What are they like? Energy level? Drive? Good with other dogs/cats? Willing to please? Good offleash? Health issues? Anything else I should know?
I've been wondering what type of dog I want when I have my own place. Ideally I'd like something small-medium sized, good offleash, not too much grooming (preferably nothing that sheds massively), willing to please, off-switch, at least tolerant of other dogs and cats, and honestly I'd prefer a dog that would be okay with minimal exercise, but all the breeds I'm drawn to, seem to have a higher energy level, so I'm lenient with that one.
There are some other breeds I'm looking into (Chihuahua, Corgi, Border Collie, Sheltie) but none of them fit everything I'm looking for. Which is okay - love is compromise - but I don't think I've ever had a dog with all (or even most) of my "requirements". So I'd like to kind of find a dog that actually fits me.
Chloe really fits me and all of my requirements except maybe "good offleash", but I really don't need her to be, because since she's so small, I wouldn't want to let her loose anywhere anyway, for fear she might get hurt by another dog (again).
I'm willing to compromise, but I think the main thing I REALLY want in a dog is biddability (not sure if that's spelled right ...). I want a dog that WANTS to be trained, and please his owner. I love Violet to death, but Huskies are NOT that kind of dog, and having her, really shows me that I prefer dogs who take less work to get their attention. I want a dog that's focused on ME and not just the treat in my hand, if that makes sense. I want a dog that wants to be my buddy, and follow me around, and go places with me.
I guess another thing I don't want to compromise on is being good with other dogs/cats. I do plan to have Chloe around when I get this dog, and I hope to eventually have cats. If I have to get the cats first, so the dog can be raised around them and be more comfortable with them, so be it, I just want tolerance, they don't have to be best friends. Chloe doesn't love cats (especially if she sees them out the window) but if put in a room with one, she tolerates it, unless it's twice her size, and comes after her first (which we've had happen!! :yikes.
Anyway, I'm just sort of thinking out loud. This has turned into more of a "what breed for me?" thread, than just a thread asking about Dalmatians, so I guess I'll add that to the thread title.
Oh, and just because I can...
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
I've been wondering what type of dog I want when I have my own place. Ideally I'd like something small-medium sized, good offleash, not too much grooming (preferably nothing that sheds massively), willing to please, off-switch, at least tolerant of other dogs and cats, and honestly I'd prefer a dog that would be okay with minimal exercise, but all the breeds I'm drawn to, seem to have a higher energy level, so I'm lenient with that one.
There are some other breeds I'm looking into (Chihuahua, Corgi, Border Collie, Sheltie) but none of them fit everything I'm looking for. Which is okay - love is compromise - but I don't think I've ever had a dog with all (or even most) of my "requirements". So I'd like to kind of find a dog that actually fits me.
Chloe really fits me and all of my requirements except maybe "good offleash", but I really don't need her to be, because since she's so small, I wouldn't want to let her loose anywhere anyway, for fear she might get hurt by another dog (again).
I'm willing to compromise, but I think the main thing I REALLY want in a dog is biddability (not sure if that's spelled right ...). I want a dog that WANTS to be trained, and please his owner. I love Violet to death, but Huskies are NOT that kind of dog, and having her, really shows me that I prefer dogs who take less work to get their attention. I want a dog that's focused on ME and not just the treat in my hand, if that makes sense. I want a dog that wants to be my buddy, and follow me around, and go places with me.
I guess another thing I don't want to compromise on is being good with other dogs/cats. I do plan to have Chloe around when I get this dog, and I hope to eventually have cats. If I have to get the cats first, so the dog can be raised around them and be more comfortable with them, so be it, I just want tolerance, they don't have to be best friends. Chloe doesn't love cats (especially if she sees them out the window) but if put in a room with one, she tolerates it, unless it's twice her size, and comes after her first (which we've had happen!! :yikes.
Anyway, I'm just sort of thinking out loud. This has turned into more of a "what breed for me?" thread, than just a thread asking about Dalmatians, so I guess I'll add that to the thread title.
Oh, and just because I can...
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!