"Yippy dogs"

[Pinky Carruthers]

Check out Welsh Corgies. I had one growing up the dog was fearless. If the Corgie is good enough for the Queen Mum, then they are good enough for me.

[Hkmp5sd]

I didn't realize just how much time and effort that one goes through to find the dog (or cat) that they want

That is a surprise isn't it? After I decided I wanted a Dachshund, it took about 3 months to track one down that I wanted. I don't know what it is about mine, but she never makes a sound except when someone comes up to the house. No whining, barking, nothing. She'll play with you all day without making a sound. So if she does bark, you know someone's around.

[Dusty Miller]

Mini doxies are great little dogs and they'll let you know when something is afoot BUT if you decide on that breed be sure and get a female. The males have enough libido for a dozen dogs twice their size and they're more than proud to show it off to your guests!! Also, the males want to pee all over the house.

[RCPractitioner]

[IMG][/IMG]

Here's my mini dachshund, she is a unique coloration known as piebald. She was only about 10 weeks old in this pic but is about 5 months old now. I would definietely reccomend one to anyone. Potty training is a b*** but I suppose it is with any breed. I reccomend crate training.

[dolanp]

Some good suggestions here. I have a Schnauzer/Scottie mix and a Welsh Corgi, both small dogs. They don't normally bark at stuff out the window, usually just when they hear a sound. That's pretty much what I want them to do. If they hear a low thump or anything they'll start barking at it, same for people talking near the house (kids in the neighborhood, neighbors, etc).

The Daschund is probably a good suggestion as well. I have a friend whose family has one and it's cute, but it seems to hate me just for being a male that it doesn't know. So it's always giving me the evil eye and growling if I get a bit too close.

[artsmom]

I say a terrier of some sort.

Maybe a fox terrier because of its size, but those Jack Russell terriers go from zero to warp nine in about a tenth of a second. I have seen them go after poisonous snakes in a fashion that would make a mongoose look like it was in a coma.

[USP45usp]

artsmom,

Thanks . I did notice that there are alot of votes for a terrier. I am still doing research on each breed mentioned here and also costs of and availability in the State.

Wayne

[Hal]

Wayne,
Small doesn't equal low maintenece.
Our 165 plus pound Great Dane was by far less of a handfull than our 45 pound Husky mix.

The GD was the ultimate couch 'tater. He'd get up in the morning, go outside and do his business, then my wife and I would leave him in the house while we went to work. He'd lounge on our bed for a few hours, then move downstairs to the lving room and stretch out on the couch for a few hours, the move down to the family room for a few more hours,,then repeat the whole process.

We'd come home from work after 8 or 9 hours and he'd go through the obligatory 30 seconds of goofy overjoyed dog act,,,and go right back to his bed/couch/family room routine until it was time for bed.

Whatever he was resting up for all those years,,he was darned sure rested well for it. He lived to be 13 and a half!

The "little" husky mix?

Well, the $$ figure for damage he's done to the house is at about 3 grand and climbing,,,,in ~ 18 months!

So far he's eaten 2 steel doors, 3 walls in the garage, 3 metal doorknobs, a 4X4 chunk of Al. siding, too many dryer vents to keep track of, - our garage is now lined with sheet steel to keep him from eating it. We tried plywood (1/4" up through 3/4") - that lasted less than a day.

[stephen426]

West Highland White Terriers are great dogs. They are normally called westies. They don't shed (other than their puppy fur) so you don't get hair everywhere (I wish my Akita was more like that). They are tough little guys and super cute. They are very smart and don't yap incessantly. I would probably end up shooting the darn thing if it yapped all the time.

[NSO_w/_SIG]

I have a 11 yr old Jack Russell and a 10 month old chihuahua that I bought for my GF. I love both dogs, they are great, and all the bad things I'd heard or experienced with other chihuahuas isn't true of mine. He is very social and fearless, he doesn't run to a corner and shake like others I've seen, and he dosen't miss a thing when it comes to someone coming in the house or knocking on the door. He is not that bad about barking at "false alarms" so to speak either though.

Between the two of them I don't think anyone will ever enter our house without a circus breaking out. I want to post some pics but they are too big and I don't know how to resize them.

