and get excited, but that's normal. He isn't enormous, but he isn't a tiny either. Rocket has been a great edition to our family. But we did pay a mint for him, so not sure if that helps.
Also, Santa brought him to us. One of our favorite Christmas books is Santa Calls, by William Joyce. A little boy asks for a puppy and Santa brings him a member of the canine brigade, one directly from the north pole. It took a lot to pull it off, but we now have an official member of the canine brigade! The kids were blown away, to say the least!
I'm not going to recommend a particular type of dog, because I think they all have great things and faults. One person's easy to train/potty train in this breed is another's stubborn won't learn and doesn't want to go outside of the same breed.
My advice, is while boy dogs are easier imo, because you never have to worry about them going into heat before you get them fixed, they sell diapers for dogs for more than just bladder issues. But boy dogs can lift their leg on furniture to have accidents. I got my boy fixed when the vet said to and he hadn't started lifting his leg, so he still squats, so no worries about accidents on the furniture.
The other thing I would think about, some dogs will need to be groomed regularily, with hair cuts and then brushed daily at home. Short haired dogs, while some shed more than others, at least don't need hair cuts.
You'll also want to think about where the dog will sleep, in a crate or with the boys. Will the dog be allowed on the furniture or will you teach it from day one it's not allowed.
Also, if you are rescuing, you may consider getting a dog that is no longer a puppy and already potty trained.
Lastly, the one advantage to getting the dog sooner is the baby will be able to help with training the dog while he's home from pre-k. If you wait until he's in kindergarten the majority of the training will fall on you because you're the one that will be home the most with it. And that will help make it become your dog, especially if you are also feeding it. I've found most dogs attach to one person in the family, and it's generally the one they spend the most time with :)
Labradoodles are fantastic dogs for children! They are highly intelligent like a lab but have minimal shedding like a poodle. Good luck!
I am a dog lover! But I know how you feel and I to am the first to admit the poop, slobber and everything else is not fun! BUT, they do bring lots of joy to your home! I have a Boxer named Higgins and he is the BEST with children as all boxers are. Plus, he is not a shedder. They do have bad gas though….
In your case I would go with a labradoodle or golden doodle…both are wonderful with children, hypoallergenic, do not shed and are very playful. plus they are so easy on the eyes!!
I highly recommend a Shih-tzu! They are THE best dogs. They do not shed, easy to train, intelligent ( ours will only poo at the furthest edge of the yard because they don't like it close to them.), sweet, and playful. Throw a pillow on the floor and they will sleep on it. We have 3 children and 2 Shih-tzu's.
I highly recommend a Shih-tzu! They are THE best dogs. They do not shed, easy to train, intelligent, sweet, and playful. We have 3 children and 2 Shih-tzu's.
We have a Boston Terrier and Great Dane! I love them both but our Boston Terrier, Schaefer Flynn, is the best of both worlds. He's the big dog personality in the small package. Low maintenance on grooming and not much of a shedder. I would highly recommend them! They get along well with kids, cats and other dogs. They are also super smart, loyal and were bred for companionship. At full size they can be anywhere from 15-25lbs. He can be frisky but I have 3 boys and one baby that give him plenty to keep up with! Good luck finding the perfect pet!
My husband is not a dog or cat person, so our children–2 boys, one girl–grew up without pets. Sad, I know! BUT, in the last year we occasionally dog-sit a Shih-tzu. He's a rescue, obedient, cute, and doesn't shed. Our neighbor has a cute Schnauzer that doesn't shed either.
