Choosing the right one.........

[Liane]

I wanted a dog for like the longest time, it's always have been in my top 5 when it comes to christmas/birthday wishlist now i finally might be getting one......i need to find the right breed

I live in an apartment
There's a huuggee park across from my building, but i can only take it out to walk once per week for 15-30 minutes
I want a dog that likes have to have cuddles and will sit on my lap
A not too sturborn type
Fairly easy to train
Not too much grooming
Average shedding is ok
perferably white/ light colored
not too hyper
Its ok to bark but not an excessive amount
Going with the furry kind
last but not least.........have to be small

i was thinking of either westie, or miniature american eskimo
what do u guys think?

also my mom is really picky about her furnitures, so if i buy a dog i will have to make sure it won't screw/scratch/make marks on any of the furnitures or else i have to sell the pup..........so anyone have any advice on this?

 

[Fran27]

Once a week for 15-30 minutes is nowhere enough. For a small dog, you would need 15-30 minutes twice a day if you live in an appartment. And you will have to watch them a lot to make sure they don't go after the furniture.

I don't think that you should get a dog in these conditions.

 

[becca_4321]

It doesnt sound like this is the right time for you to get a dog. You should wait until you have more time to spend with it. You would need to still be able to take the dog out a few times a day to potty. You would need time to work with the dog and teach it right from wrong. I honestly think you should wait.

 

[Rose's Gal]

If you aren't going to exercise it, then I would NOT go for a Westie or an Eskimo. Those both need at least 30mins of exercise a day. In your conditions, you would want a dog that could get basically all of its exercise inside. It might be best to wait, but if you are die hard on getting a dog, I would suggest a Maltese. Small, white dog that can basically get its exercise indoors. But know this: They can be hard to housebreak and are sensitive. Not a good choice for younger kids because of its fragilitly. They do need their coat to be trimmed short every month unless you want to deal with brushing the dog's coat every day. Also, make sure you go to a responsible breeder, or it will most likely have temperment or health problems.

(And, BTW, a Westie isn't a cuddler. They are very much a Terrier.)
Oh, and why can you only walk it for 15-30mins once per week? Will you have time to train the dog? Just wondering.

 

[bubbatd]

Sounds like you should hold off ...just not fair to any dog under the situation.

 

[showpug]

This could be a long shot, but you may want to consider a pug and here are the pros on the breed:
1.They are lazy once they mature...usually sleeping 16 hours a day
2.They are small 14-18lbs...males will be at the larger end.
3.They actually don't need excercise, in fact, too much or excercise in the wrong weather can be fatal
4. Your lap is there forever home...they were bred for companionship only and they are the best at giving you love and entertaining you
5. They do not require major grooming...a bath once a month, toe nail trim, and wrinkle cleaning weekly is usually it!! 6. I have never met an aggressive pug...

And the CONS:
1.They shed a TON!!!!
2.If you don't like snoring or nose sprinkler kisses then don't get one.
3.They act as your shadow and only want to be where you are, so if you don't like a dog at your feet or in your lap, don't get a pug.
4.They can be stubborn, but are very food motivated and train easily with treats!!!! AND MORE TREATS!!
5.Pugs LIVE TO EAT, so if you can't monitor food intake closley, then don't get a pug! Ok, I will stop rambling...there are many more pros and cons, but I won't bore you anymore....Good luck with your future pup!!

I just now read the part about the furniture...I don't recommend you get any dog until that issue is resolved. ANY dog will do some degree of damage and they will have accidents in the house, chew some furniture, and leave hair around. THAT IS PART OF OWNING A DOG....I suggest you wait until you live alone to make the commitment!!

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

A Westie would not work, trust me. I walk and train a female west highland once a week who's name is Lucy. She will barely sit still for me to pet her, she's super hyper.

(And, BTW, a Westie isn't a cuddler. They are very much a Terrier.)

You're absolutely right. A few seconds after you pick Lucy up, she wants down to go and sniff. And she is ALWAYS moving. It doesn't matter if it's practically burning outside and it looks like her head is going to explode because of it, she wants to MOVE.

I'm thinking maybe a Bichon Frise. They do require grooming (a daily brushing and regular visits to the groomers), but they don't shed a lot, they aren't big barkers, they are lapdogs, they are very intelligent, they are small and have white coats.

 

[GSDFan05]

Maybe you could look into adopting a senior dog from a purebred rescue? It will still need DAILY exercise and attention, but its requirements will be less demanding than a pup or young adult.

 

[poeluvr]

yea i really have a prob with that 15 minutes a week? why only that little time. i am loaded with homework and have a job but still make time to take my pup outside at least twice a day, in the back yard or front at least
but if you do decide to take it out longer, because of the fact all dogs need fresh air, and "maybe some could only go out twice a week, if they have a backyard, and a house, but you live in a more confined area, meaning he would need more room, thats why people who live in apartments take their dogs out alot.. but if ur getting one anyway i would suggest a pekingese. only cuz their excercise requirements are very mininum, very! but i onno i think you should still make more time to bring your dog outside

 

[showpug]

Be a little wary of the Pekignese!! They are adorable and I like them, but they can be rather moody and more often than not a little aggressive. They may appear harmless, but read up because their looks are decieving!!!! They also need a lot of grooming It is true about the excercise though!!

