Recommendations for small breed dog?

[ptrbryant]

As some of you know, our beloved dog, Wallace, was diagnosed about 1 month ago with an aggressive form of lymphoma. He was given 1-2 months and isn't in any pain, just occasional discomfort from swelling--which steroids have helped. It's been very rough emotionally to sit and watch my best friend fading , but I have to try to hold it together for both DS10 and Wallace.

Ironically, one of the few things that's helped to distract me is to think about getting another pup when the time comes. DH and I have always been cat people and our two cats (ages 12 and 13) are doing fine. In fact, Wallace is the first dog I've ever owned. We bought him from the shelter when he was 5 weeks old, being told he was a beagle-chihuhua mix. At 105 lbs, he's actually a dalmatian/english setter mix. He's always had health problems---bad seasonal allergies, hypothyroidism, seizures, heat sensitivity and now lymphoma. So much for mixed breeds being the healthy choice!

I have some allergies and DS has asthma. So far, neither of us have had problems with our pets, but I don't want to raise the bar. (Actually, I did seem to have allergic sneezing/coughing when Wallace was very little, but not since he's been an adult--if that makes sense!) DS loves, loves pugs--but another dis'er who has asthma mentioned that pugs are a trigger for her. Also, the health problems I've read about with pugs makes me hesitant.

Are there any small-breed dog owners out there who want to boast about their baby? I'm interested in all/any opinions!

p.s. Because of our cats, the director of our shelter recommended a young puppy. Otherwise, I would love the idea of adopting an older dog.

Thanks!

Karla B.

 

[Hercules10]

If allergies are a concern then go for a poodle. They're hypo-allergenic.

 

[ZuZugal]

We have always had poodles, and since they do not shed that would help out w/the allergy concern. Some poodles are a little more "high strung" than others, and we have been fortunate enough to have always gotten even tempered/non-yappers! With all the the cross-breading right now, you can probably find a poodle mix that might fit your needs well.
Good luck!

 

[kat3668]

I have to reccomend Shih Tzus.. they are the most loveable breed and are sooo smart if you put the time in to train them.... They are a good indoor dog and can be left alone for short periods of time.. We love our Anel Baby she has beem the best addition to our family!

 

[TXTink]

I am allergic to poodles, sorry to say. But another so-called "hypo-allergenic dog" is a Maltese. I have one and she is great for us! I have also heard that Chihuahua's are a good bread if you have asthma.

Good luck to you!

 

[sjams]

We have a Schnoodle. A what you ask? She is 1/2 poodle and 1/2 schnauzer. She doesn't shed at all and if we let her hair grow out she has curls like a poodle, but we can cut her and she looks like a schnauzer. She is about 15lbs and black with white, looks like she has gray hair! She is 16 months old and is very smart. We also have a Golden and she isn't small by any means, but the two get along very well. They are best friends, if doggies can have them!! I can post a picture if your interested, just let me know!

 

[elizke]

I'm sorry about your doggie. I'm sure it's sad for you and I can see why the distraction of the new pup would help you feel better.

We have a shi-a-poo, a shi-tzu poodle mix, and we could not be happier. We always say she's like a very friendly, portable cat who plays fetch. I am 43 years old and this is my first dog after a life of cats.

She was the runt of the litter and weighs 6 pounds, loves everyone she meets, is great with the kids. and loves to be cuddled. Her name is Boo.

 

[RachelEllen]

First, I'm so sorry about your pup. My guy just got over being sick, and I didn't know what I was going to do if it turned out to be serious.

I adore my little Italian Greyhound, but they are not for everyone. Warning...the following are gross generalizations.

Pros: Kind of a cat-like sort of dog. IG's can be hyper, but when they are in a familar environment, they tend to be lie on the couch, snuggle bunnies. Everyone thinks a miniature greyhound is going to spend all day running, but they tend to get their exercise in spurts and spend most of the day curled up asleep.

Mine follows me around the house and curls up in whatever room I am in.

