Dog breed discussion

[Corpsebean]

I recommend a Terminator Shitzu.



Loyal, Smart, Very Sweet disposition and great dogs for apartments. Also has Metal Endoskeleton.

[Lazy Meatball]

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The pit I had was awesome for my smaller place, she was a stratfordshire bull terrier (they refer to them as pits),

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You mean a Staffordshire Bull terrier, right?
I totally agree with you about the Weimereiners though, those thing are high strung headcases that go nuts if they aren't being stimulated. I have known some very low key relaxed greyhounds, but alot of them seem to have similar personalities to the Weimereiners.

To the OP, your Italian Greyhound is most definitwly a poofy dog and they can be pretty skittish. They are also very fragile. English bulldogs and basset hounds can be very lazy, so they might suit your apartment living style better.

[fluffpop62]

aww maybe I do have a good one - I'll have to be extra nice to him today so he knows how special he is.

Funny, too, because he was bred to show, and you'd think would be more high strung/inbred as a result.

[hawk59]

just go to the pound and get a dog, you don't need any special kind, you will love whatever dog you get

also despite bad PR a pit mix will likely be the most affectionate dog you can find

[Kneel B4 Zod]

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mutt ftw

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they are often healthier than pure breds, and you'll be doing the world some good if you adopt a dog in need of a home.

[katyseagull]

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I would recommend an English Spring Spaniel. They are great dogs (grow to around 40-45 pounds or so -- not sure if that is bigger than what you are looking for or not).



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I think these are beautiful dogs. I know someone who has 2 of them and both are very calm and obedient.


Does anyone know about minature schnauzers? Do they make nice pets?

[seke2]

Anyone know anything about the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen breed? My girlfriend saw one on a dog show on TV this year and appears to have fallen in love with the breed, and we've talked about getting a dog sometime in the next few years so that could end up being the breed we end up with.

[Slow Play Ray]

puggle

[wdcbooks]

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I would recommend an English Spring Spaniel. They are great dogs (grow to around 40-45 pounds or so -- not sure if that is bigger than what you are looking for or not).



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I think these are beautiful dogs. I know someone who has 2 of them and both are very calm and obedient.


Does anyone know about minature schnauzers? Do they make nice pets?

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Any dog can make a good pet. Schnauzers tend towards the headstrong and dog aggressive. Obviously when they are giant this tends to be more of a problem than miniature.

I would also say to go to the shelter. Get an older dog that has an established personality and you know exactly what you are getting. I also wouldn't underestimate the issue of health with the dog you choose. As someone else said, Italian Greyhounds are prone to a myriad of health problems. Bulldogs are as well.

I forgot to mention Pug as a possibility. The manliest small dog there is.

[unfrgvn]

I did a lot of searching on this topic as we let my daughter get a puppy for Christmas. Her main criteria was cute and cuddly and small, so I mainly researched the under 10lb set. The one I wanted her to choose was a papillon(big dog attitude), but she ended up with a toy poodle. So far he has been pretty good about not being too effeminate like some of the small breeds. Here is a list I found of the smartest dogs, according to a book by Stanley Coren:
Ranking of dogs by breed

Brightest Dogs
1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)



Excellent Working Dogs
11. Miniature Schnauzer
12. English Springer Spaniel
13. Belgian Tervueren
14. Schipperke
15. Belgian Sheepdog
16. Collie
Keeshond
17. German Shorthaired Pointer
18. Flat-Coated Retriever
English Cocker Spaniel
Standard Schnauzer
19. Brittany
20. Cocker Spaniel
21. Weimaraner


Lol at someone who said the Shih Tzu was smart, they rank at the end of the list:
Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence
70. Shih Tzu
71. Basset Hound
72. Mastiff
Beagle
73. Pekingese
74. Bloodhound
75. Borzoi
76. Chow Chow
77. Bulldog
78. Basenji
79. Afghan Hound


Actually, a really smart dog may not be a good choice for an apartment dweller as the dog may get bored too easily.