[USP45usp]

Hal,

, I like that. The only bad thing is the house and the floor space. A Great Dane would knock over everything just trying to get up . Got a good sized back yard but the house isn't.

That is why the smaller breeds. I'm looking at the pros and cons of each, and the one that I am really looking at (mainly due to the breeder is "right next door" (not far away)) "Blows" insteads of sheds. The other one that I'm looking at, will be able to watch but not sure of guard. Then with some of the other breeds, some don't get along with cats (a must with me), some don't get along with other dogs (my uncles dogs, I don't like them but still, I can't be having dog fights outside).

This is going to be a major decision. Not only because of the money involved but also due to what I'm needing and if I move into an apt if (when) this place falls apart then I have to have a small dog in that situation also.

Wayne

[txray22]

There are some good dogs mentioned here, but if someone lived in an apartment, I would think too much barking would get them in trouble with the neighbors. What breed is approx 20 pounds, barks when someone come around, but doesn't bark at everything or when left alone.

[USP45usp]

Still deciding and I will never live in an apartment again... did that once, that was enough.

The Great Dane is out because I don't have the room but a relative of mine just got a Great Dane, something, mix. The puppy is already larger then a mid sized dog and he thinks that he's a lap dog. If I had the room, I would think more about it because the pup is already "guarding" the house and the family. If you are a stranger or BG, I have no doubt that this pup would remove some of your flesh, but if you are a GG then he'll crush you and then lick you to death. He's a "killer" (that is his name) anyway you look at it LOL.

I called on the mini-daushounds and I didn't realize they were so popular here. And since no local breeders, they are going for over $700 in the pet stores . Cute little things though .

The full sized daushounds aren't as popular and hard to come by. The local pet stores are only carrying full breed dogs/cats and they want a pretty price for them.

I tried the local pound again and was met by this uppity women with more facial hair then gangus kon (sp). I'm just happy that she was wearing pants and not a dress :barf:. Again, I was told that I was on the "no adopt list" and I asked why they would rather kill an animal then to let a single male adopt. I was told that it, "Was better for the animal". *** over? Better for the animal to die then to come to a loving home? (And before anyone says, "well, you must have done something in the past". No, it's because I am a single male).

Anyway, I have found a breeder of mini-Italian Grayhounds (had a friend that had three and I like the breed) and am going to see the breedery (is that a word?). From what I remember, great, loyal dogs that have a sense of "duty" and will attack and will always command your attention when you are home. Gets along great with cats (even through they are breed to hunt and kill rabbits and other smaller animals).

It's just amazing. The searching, the research, etc.. I never knew this much about dogs in my entire life. I'm enjoying it .

Wayne

[NSO_w/_SIG]

If you were considering buying from a pet store don't, alot of them get their dogs from puppy mills. I don't know if you aware of puppy mills but most of them are pretty dirty and inhumane opertaions and buying from pet stores just supports them.

http://www.stoppuppymills.org/

Here is a link to show you what I mean.


I am not crazy animal activist or anything I just became aware of these a few years back and thought you might want to know about them.

[Capt Charlie]

Actually Wayne, size should'nt be a factor if you live in an apartment (or are single) I have an English Mastiff and a home with a small yard. She's only 20 months old, but already weighs in at 170 pounds. Her breeder thinks she'll go a little over 200 in her prime, and around 32 inches at the shoulder. These guys are laid back couch potatoes.... until there's a threat to their family. The Romans used Mastiffs to fight lions and bears in their arenas, and that speaks for itself. Most of the agression has been bred out of them, and English Mastiffs (not Cane Corsos, bull mastiffs, or others) today are known for a super gentle and affectionate disposition... unless there's a threat. Even then, they tend to contain a bad guy rather than tear him apart. I know a number of people that have them in small houses or apartments. They do blow their coats though, and slober when they eat or drink, so they are a little more messy than the average dog.

I'm really surprised that the pound wouldn't let you adopt, just because you're single. I'm also single, and I got my Mastiff from one of the top show breeders in the country. I had to fill out a 5 page questionaire with some somewhat personal questions, and the breeder does an on site inspection of your facilities. Being single didn't stop one of the most protective breeders in the business from selling to me.

