I need doggy help

[Stirmi]

Hi everyone i was looking into adopting another dog and i don't know what breed (or mix of breeds), my conditions are
Small to medium size no bigger
playful
good swimmer
not prone to health problems
Now i know what ever is at a rescue is there, so i will probably have to do searching but i want a general idea of what breed might fit my conditions, so dog people help me find the best breed for me

 

[CitizenNumber9]

Beagle or beagle mix

Edit: I will add though that they have a lot of energy, being bred primarily for hunting, and you have to be careful to make sure they they don't get too overweight.

 

[JZC]

Lab or any retriever? Maybe a spaniel?

 

[The Snark]

Follow your heart.

 

[Disquiet]

And feed grain-free

 

[kalebo1]

I own two catahoulas. They are great dogs and grow to about 50 - 60 pounds.

 

[Mysteryavic]

My suggestions,
Beagle or beagle mix as stated altho lot of energy.
Lab golden or black. They can be a bit large tho 50 to 80 lbs. One of the best family dogs.?
spaniels are also a good choice. They tend to bark a lot tho, also on the small side 20 to 30 lbs
Hound dogs are also a good choice, lots of energy and are loud. Very loyal and grate playmates and bed mates. I have a coon hound that is just amazing atm.
Huskies can also be a good choice some can be smaller 30 to 50 lbs.

PM if u like where im going or want more info and my experience with them all.

 

[Formerphobe]

Most of the beagley and spaniel types will fit your size range. Spaniels may have more water dog tendencies than beagles, but it is really individual. Most spaniel types are liable to need more regular grooming. Any individual can be prone to health problems, there's no way to predict.

 

[pitbulllady]

I own two catahoulas. They are great dogs and grow to about 50 - 60 pounds.

I bred Catahoulas for around 20 years, and a 50-60 pound Catahoulas would be a really small specimen, especially a male. My last Catahoula, Koon's Bubba, who died at the age of 17 years, 2 months this past summer, weighed over 100 pounds in prime working condition. My males averaged 75-90 pounds, and they were working hog dogs, not couch potatoes. My smallest male weighed around 58 pounds, but he was stunted due to having survived a bad run-in with a very large Canebrake rattler when he was four months old that nearly killed him. All of his litter mates, even the females, were bigger than him. I honestly would not recommend a Catahoula as a pet for someone with little experience with working dogs. I had far too many pets either returned to me by their owners, who'd ignored my warnings about typical Catahoula temperament/behavior, or found out that the dog had been taken to a shelter after it did something I had told the new owners to be on guard against, like eat the neighbor's dog or tree the UPS guy on top of his truck for two hours. They can definitely be a handful for someone not used to that type of dog, and I don't know the OP's experience with dogs, but a Catahoula isn't a "small to medium" dog, in any case. A related breed, the Mountain Cur, is smaller and less, shall we say, "challenging". I also don't know what the OP considers "small to medium", either. I've heard people refer to a 50-pound APBT as "huge", but I'd think that by "small to medium" the "cut off" top limit would be around 40 pounds or so.

Stirmi, are there any other criteria you have in mind besides the size, loves to swim, not prone to health problems and playful? Any particulars on things like coat type and maintenance, for example? Do you mind a dog that requires grooming? Do you mind a very vocal, as in prone to barking/howling/etc.? How about prey drive-is the tendency to go after and possibly kill other animals an issue? Digging? Shedding? Dog aggression? Watchdog/guard dog abilities? Knowing what you DO NOT want in a dog, what would be difficult to deal with in your particular case, could help narrow things down a bit. I can think of several breeds that fit the criteria you laid out, but then, there are other things to consider that might be problematic for you. Some of these do require extensive grooming, for instance, and you might not want to deal with that. Others typically have a very high prey drive that could lead to problems if you have other types of animals. Others vocalize-a LOT-which might be a problem if you or someone in your household is a light sleeper or you have neighbors who'd be bothered by that, and one breed in particular that fits perfectly into the four conditions you laid out might not be something you'd consider because it unfortunately has a reputation as a "foo-foo" or "sissy" dog that some folks are bothered by, the miniature Poodle! Give us some more information as to what your situation is, what you DON'T want in a dog, what is not acceptable in terms of typical behavior.

pitbulllady

 

[Erwynn]

A Brittany Spaniel might be a good medium sized dog. Fits pretty much all you're looking for.

