 Barked: Fri Jan 11, '13 1:12pm PST |
 | |  | | Hello,
I’m looking for help narrowing down breeds for a future match. I currently have an older pug and will not be getting a new animal until after he has passed. I hope I have several more years with my pug, but you never know so I want to be prepared. My requirements are:
Size: under 50lbs (30-40lbs would be preferred but anything under 50 is fine) The reason for my size limit is so I can carry my dog up and down my attic steps. We keep our computers up there and the staircase is a tight spiral. Not safe for dogs to attempt on their own. I carry my pug up and down so he can spend time with us.
Grooming: minimal (I do not want a dog that needs professional grooming, trimming or whose fur can get matted and nasty on a daily basis. I can handle basic eye, ear and nail care along with brushing and bathing as needed.)
Exercise: low to moderate (I’m not a very active person. I like to play with my dogs but I’m not a jogger, hiker, swimmer, etc. I also don’t do dog sports although I would consider agility for a slightly more active dog, but just for fun. I want a dog that I can play with for short 15-30 minute intervals several times throughout the day, but will also settle down to watch a movie with me on the couch.)
Ease of Training: not important (I worked as a dog trainer for several years so I can handle a little ‘stubbornness.’ I love to teach my dogs simple tricks and work them mentally more than physically.)
Temperament: affectionate towards me, not aggressive in general (My dog is my world and I want to be his world as well. My pug follows me from room to room, always positioning himself so he can watch me if he’s not in my lap or at my feet. I love that. I like to cuddle, hug, pet and kiss my animals. My dog doesn’t have to love it or ask for it, just be able to tolerate it. I don’t have people coming and going from my house very often so I don’t really care how my dog acts towards strangers, but I want to know that if I have to call in a plumber, my dog will be ok with that.)
Kids: tolerant (I don’t have kids and probably won’t ever have them, but I haven’t ruled out the possibility. I also have 3 nephews who live out of state that I would love to have stay with me some when they get older. My nephews live with dogs so they are being raised to treat animals kindly.)
Other animals: tolerant (I don’t plan on having more than one dog at a time, but my husband is a cat person. We don’t have a cat now, but I want him to always have the option to get one without having to worry about its safety. Other members of my family also have cats and I would like to be able to bring my dog to holidays at their houses.)
Shedding, drooling, snoring: doesn’t bother me (I have a pug!)
Barking: ok in small doses (Dogs bark. I love when my dogs “talk” to me. But non-stop barking can be too much, especially for my husband.)
Watch/guard dog ability: irrelevant (I don’t care one way or the other if a breed is likely to have these traits.)
So what can I offer my dog? A loving home where he will always be treated like a member of the family. I work full time but rarely have to do overtime and my husband is home during the day while I’m at work. If that were to change, my job is only 5 minutes from home so I can come home for a quick walk at lunch if necessary. I can teach and train my dog, give him structure and rules, but I’m not overly strict. I can challenge him mentally. I own my home so he’ll be in a stable environment. My house is not that big but it has an average sized yard that is fenced in so he can romp about off leash while I relax on the porch.
Breeds that interest me:
Cardigan Welsh Corgi – My biggest concern is if I could keep up with its energy level.
Basset Hound – Size is the only issue here. A small basset would be at the high end of my size limit.
Chinese Shar Pei – Another dog on the high end of my size limit.
Tibetan Spaniel – Not sure of grooming requirements with all that hair, but they are adorable. Also, may be hard to find.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – This breed was runner up when I decided on my pug. It’s still in the mix.
French Bulldog – The only knock against this breed for me is its similarity to a pug. For emotional/sentimental reasons I don’t like to repeat dog breeds. If I went with this breed, color would be very important to make it look distinctly different from my fawn-colored pug.
Bulldog – Their biggest drawback is lifespan. I’d prefer a dog that averages about 12 years minimum.
Newfoundland – Not a contender on this go round but I wanted to add them to give an idea of my taste because they are one of my ‘hopefully someday’ dogs.
So now that I’ve written a book, hopefully that gives you enough information about me to start making suggestions or comments on the breeds I’ve listed. I’d love any input you all want to give. Thanks!Edited by author Sun Jan 13, '13 8:30pm PST
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The only potential issue I can see is the "good with children" but Chis vary wildly with that, so finding one that likes children wouldn't be that hard. Of course, you would still have to be careful with a Chi and small children. Yes, they some of them can be barky, but they can be trained. The reason we have issues here is because hubby is not consistent 
Princesse is portable, is up for walks or outings but is right now snuggled up happily with hubby watching TV. That is her favorite spot. She does quite well when no one is home as well. She does have another dog for company, but they don't really pay a lot of attention to each other anyway. She has gotten along with birds, cats and rabbits. I know a lot of people don't care for Chis, because I was one of them
Give them a chance and you may be pleasantly surprised