They are gentle, gentle dogs. Shy...but not aggressive at all. They are also quiet, not big barkers. They are short haired, so very neat to have around. Mine doesn't trigger my allergies at all, but I can't speak in general.

Cons: Sort of cat like type of dog . They are not stupid, but they can be not so interested in training. They are notoriously hard to housetrain, but it can be done. Mine has been perfectly housetrained since about 14 months of age. They are not so interested in typical 'dog stuff.' No fetch, wrestling, etc. They are also creatures of habit and may not adapt adapt. Mine gets very whiny, clingy when we travel. But he adjusted great to daycare after a month of so. So it just takes time.

If you have any questions, let me know. Or check out this web site for lots of good info and really cute pics:
http://www.italian-greyhound.net

(note...it makes a really big deal of the housetraining issues. I only have my experience, but I live in the Northeast, and my guy did eventually learn that he had to pee in the rain snow. Yes, it took booties, umbrella and a dog coat, but he is housetrained in all weather.)

 

[Crankyshank]

DH's aunt has a bichon. If I went for a smaller dog, that's probably what I would get. She's a great little dog and not high strung or yappy and she doesn't trigger my allergies.

I know there's a few bichon owners here that could pipe in and tell you more.
My parents have a pug and he's a wonderful dog but sheds a lot and yes that can be bad for allergies and asthma

 

[janette]

We have 2 Bichon's and will probably always have this breed. They are a little studier than some of the tiny dogs, average weight is 15-20lbs. Pretty calm breed, they like to sleep best I think One of ours is a rescue and she's 10+ and does have some health problems but hard to say what her background is. Our baby is 4yo now, we bought from a small breeder and he doesn't have papers but this is a very distinctive breed and our main purpose in choosing the breed is for allergies not for show. He's very spoiled!

My 12yo DD has allergies / asthma and has no problems with our Bichons, you do have to get them groomed often but that is part of their maintenance. We tend not to keep them long just short easy to care for cuts. Our 4yo Bichon loves to swim in his dog bowl and mud puddles so rarely looks like a Bichon poster child

I'll have to see what pictures I have online and post them for you.

The youngest one has been exposed to cats, it was pretty funny and lets just say they put him in his place pretty quickly.

Some pictures:
A Snow Day

With one of my Great-Nephews

He's very tolerant of what my girls put him through

 

[Aimeedyan]

Allergies differ from person to person, it is crucial you both spend a lot of time with the specific dog you are interested in getting before bringing it home. There is no such thing as a hypo-allergenic dog or a dog that doesn't shed, they all shed some and someone will be allergic to it. It depends on what you're allergic to (saliva, pee, dander, hair, etc).

I was deathly allergic to my aunt's poodle - couldn't be in the same house. I had a full blown asthma attack each time. While others aren't bothered by them!

We have a Shih Tzu, he did bother me in the beginning but I am used to him now. They are very sturdy little dogs, weigh 9-16 pounds, and are the ultimate lap dogs. They were bred for royalty They are not for everyone, though. They are very stubborn and usually hard to train. Harley is adorable but still not 100% potty trained and probably never will be. We have never been able to get him to learn more than 2-3 commands, either, while our other dog (a mutt) knows tons and is 110% potty trained. They are just wired different Shih Tzu's are very low shedding and do have to be groomed regularly.

Another breed that I've fallen in love with is the Bichon Frise. Also check out Maltese, Yorkies, Silky Terrier, Lhasa... there are more, I can't remember exactly.

Most important thing above all is to find a reputable breeder, if you don't go with rescue or shelter. It's worth it.

(I'm sorry about your dog's health...)

 

[goldcupmom]

I currently have Yorkies. Most people are not allergic as the hair is much like human hair. I've had poodles, a friend raises chihuahuas, my DSil has had many maltese.

Chihuahuhas are mostly very high strung, and a lot are yappy. You can find others, but it's a chance/breeding thing.

Poodles tend to be the smaller the more psycho due to inbreeding early on in the breed - or so the breeder/show person I know has told me. People usually aren't allergic, but I probably wouldn't have another unless it was standard. They seem more even tempered.