Something not prone to health problems is hard to find as all dogs have the potential to get sick and inherit some sort of disorder.

 

[Stirmi]

I bred Catahoulas for around 20 years, and a 50-60 pound Catahoulas would be a really small specimen, especially a male. My last Catahoula, Koon's Bubba, who died at the age of 17 years, 2 months this past summer, weighed over 100 pounds in prime working condition. My males averaged 75-90 pounds, and they were working hog dogs, not couch potatoes. My smallest male weighed around 58 pounds, but he was stunted due to having survived a bad run-in with a very large Canebrake rattler when he was four months old that nearly killed him. All of his litter mates, even the females, were bigger than him. I honestly would not recommend a Catahoula as a pet for someone with little experience with working dogs. I had far too many pets either returned to me by their owners, who'd ignored my warnings about typical Catahoula temperament/behavior, or found out that the dog had been taken to a shelter after it did something I had told the new owners to be on guard against, like eat the neighbor's dog or tree the UPS guy on top of his truck for two hours. They can definitely be a handful for someone not used to that type of dog, and I don't know the OP's experience with dogs, but a Catahoula isn't a "small to medium" dog, in any case. A related breed, the Mountain Cur, is smaller and less, shall we say, "challenging". I also don't know what the OP considers "small to medium", either. I've heard people refer to a 50-pound APBT as "huge", but I'd think that by "small to medium" the "cut off" top limit would be around 40 pounds or so.

Stirmi, are there any other criteria you have in mind besides the size, loves to swim, not prone to health problems and playful? Any particulars on things like coat type and maintenance, for example? Do you mind a dog that requires grooming? Do you mind a very vocal, as in prone to barking/howling/etc.? How about prey drive-is the tendency to go after and possibly kill other animals an issue? Digging? Shedding? Dog aggression? Watchdog/guard dog abilities? Knowing what you DO NOT want in a dog, what would be difficult to deal with in your particular case, could help narrow things down a bit. I can think of several breeds that fit the criteria you laid out, but then, there are other things to consider that might be problematic for you. Some of these do require extensive grooming, for instance, and you might not want to deal with that. Others typically have a very high prey drive that could lead to problems if you have other types of animals. Others vocalize-a LOT-which might be a problem if you or someone in your household is a light sleeper or you have neighbors who'd be bothered by that, and one breed in particular that fits perfectly into the four conditions you laid out might not be something you'd consider because it unfortunately has a reputation as a "foo-foo" or "sissy" dog that some folks are bothered by, the miniature Poodle! Give us some more information as to what your situation is, what you DON'T want in a dog, what is not acceptable in terms of typical behavior.

pitbulllady

Thanks for the help pbl,
Basically I need a dog that gets along with other animals including prey animals such as parrots, I'd prefer a quiter dog with lower maintenance grooming , however the grooming I'm flexible on, I need it to be less than 50 lbs on average, digging is not a problem, easy to train because I have had a mini schnauzer and a German shepherd/ Shetland collie mix who never used ledges on walks so I would like to keep that tradition going. As to the situation I live suburban area with a lot of woods and lakes around me where I go for walks with my dogs, I'm out of the house about 8 hours a day, although there is usually someone home to let te dog out to use the bathroom, ct weather flu hates with summers getting in the high 80s and winters getting in the 20s, I have a fenced in medium sized backyard large enough for running, lots of kids in my neighborhood, I plan on going swimming and fishing with it, and lastly I have all types if animals at my house from reptiles to parrots and another dog. Thanks for your help