Blogless Pegg, [email protected]
At this point, I'm wondering if you will even get a chance to read this post since there are so many but the first 15 I did read have some great suggestion and while each breed tends to favor certain personalities, that doesn't secure what you desire in a dog just by breed alone. Someone suggested pet sitting… I think that would be one good direction to go but first tool around with an idea of a breed or two that you think would work for you and your family and then look for those breeds to dog sit. Another idea that I always recommend to people is to look for breed specific rescue groups for the breed(s) you have chosen (Atlanta area should have plenty as it is a large city, so just nose around). When you rescue from a group, MANY of the dogs are fostered at home prior to adoption. While in foster homes, the foster parents learn the traits of each dog… what they like (i.e. kids, chewing furniture, etc), what they don't like (i.e. cats, loud noises, men, etc) and how they behave (i.e. barker, digger, runner, etc). They also work on potty training if they don't already come in potty trained. If you are looking for puppy (which come with a lot of extras for you to add to your daily task list) these groups get them in too but it sounds like to me that you might want to skip the puppy stage and look for a youth or young adult dog. Additionally, most rescue groups can not only help place a dog with your family based of your desired traits but are also happy to take back a dog if you don't feel it will work for family after all and let you try another one if you wish (again, each dog has their own personality). The rescue groups not only want to help you but they want nothing more then help each of their dogs find their forever home… I know all this because for many years, husband and I worked with our local dachshund rescue group. I truly recommend this processes because it takes out a lot of guess work wondering what type of dog you are adopting or what type of puppy yours will grow up to be. Good luck and hope this helps!!!
A whoodle ( wheaten terrier/poodle mix) or wheaten terrier. Great medium sized dogs with no shedding. I have a little "Nutella" colored maltipoo (Maltese/poodle mix)-he's 10 pounds (too small to make too much trouble), so smart, no shedding and great with kids. Maltipoos are great but may be smaller than you want.
First time commenting but I've followed your blog for about a year.
I have 3 Rotties. Yep, 3. I'm very OCD and fanatical about my house, so they get baths and nails trimmed every week, I vacuum and sweep EVERYDAY. I wash their dog beds and plush toys every 3 days and put their plastic toys and Kongs in dishwater. They don't drool, potty inside, jump, or get on furniture. Picking up the poop in yard is the worst job to me, but as much work as they are…..they have dried a million tears with their fur, played with my kids when no one else was available to, laid quietly by my children's bed when they've been sick, protected our home from a would be burglar and have added so much to our lives. They require firm but fair direction, socialization, and formal obedience along with needing to live INDOORS only. They are absolutely brilliant and beautiful creatures but admittedly, not for everyone.
Golden Retrievers are good with kids and don't bark a lot. For the sake of your relationship with your neighbors, I suggest you get a dog that doesn't bark constantly. Nothing ruins a neighborhood faster than a continuously barking dog left alone all day. We have lived places where we were miserable listening to the dog(s). I always wondered how the owners could stand it when the dog was right outside their door but could be heard several houses away!
A retired greyhound – the best pet ever, but you need to either have a fenced in yard or never let him off his leash. If you do, you might find that he has run to the next county in 2 minutes flat!!!
Dogs are a lot easier than kids! Our 10 month old toy poodle, Otis, is a joy! He does not shed and is very intelligent. At 8 pounds, he is the perfect size! (I have little recollection of my other dog as a puppy because my daughter was a toddler at the time!)
We have had a little bit of everything over the years. And hands down our favorite dog breed EVER is an Australian Shephard (medium size – 40-60lbs, and sheds like crazy… :))
But hands down they were the sweetest, smartest, easiest to train, least destructive, and tolerent dogs we have ever owned.
Literally our last Aussie potty trained herself at 5weeks. We brought her home day 1 – set her in the floor, she peed on the tile. I picked her up and set her outside (didn't yell, didn't say a word, wasn't even angry) then cleaned up and puppy proofed for about an hour. She NEVER EVER peed in the house again. Though we were good when she was a puppy about taking her outside at least once an hour and rewarding her for peeing. My husband once joked that she pee'd on command far better than he ever could. :)
We also never crate trained her, or took her to dog obedience school, but we had a number of people including a professional dog trainer asked who trained her – she heel'd on leash perfectly even as a puppy. When she turned about 3 we never even had to bother with a leash. She walked without it just as well as she did with it. And she knew the boundaries of our front yard and wouldn't leave it without one of us no matter the tempation (and believe me there were several that I was STUNNED she didn't go after). I can't tell you the number of times we left our gates open and she never ever left the yard. We even accidentally locked her out in the front yard one day for 3+ hours and she was still laying on the front porch when we finally realized!
We have a massively landscaped back yard 3500+ square feet of flower beds. When she was about 6 months old SHE decided she'd rather be outside all day to run and chase the squirrels instead of in the house by herself so she spent her days outside napping in the shade and roaming the yard. She dug up 1 thing in her entire 12 years in the yard – a pine tree at 11months old. We discovered later she was allergic to pine trees. :)
But what sold us most, was when she was about 2 and we took her to company picnic, and a 9 month old pulled out FIST FULLs of her fur and she just laid there.