One note of caution, though, on the Mastiff (or any breed, for that matter). you NEVER want to have these dogs guard or attack trained. When you do, they're not pets anymore, and to quote one of our K-9 officers, "Having an attack trained dog around your family is like having a loaded gun with a mind of it's own". Besides, any dog worth his salt will instinctively defend his family without any training.

[Capt Charlie]

And NSO is dead on target about pet stores and puppy mills. They are abominations that are responsible for the vast majority of health problems in dog breeds today, not to mention the cruel and neglectful conditions that they almost always operate under.

[txray22]

Call another animal shelter or a rescue group.

PS: I thought I would never live in an apartment again, but I'm thinking about doing just that when I retire. That's why I'm doing research on 20 pound dogs that aren't yappy. mini-greyhound?

[kc.h]

I think that you should take a look at the Shiloh Shepherd. It is a large dog, but it will be a true family member. They are extremely intelligent, loving, protective, and healthy. They are a little known breed, but the people who have met them are devoted fans. I encourage you to check out the Shiloh Shepherd Learning Center and the Shiloh Shepherd Forum.

http://www.shilohshepherds.info/siteMap.htm

http://shilohshepherds.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x

They look very much like German Shepherds, but their temperaments a far more stable, their hips are far sounder, and they are quite a bit larger. Only purchase a Shiloh Shepherd from an ISSR Licensed Breeder, as the breed founder is still guiding the breeding of this wonderful dog. Others claim to breed Shiloh Shepherds, but they tend to produce unhealthy, unstable, inbred dogs. The breed founders website is:

http://www.newzionshilohs.org/Home.htm

This is the website of one of the breeders that I have always thought has beautiful dogs, not to mention she currently has puppies.

http://home.att.net/~belle-graceshilohs/

This is a wonderful breed and I hope that you enjoy learning about it.
Kaci

[Edward429451]

Didn't read the whole thread but here are my thoughts.

Little dogs are ok. First alert and people back down from little dogs too, seems like they don't even want little teeth in their leg, imagine that.

But a seasoned criminal? Might not be much help for deterring. I like shepards. Good people see 'family dog' bad people see 'Police dog'. Plus they have enough weight and bark to make even a seasoned criminal to think twice.

FWIW.

PS;

Oh forgot. I am a service person who visits a lot of different homes and see a lot of dogs. I've been bit by a lot more little dogs than big dogs.

[NSO_w/_SIG]

of my dyanmic duo, my Jack Russell is not as much of a camera hog. Don't laugh he is tougher than he looks.

[RCPractitioner]

I also love German Sheperds and other larger breeds but the fact is that most apartment complexes have breed restrictions (if you go to the leasing office they will give you a list of the restricted ones). I also didn't think it was fair to adopt a large breed at this time due to the fact that I don't think it's very fair to the animal to have him confined to such a small living space. Large dogs really need a yard to get daily exercise, my little mini dachshund gets all the exercise she needs inside my apartment. You have to consider the dogs needs as well not just your own.

[PastorGW]

I got my son a Jack Russell Terrier (parson's russell terrier).

If you don't have any carpet in the house or anything of any value at all. And you never have fits of uncontrolled anger. And if you never never leave anything (valuable or not) withing 6 feet above floor level. And you are willing to shave him, de-claw him & pull all his teeth. I would highly recommend getting one. Seriously I love the little feller.

[USP45usp]

You have to consider the dogs needs as well not just your own.

and

I also didn't think it was fair to adopt a large breed at this time due to the fact that I don't think it's very fair to the animal to have him confined to such a small living space.

This is why I'm looking at the smaller breeds. I too love larger dogs but the house is just too small for them. The yard is okay but I want mostly an indoor dog.

NSO_w/_SIG, I think he's cute . Thanks for the picture, I was going to research them next and didn't know exactly how a Jack Russell looked.

Wayne

[jklinstein]

Jack Russel Terrier fits the description...

[NSO_w/_SIG]

but just to clarify the JR is the one in the pic. running in the background, the camera hog is our 11 month chihuahua