 

[CitizenNumber9]

one breed in particular that fits perfectly into the four conditions you laid out might not be something you'd consider because it unfortunately has a reputation as a "foo-foo" or "sissy" dog that some folks are bothered by, the miniature Poodle!
pitbulllady

When I was little I used to think that poodle were "sissy" dogs because of the movie Oliver and Company heheh. I've really wanted one for the last few years though because I've heard not only are they VERY smart, but they're one of the few dogs that doesn't shed! Also, the breed comes in varying sizes. Finally, one of my favorite things, IMO they some what resemble dobermans when shaved down ;P

 

[Disquiet]

Thanks for the help pbl,
Basically I need a dog that gets along with other animals including prey animals such as parrots, I'd prefer a quiter dog with lower maintenance grooming , however the grooming I'm flexible on

IME grooming is only necessary if you groom, or if you have a long-hair that reeally loves dirt. The oil in a dog's fur keeps him or her quite clean on its own, but only IF you don't strip it repeatedly through shampooing, in which case oil-production goes into hyperdrive--much like acne-prone human skin + too much face washing. I have a 9.5 year-old black lab that has had *maybe* two baths but she does not smell "like dog," even when sopping wet. Dogs who are frequently shampooed, on the other hand, smell disgusting and you have to wash your hands after you pet them because of the oily gunkiness that coats your hands. Good food plays a role here as well, like I said in my other comment, grain-free kibble or a raw food diet will make a HUGE difference. I highly recommend Orijen or Evo. Have fun adding to your menagerie! As I'm sure you already know, dogs are wonderful

 

[Stirmi]

IME grooming is only necessary if you groom, or if you have a long-hair that reeally loves dirt. The oil in a dog's fur keeps him or her quite clean on its own, but only IF you don't strip it repeatedly through shampooing, in which case oil-production goes into hyperdrive--much like acne-prone human skin + too much face washing. I have a 9.5 year-old black lab that has had *maybe* two baths but she does not smell "like dog," even when sopping wet. Dogs who are frequently shampooed, on the other hand, smell disgusting and you have to wash your hands after you pet them because of the oily gunkiness that coats your hands. Good food plays a role here as well, like I said in my other comment, grain-free kibble or a raw food diet will make a HUGE difference. I highly recommend Orijen or Evo. Have fun adding to your menagerie! As I'm sure you already know, dogs are wonderful

That makes a lot of sense, thank you for your help

 

[CitizenNumber9]

IME grooming is only necessary if you groom, or if you have a long-hair that reeally loves dirt. The oil in a dog's fur keeps him or her quite clean on its own, but only IF you don't strip it repeatedly through shampooing, in which case oil-production goes into hyperdrive--much like acne-prone human skin + too much face washing. I have a 9.5 year-old black lab that has had *maybe* two baths but she does not smell "like dog," even when sopping wet. Dogs who are frequently shampooed, on the other hand, smell disgusting and you have to wash your hands after you pet them because of the oily gunkiness that coats your hands. Good food plays a role here as well, like I said in my other comment, grain-free kibble or a raw food diet will make a HUGE difference. I highly recommend Orijen or Evo. Have fun adding to your menagerie! As I'm sure you already know, dogs are wonderful

Wow I didn't know that! That probably explains why our cocker spaniel is so smelly x)

PS: I wouldn't recommend a cocker spaniel (not a male at least) unless you can give them PLENTY of outside time. We live next to a highway and as a result our CS is very lazy and meaner than 10 rattlesnakes! He doesn't go out very often except for his walks :/

 

[Disquiet]

That makes a lot of sense, thank you for your help

You're very welcome! That technique might not work with all breeds, but it DEF will with short- or medium-haired breeds.

Check out this too if you're interested in any of my other animal husbandry philosophies (as they pertain to dogs).