Maltese are great little dogs, but the ones I've know most recently are pretty yappy. I personally don't like the eye stains they tend to get on the white fur.

For a small dog, I'll probably never stray from Yorkies. They are the most 'human', 'childlike' dog I've ever had, & I've had a LOT - poodles (we bred/showed when I was young), shepherds, springer spaniels, labs, irish setters, malamute. They tend to be needy - as in needing to be with you - and loving. My Mia is definitely an Alpha dog - all 7 lbs of her runs the house - tells us when the lab needs to be brought in, when the lab needs to potty, if Max(the other yorkie) is into trouble, if one of the kids is doing something. She's a real busy body and just almost talks to you. She also is a tapper. If she wants something, she comes up and gently taps you with one paw - like a small child would. She does this in bed, too. When she wants under the covers, she taps on your shoulder.

Max is <3 lbs and is my shadow. very laid back & relaxed. He's the clown.

Yorkies can be hard to potty train as they are strongwilled like kids, but worth it, in my opinion. They don't shed which is wonderful after having big dogs that do shed in the house.

You're doing the right thing by investigating different breeds. If you choose to adopt a small breed, you won't know background, but rescue dogs can be great. Generally with all small breeds, the smaller the more expensive & sometimes the more health problems. I looked long & hard to find my Max. I want to breed so I needed a small male - he is under 3 lbs - that didn't seem fragile or prone to health problems/low blood sugar problems. He's very sturdy and hasn't had a sugar problem. Was under 1 lb when I got him at 3.5 months.

The thing to look for w/ Yorkies is patella problems, legg perthes disease & liver shunt. Most real breeders guarantee for these.

Have fun in your journey to a new pup! There are so many wonderful breeds to choose from, each with their unique characteristics!

 

[ptrbryant]

I really, really appreciate each of these responses. Many of the breeds mentioned are ones I've had in the back of my mind (Shi-Tzu, Maltese, Bichon Fris, Italian greyhound).

A couple of questions:

1. For optimal health, would you suggest going to a reputable breeder rather than rescue? I know this is a huge question. Emotionally, I'd lean towards rescue/shelter, but I was really shocked at how high Wallace's vet bills were almost each month---and he was a mutt! It would be wonderful to have a dog as healthy as our cats have been.

2. Italian greyhounds: I personally love the sweet faces they have and how elegant they look. My concern is how fragile are they? DS10 is fairly well-behaved, but can also get rambunctious/loud at times...he's not a toddler and knows when to cool it, but I wonder how sensitive Italian greyhounds are.

3. Potty training problems seems to be the norm with small breeds. I know this will sound silly, but are any able to be litter-trained? Otherwise, I guess if there're accidents, it's not as much to clean up as with a large breed.

4. Great advice about actually being around our short list of breeds to see if any allergies are triggered. Locally, someone had a litter of boston terriers and we all seemed to be sniffling after playing with them. That said, they'd been outside all day and it could have been pollens as much as dander.

Keep the advice and suggestions coming! I especially love all the photos of these adorable pups!

Thanks so much!

Karla B.

 

[stephbillalec]

We had our first Shih-Tzu for 13 years and now have our second for just over 10 years. They are the best breed! So loveable, cute, well-behaved and quiet! Honestly, they're like having a cat! Our first came from a pet shop at the mall (25 or so years ago!) and the second came from a breeder. We didn't have trouble training either of them to go outside to do their biz. Both of them definately prefer being inside, preferably on someone's lap!
Good luck!

 

[GailT]

I'm sorry about your doggie. I'm sure it's sad for you and I can see why the distraction of the new pup would help you feel better.

We have a shi-a-poo, a shi-tzu poodle mix, and we could not be happier. We always say she's like a very friendly, portable cat who plays fetch. I am 43 years old and this is my first dog after a life of cats.