We never ever worried about her with our twin boys. Even when they were tiny (4lbs). She was SO gentle with them.
But as they grew up and wanted to throw the ball and play tag they always wore out before she did. She followed them around right on their heels every waking second. And slept by the foot of one of their beds all night long.
She knew her toys and theirs and only once ever touched or destroyed anything of theirs – a plush baby squeaky toy that I think she sincerely thought was hers.
Far and away we have never had a better dog than our Aussies. Our last in particular. Not sure if it was the difference between girls or boys, or that our first came to us as a stray and was older with some established bad habits when he came while the girl was a puppy when we got her. But any future dogs we get will be girls, and they will be Aussies – fur balls and all. :)
Beagles and Dachshunds!
Consider a weenie dog. I have 2 and they are a smart and low odor dog. They don't shed much or have go to the groomer's for anything other than nail clippings. Both of mine were rescues and already grown. They adapted well and are really sweet dogs. They are food motivated so you'll have to keep the snacks limited to keep them from getting fat and having back problems.
Having a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel I have to say they're the sweetest dogs in existence. They have the best dispositions,gentle, never aggressive, great with children, very friendly, and will warm your heart forever. Our Bella (three years old) is the love of our life!!! Even if you dislike dogs you will LOVE this breed!!!
Our labradoodle is the best. Sweet, smart, clean! He sheds less than I do. Bad company labradoodles in PA.
Thanks for sharing above information! I really appreciate this post, Puppies are so delightful and just not possible to resist. But we expect them not to peeing and pooing all over the dwelling. So here are some of tips you can use to set up to potty train your puppy:-
• Understand that puppies needs to go to the bathroom a lot as a young puppy has a very small bladder, and they haven't yet cultured the talent to control it. So keep it in mind this when it comes to potty training your puppy.
• Establish yourself as the leader; this will help in earning your puppy's respect, trust and admiration. And your puppy will star following all your potty training instructions.
• Uphold a stringent schedule when you take your puppy out to go potty. Travel through the same door and use the same direction. With your awareness of your puppy's peeing preferences, foresee when she'll want to urine and bring her to the puppy bathroom.
• Never forget to encourage your puppy every time she pees in the right spot. Thrash out your cheery, joyful voice and lavish her with adulation and praise. Your puppy now has an emotional ingenious to do her job in the right place.
http://www.pet-buy.com/pet-trainers
Is it too late to comment? We always had Golden Retrievers with our sons – gentle, quiet, easily trained but they do poop! We solved this problem by designating a specific area where to poop. Dog One had Poop Hill – a rocky spot where nothing could grow but lilac bushes – because he always went there, we never had to clean anything. Dog Two had his dog pen/kennel and used a specific corner; unfortunately this corner was right under the window over the kitchen sink – my mistake there! Dog Three had a specific area in the far corner of the yard near some bushes and again, cleaning was minimal. When the time comes, whatever you get, I do NOT recommend an unneutered male – all they want to do is roam!
pug!!!as close to a cat as you can get. they were bread to sit in the sleeves of emperors after all…
A Vizsla….it is a Hungarian bird dog. They are a beautiful cinnamon color. Our "Maggie" is 11 now and around 45 pounds. They have no under coat so not much shedding. She is a dear to our 3 young children and has never chewed anything in our house except for her own toys. Best decision ever…very smart, easy to train.
Okay I just read this. We have a standard poodle. My husband wanted a BIG dog and I wasn't willing to deal with the shedding, drool, or dog smell. Our standard poodle is pretty close to perfect. He potty trained himself. He is the best and smartest dog my husband has ever owned (use to have labs) and he thanks me all the time for convincing him to get this breed. We have 2 kids ages 6 and 9 and our dog is now 3yr old. They all get along wonderfully. I am looking into getting the dog "Malibu" into therapy work where we visit people who need cheering up! He is calm and hypoallergenic. I would give him 5 stars but he still poops. *grn*
You need a BOXER!!! They don't shed! And they are the BEST around kids of any age! And, our doesn't bark! Which I've seen to be true of most boxers that I've been around. They are the best dogs ever – so so so loyal too :)