 

[pitbulllady]

When I was little I used to think that poodle were "sissy" dogs because of the movie Oliver and Company heheh. I've really wanted one for the last few years though because I've heard not only are they VERY smart, but they're one of the few dogs that doesn't shed! Also, the breed comes in varying sizes. Finally, one of my favorite things, IMO they some what resemble dobermans when shaved down ;P

One of my mentors was a WWll vet who had served as a military dog trainer and handler in that conflict, and who trained dogs for a living, and supplied guard dogs to various businesses and VIP's in the area. He referred to Standard Poodles as "Dobermans with an Afro"-basically the same temperament, same intelligence, same size, same structure, just a different coat. I had a large chocolate Standard several years ago who was actually as good a hog dog as my Catahoulas, a very gritty, athletic dog with boundless stamina, a high prey drive and determination. His main flaw, of course, was that coat, and that coat is the only reason why Poodles were replaced by the other retriever breeds and upland Continental gun dogs like the German Shorthair and Weimaraner in the field; it definitely was NOT lack of hunting ability or instinct! Unfortunately, Faust's prey drive was what led to his demise, as he was one of those few dogs I'd raised that simply could not leave snakes alone, even though he'd been brought up around them. He had two encounters with the venomous variety outside, and the second one was with a large Canebrake which got into his kennel during a particularly bad hot dry spell, no doubt looking for water. Both he and the snake were dead when I got home from work. Faust weighed 93 pounds and was a good 27 inches at the withers, not a small "foo foo lap dog" by any means. He had the longest canine teeth I've ever seen on a domesticated dog, and when he was in full coat, in a "lion clip", he reminded me of one of those Gelada baboon males with those dagger-like canines, a very impressive animal and not the least bit "sissy"! If it weren't for that coat maintenance, I would really love to have another Standard, although it kept me busy trying to keep him from killing my own personal reptiles, which is why I could not leave him indoors when I wasn't there. He never would give up trying to get at the snakes.

Stirmi, if breed is not that important to you, I would suggest that you check with the various shelters and rescues in your area. Some shelters "test" dogs with various other types of animals to try and determine how that dog reacts to them. I know that the shelter I got my fat cat from does this with both dogs and cats, to see what they are compatible with. The woman who manages the shelter keeps several of her own personal pets on hand, including cats, dogs, Guinea pigs, cockatiels and a bearded dragon to try and tell which animals a particular dog or cat will likely react to and the friendliness and lack of a prey mode in my cat was what helped me make that decision to take him home. They keep a room set up that is like a typical living room, with furniture and a tv, etc., in which prospective adopters can interact with a particular animal(s), so that it will feel more like a home situation rather than a kennel run outside, since many dogs act differently in each situation. Generally speaking, most of the Toy breeds are going to be less likely to go after other animals, but again, there are exceptions, like the Chinese Cresteds which are more like mini sighthounds when it comes to moving objects and the Yorkshire Terriers, which are ratters with a true terrier prey drive. If you don't mind getting a puppy and putting up with the usual puppy trials and tribulations, that is the best way to make sure that it gets along with your other animals, though again, you will run into exceptions, like my Standard Poodle. With a puppy, YOU get to decide more about its behavior than with getting a grown dog, where you might have to work harder to undo someone else's lack of training and bad habits.

pitbulllady

 

[Stirmi]