She was the runt of the litter and weighs 6 pounds, loves everyone she meets, is great with the kids. and loves to be cuddled. Her name is Boo.

your dog is so cute, I was thinking of a cockapoo but now I am going to look for a shi-a-poo,

 

[janette]

1. For optimal health, would you suggest going to a reputable breeder rather than rescue?

Bichon's aren't easily available from rescue, especially younger dogs. Our rescue was older and from a local pound. I wanted an adult dog at the time and would have liked one a little younger but it took a long time to find one available in the area. We'll probably be getting another dog within the next couple of years and unless I happen across the perfect rescue it will be from a breeder.

3. Potty training problems seems to be the norm with small breeds. I know this will sound silly, but are any able to be litter-trained?

Our older Bichon is not very well house trained but she is also blind so hard to say what all the issues are. I'm going to be replacing my carpet with something that I don't have to worry about so that will also help. Our younger Bichon has occasional accidents usually if we forget to leave the dog door open. Both are crate trained and spend the day there and never have accidents in their crate.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I cannot say enough nice things about Shih Tzus!

My Dudley is the most loveable, loyal fur baby I have ever had!

How can you not love this face????

TC

 

[bsnyder]

I'm so sorry to hear about Wallace.

Another Bichon owner checking in. We were initially attracted to the breed because oldest DS is extremely allergic to pet dander. To be truthful, I wasn't very keen about getting a dog at all. 5 years later, I can't imagine life without Gibson. It's inconceivable.

I also recommend testing the allergic family members directly with exposure to the breed. We had friends with two Bichons who allowed them to come visit for a day. DS played with them for hours and had no reactions at all.

As far as training, Bichons can be stubborn. We never had many problems with accidents (we used a crate whenever anyone wasn't home, until he was full-grown) But we did have a fair amount of chewing damage to furniture, and unfortunately, the carpet in a family room (a very loopy berber and he liked to get a hold of the loops and pull).

Health problems, well, ironically - the breed itself is prone to allergies, and Gibson has them pretty severely. At certain times of the year, he has to have pretnisone, either shot or pill form, to keep from chewing himself to pieces.

Maintenance wise, they either need to be cut short or groomed daily, to keep the fur from matting. And like many light colored breeds, some are prone to staining, around the eyes and muzzle.

Those negatives aside, this breed has an incredible temperment. Extremely affectionate, playful, but not obnoxious - all in all, a very happy dog!

And to give you an idea of how captivating the breed can be - we know 5 families that are either friends or relatives of ours that have also added a Bichon to their family, after being around Gibson. And my in-laws, who are long time lab owners, beg to have their "grand-dog" spend the night with them on a regular basis.

 

[DMickey28]

How small are you looking for? My Corgi is 28 lbs at 2 years olds. He physically a mix between a German Shepard (head, ears, deep chest) and a daschund (Long back and little legs). He has the personality of a Lab. He is very smart, learns commands very very fast (think one 30 min session) and they are great at housetraining. Mine is struggling a little with the housetraining since we moved into a high rise apartment building from a house but he's ok. They are family dogs, need to be with you, not crated in the other room. He is high-energy now because he is still young, not dissimilar to the lab. I looked at the pictures of the other breeds and fall in love, but I honestly don't know that I would get a different breed then the Corgi!

 

[Sthronds]

I always love to have a chance to gush about my girls!

I have two Boston Terriers and they are the best dogs. They are so smart and fun. They do on occasion have health matters since they have the flat face, and are prone to hip problems but their personality is just larger than life. Oreo is my senior citizen, she doesn't do much anymore but she still loves to eat. Coral is only 2 1/2 and she is so full of life! She is incredibly smart and funny. They are fairly easy to train. I have a doggie door and with a little bait (cheese) on the other side, I was able to get them in and out relatively easy. Oreo is very social and loves to meet new people. I didn't do as good a job socializing Coral so she is a bit nervous around strangers.

As far as allergies, I have asthma and have tested allergic to dogs but I seem to do fine with these girls. I occasionally have a skin breakout on my forearms after holding them, but it is just a minor problem. They do shed but lightly, and appear to shed according to your clothes. If you are wearing white, only the black hairs will shed and if you are wearing black, you can count on the white ones. Good luck with your choice!