 

[poeluvr]

yea... i was gonna say that stuff but in my mind it seemed like her best choice, desbite its stubborness, moodiness, and excessive grooming...thanx showpug...lol

 

[showpug]

Pekes are cute though aren't they? They are my favorite to watch at the shows

 

[Renee750il]

Be a little wary of the Pekignese!! They are adorable and I like them, but they can be rather moody and more often than not a little aggressive.

Amen to that! The only dog that's ever bitten me (except Mickey, and she got all of us once, lol!) was a Peke. He'd hide in the bushes and wait for ANYONE to walk by on the sidewalk, then rush out and bite your ankles. The bad part was that the people's Doberman would usually be there too, and he'd learned some bad behaviour from the Peke! They had a huge fenced in yard, but would leave the dogs loose and sit up on the front porch and watch them jump people.

I walked Bear past with me a couple of times and they started keeping the dogs up

 

[poeluvr]

lol
i almost got a peke they were selling pups of them for 150, good for purebred pupies, they were for sale at a petshop (i understand pet shops are bad but once ur hooked in and fall in love.. also i also almost got a maltesex at the pound but its owners came for him, so im not that bad).
anyways for purebred pups in a petstore i thought that was good. well i saw one family get one and they were so happy, but from their conversation i heard they had no idea what it would look like when they're older(boy r they in for a surprise) and they had one 3 yr old and one 4 yr old and a 8 yr. old, now i heard peke's are usually not very good with children, i wanted to tell them what they were getting themselves into, but they seemed happy, and who was i but i hope everything works out for them

 

[showpug]

When I worked at the vet clinic we had a Peke that would come in named "Opus" he was so rotten and would ALWAYS try to bite us just for looking at him. It was hilarious and we could not help but laugh and hope he would come in for entertainment

 

[poeluvr]

that is pretty funny, i love in dog shows when they walk, cuz they cant thay waddle,(sry anybody who has a peke and reads this, it must sound like im pickin on them, they are cute!)
showpug u should go to puppy pics in the dog pictures theres a albino peke there, is he ever different looking i didnt know their were such albino dogs?

 

[Doberluv]

It sounds to me like you should wait. All dogs need some walks every day and time and knowlege spent in order to train them to not chew, yap excessively, go potty outdoors and just generally learn how to get along in a human's world. They need lots of socialization every single day...getting out to meet all kinds of people, dogs, see different enviornments, objects. If you don't do this, a pup will grow up to be maladjusted. You need to learn how to handle a dog so it doesn't become aggressive, how to be it's trusted leader.

I would suggest spending some more time researching and reading stuff online and on this and other forums and then consider what, if any type of dog you should get.

I think a Pug sounds like a possibility and also a Chihuahua. They require very little exercise, although they like some. Mine happen to go on long hikes just about every day with my Doberman and me. They need socialization, just the same as any dog to be friendly to everyone. And they need to be treated like any dog, not spoiled, given their own way about everything, or they can become snappers. Some of these dogs get reputations for bad behavior, but it's really the owners' fault for not training or handling them properly. They are alert and have excellent hearing, making them tend to be barkers, but that too can be curbed. The smooth coated ones shed, but it's short and not too much. They were bred to be companions and are major lap dogs and very affectionate, velcro and need to be around their people. They don't like to be left alone all day.

But again....I'd wait until you prepare yourself a little better with some research.

 

[BlackDog]

What breed of dog should you get for your situation you ask?

A stuffed one. No dog can only go out once a week. I don't think even a cat could fit those demands, minus the outside thing.

A dog has to fit into your life style, not the other way around. Its true you must be able to meet the dog's demands, but you have to choose a breed that will work for the type of life style you are living. It would be unfair to keep a westie and comfort yourself by saying that you can just change all the things that don't work out with it. That's not how it works. The dog has to fit the amount of time you can spend with it. Its not a question of how many minutes can a squeeze in with is dog a week. It's how many hows can a provide to train, exercise, play, and groom this dog every day? It doesn't sound like you have the time or cooperation (from family) to provide the time to even 1/16 th of a dog.

 

[chilled]

hello
you could get anysize dog in an apartment.
ive got a boxer/ridgeback and he seems fine.
but any dog needs at least one walk a day.
how about walking it in the morning/ evening???
tell us what you decide

 

[mrose_s]

why cant you take it to the park more often?
if you cant, dont get a dog, it may become destructive, wreck the furniture and you will have to sell it, not a good end.
if you can get more time at the park every week, may i suggest a basset hound?