One of my mentors was a WWll vet who had served as a military dog trainer and handler in that conflict, and who trained dogs for a living, and supplied guard dogs to various businesses and VIP's in the area. He referred to Standard Poodles as "Dobermans with an Afro"-basically the same temperament, same intelligence, same size, same structure, just a different coat. I had a large chocolate Standard several years ago who was actually as good a hog dog as my Catahoulas, a very gritty, athletic dog with boundless stamina, a high prey drive and determination. His main flaw, of course, was that coat, and that coat is the only reason why Poodles were replaced by the other retriever breeds and upland Continental gun dogs like the German Shorthair and Weimaraner in the field; it definitely was NOT lack of hunting ability or instinct! Unfortunately, Faust's prey drive was what led to his demise, as he was one of those few dogs I'd raised that simply could not leave snakes alone, even though he'd been brought up around them. He had two encounters with the venomous variety outside, and the second one was with a large Canebrake which got into his kennel during a particularly bad hot dry spell, no doubt looking for water. Both he and the snake were dead when I got home from work. Faust weighed 93 pounds and was a good 27 inches at the withers, not a small "foo foo lap dog" by any means. He had the longest canine teeth I've ever seen on a domesticated dog, and when he was in full coat, in a "lion clip", he reminded me of one of those Gelada baboon males with those dagger-like canines, a very impressive animal and not the least bit "sissy"! If it weren't for that coat maintenance, I would really love to have another Standard, although it kept me busy trying to keep him from killing my own personal reptiles, which is why I could not leave him indoors when I wasn't there. He never would give up trying to get at the snakes.

Stirmi, if breed is not that important to you, I would suggest that you check with the various shelters and rescues in your area. Some shelters "test" dogs with various other types of animals to try and determine how that dog reacts to them. I know that the shelter I got my fat cat from does this with both dogs and cats, to see what they are compatible with. The woman who manages the shelter keeps several of her own personal pets on hand, including cats, dogs, Guinea pigs, cockatiels and a bearded dragon to try and tell which animals a particular dog or cat will likely react to and the friendliness and lack of a prey mode in my cat was what helped me make that decision to take him home. They keep a room set up that is like a typical living room, with furniture and a tv, etc., in which prospective adopters can interact with a particular animal(s), so that it will feel more like a home situation rather than a kennel run outside, since many dogs act differently in each situation. Generally speaking, most of the Toy breeds are going to be less likely to go after other animals, but again, there are exceptions, like the Chinese Cresteds which are more like mini sighthounds when it comes to moving objects and the Yorkshire Terriers, which are ratters with a true terrier prey drive. If you don't mind getting a puppy and putting up with the usual puppy trials and tribulations, that is the best way to make sure that it gets along with your other animals, though again, you will run into exceptions, like my Standard Poodle. With a puppy, YOU get to decide more about its behavior than with getting a grown dog, where you might have to work harder to undo someone else's lack of training and bad habits.

pitbulllady

Thanks for the help, I saw a dauchsund mix thats a 3 1/2 month old puppy which im interested in, if that doesnt work i might go to northshore animal league and look there

 

[CitizenNumber9]

One of my mentors was a WWll vet who had served as a military dog trainer and handler in that conflict, and who trained dogs for a living, and supplied guard dogs to various businesses and VIP's in the area. He referred to Standard Poodles as "Dobermans with an Afro"-basically the same temperament, same intelligence, same size, same structure, just a different coat. I had a large chocolate Standard several years ago who was actually as good a hog dog as my Catahoulas, a very gritty, athletic dog with boundless stamina, a high prey drive and determination. His main flaw, of course, was that coat, and that coat is the only reason why Poodles were replaced by the other retriever breeds and upland Continental gun dogs like the German Shorthair and Weimaraner in the field; it definitely was NOT lack of hunting ability or instinct! Unfortunately, Faust's prey drive was what led to his demise, as he was one of those few dogs I'd raised that simply could not leave snakes alone, even though he'd been brought up around them. He had two encounters with the venomous variety outside, and the second one was with a large Canebrake which got into his kennel during a particularly bad hot dry spell, no doubt looking for water. Both he and the snake were dead when I got home from work. Faust weighed 93 pounds and was a good 27 inches at the withers, not a small "foo foo lap dog" by any means. He had the longest canine teeth I've ever seen on a domesticated dog, and when he was in full coat, in a "lion clip", he reminded me of one of those Gelada baboon males with those dagger-like canines, a very impressive animal and not the least bit "sissy"! If it weren't for that coat maintenance, I would really love to have another Standard, although it kept me busy trying to keep him from killing my own personal reptiles, which is why I could not leave him indoors when I wasn't there. He never would give up trying to get at the snakes.

pitbulllady

I'm sorry to here about Faust he sounds like he was an amazing guy! Even though I've been raised around dogs my whole life, I've only had one that was actually "mine". She was a beagle or lab mix or something else I'm not sure of. She was a small-medium sized blond colored dog and the sweetest girl ever! I got her for Christmas when I was 7 or 8 and she past away a few years ago a few days after 16th birthday hit by a car.

Your post has DEFINITELY sealed the deal though on the next dog I plan to get! Maybe in a year or so when I decide to get a dog, it will be a standard poodle can you tell me a little more about the coat? Also, do you think they'd be suitable for apartment life (with plenty of long walks of course!)?

I don't want to hijack your thread, Stirmi. If it's a problem I don't mind just PMing PBL instead make sure you post pictures of your new addition!

 

[PlaidJaguar]

When I was little I used to think that poodle were "sissy" dogs because of the movie Oliver and Company heheh. I've really wanted one for the last few years though because I've heard not only are they VERY smart, but they're one of the few dogs that doesn't shed! Also, the breed comes in varying sizes. Finally, one of my favorite things, IMO they some what resemble dobermans when shaved down ;P

A Poodle would be an excellent choice for many reasons. However, they are not a generally very healthy breed. The breed suffers from a high COI (coefficient of inbreeding; they have an extremely limited gene pool). As others have mentioned, Beagles or Beagle mixes would probably suit you well; although they can be quite loud. They're also VERY nosy (as in, their nose hijacks their brain sometimes) so obedience in off-leash situations is always iffy at best and training them to walk politely on leash can be quite challenging. I'm not saying don't get one, just that your life will be much better if you go into it expecting these things rather than being blindsided by it after you bring the dog home.

The dogs that tend to be the healthiest and most moderate in temperament IME are the Heinz 57 mutts--the kind of dogs that have "mixed breed" all the way up their pedigree and nobody can figure out what kind of mix they are. Look for one that is built very well and moves fluidly. If you adopt from a shelter, the dog will likely be very bouncy and even a bit high-strung from pent up energy; give it at least two weeks to settle in and get the cortisol out of its system before you really evaluate the personality. If you can get a dog from a foster system, that's a great way to go. Often they're much more normalized than shelter dogs, and the foster home will be able to tell you a lot more about the dog's personality and energy levels.

Good luck! New dog hunting is always fun.

---------- Post added 12-27-2013 at 08:41 PM ----------

Your post has DEFINITELY sealed the deal though on the next dog I plan to get! Maybe in a year or so when I decide to get a dog, it will be a standard poodle can you tell me a little more about the coat? Also, do you think they'd be suitable for apartment life (with plenty of long walks of course!)?

Standard Poodles are on the extreme high end of coat maintenance, if you want to leave any length on them. However, if you don't like brushing and bathing, you can shave it down head to toe with a #7 blade every 2-3 months. Then you don't have to worry about any brushing at all--just trim the nails and clean the ears a few times between shaves.

The softer the coat, the more difficult it will be to maintain. Often light colored Poodles have much more tangle prone coats (I had to brush mine every 12 hours if I wanted to leave more than an inch of hair on him). Usually black Poodles have the more correct, harsher coat. It should feel sort of springy to the touch and not cottony at all--those coats are more weather resistant and easier to care for.

Spoos are extremely bonded to their person or family, so they don't do well with long separations. This is not a dog that should be left at home all day while you work full time. However, with a few miles of exercise and some mental stimulation (trick training is perfect for this) they make lovely apartment dogs. They're quite content to lounge about on your couch when they're not out running their butts off.