Last Thursday I sent out an email to my subscriber list asking what type of dog I should to get. Here is the exact question I asked them.
“I’m thinking about buying or adopting a dog. I work from home all day and it would be nice to have a dog to spend the day with me. I’m trying to find out if there are any certain breeds that any of you can recommend. I’d like a dog that doesn’t weigh more than 40 lbs, doesn’t shed too much, is protective, and good around kids. I really don’t want an ugly dog either. If any of you could recommend a breed, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.”
So far, I have received lots of responses, and they keep coming in. Here are the responses I have received so far. For the most part, I have not modified or changed the responses. If there were typos, I fixed the typos, but that is all. Also, I removed the person’s name and email to protect their identity.
- Get a Yorkshire Terrier or a Beagle. Both very loving.
- The Schnauzer sounds right for you. I have a miniature Schnauzer because I travel so often she is inexpensive to kennel. They are one of the smarter breads, are hypo allergenic, don’t shed, and are great companions.
- I rescued a Beagle. Greatest single thing I’ve done. When I’m home, he is never more than 2 ft from my side. When I go to AT, my wife says he gets up in the morning and spends the day looking out the window, waiting. When I get home I never thought how much physical impact 30 lbs can have on your body. Good hunting.
- I recommend a Corgi.
- Golden Retriever; great family dogs and great with kids.
- I just adopted a 3 year old Boxer. He is 56 lbs and full of energy, but I love playing with him (good exercise). He barks at strangers and sounds fierce, but wouldn’t hurt anyone. Boxers think they are lap dogs, but will lie down on the floor if you tell them too. I had a German Shepherd in the past and thought they were great dogs, but this Boxer is a lot of fun. Has short hair, but does shed a little.
- Shih Tzu or mini teacup Chihuahua.
- As for the dog, well I prefer cats mainly because they are the lazy mans pet. They usually are not noisy, don’t need to walk them, and usually don’t mess up furniture. Don’t have much advice for a dog, if I had one it would stay outside 90% of the time. Good luck.
- I love my dog. It is part lab and part Beagle. It has all the marking, size, and color of a beagle. But is loyal and good with kids like a lab. It is the best of both worlds.
- Look at adopting a retired military device dog. Already trained, protective, and most are good with kids. There are a lot of Shepherd breeds, but I am now seeing a huge variety being used. If they don’t get homes the military (used to) destroy them as property. Good luck. I personally like Rotties or German Shepherds. Rotties don’t shed at all but for the size go with a type (any) of Shepherd.
- We have a “Snorky”. She is a Schnauzer-Yorkshire cross breed that doesn’t shed and is great with kids. They are a small breed and a good inside dog. I have never been much of a small dog person until we got her.
- Both my wife and I volunteer at “Pawsibilities,” (that’s the name of the Humane Society of Greater Akron), and we see so many lovely dogs come through the doors because of human ignorance… and too often, human stupidity. Reading your newsletters, I know you strive to remain ignorant free (unfortunately, we all do stupid things from time to time), but what I’d like to encourage you to do is research your local HS and become acquainted with their animals. It’s more than likely you’ll find the dog you never knew you were looking for, or rather, the dog will find you! You’ll discover that your favorite breed is “adopted,” and you’ll further discover that the feeling of rescuing a dog that otherwise could be homeless, is much better than the guilt you might feel after purchasing a puppy from a puppy mill or pet store.I’m trying my best to leave my animal-activist side out of this response, but once you get involved with helping animals that have been pushed aside by the (supposedly) most intelligent animals, us humans, you’ll find it’s difficult to remain impartial. I hope you’ll consider my recommendation, and no matter your decision, I wish you the best on your journey in search of a canine companion.
- Any dog that is relatively large, loud, sounds intimidating and protective/territorial…if you get one that’s aggressive and that likes to bite then you may have a liability on your hands…even if you train the dog…especially if you train the dog….then you are liable, not the dog (kinda like having a gun)…best way to make the dog know his territory is to walk the outside perimeter of the house…then he’ll know what is your property and whenever people approach the property line he’ll start growling…make sure he pees and marks the territory.
- I recommend a Kerry blue terrier. These dogs are great. A little hard to find and kind of expensive, but well worth it. Keep their hair trimmed shorter around their snout.
As I get more responses I will update this page. I’d love to hear your input too. What type of dog would you recommend I get based off my original criteria?
“I’d like a dog that doesn’t weigh more than 40 lbs, doesn’t shed too much, is protective, and good around kids. I really don’t want an ugly dog either. If any of you could recommend a breed, I would really appreciate it.”
If/when my wife and I get a dog, I will tell you what type of dog we chose. Please share your input by leaving a comment to this post. If possible, make sure your recommendation goes with the criteria we are looking for.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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As this was posted some time ago, I was wondering if a choice was made? There are many great breeds that fit the mold, but like a couple others stated, I am also a huge fan of pet adoption. Usually, just walking through one of these adoption areas, you will discover a dog or puppy that “fits the bill.” Purebred shouldn’t always be the main thing, but getting the right dog that fits your family. Just my 2 cents. I hope they found a good one.
Sorry, I laughed at the ugly dog wish because as you know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What might fit your wish but I’m not sure what is ugly to you and your wife: beagle, Boston terrier, and Italian greyhound. My regular greyhound only barks to protect us such as when someone new comes to the door. He is a couch potato but craves two walks per day and a few head scratches.
My brother and I had Labradors. They are a little out of you weight requirement, but they can be a blessing. In addition to being great with children, I find Labs to be more attuned to their owner’s needs and moods. Also, I am highly allergic to cats, but I had no problem with Labs (and one was half husky and shed a lot).
Labradors are great dogs. They’re great with hunting and great around kids. And they love the water. If I was willing to get a bigger dog, they would be near the top of my list.
I’m a big believer in animal shelters and their adoption services. These organizations deserve support of the community as they are both ethical and beneficial. They do all sorts of public outreach to prevent animal abuse and find homes for dogs and cats that need them. Local shelters nearly always operate as non-profits, so you can donate money directly to them and get a tax deduction.
Chihuahua’s can be very protective and loving, which is great. The only downside to my experience with those kinds of dogs is that they can be very skittish and can scare easily.
I have had three dogs since becoming an adult, and all three were bad experiences. I don’t dislike dogs: I have just realized that I am a much better cat owner. I like the self-reliance of a cat (mainly that it poops in a litter box with minimal training), but I have also learned that cats really make great companions. Ours is very affectionate and loves to be around people. The cat also knows the schedules of all three of my girls, so she is the one who wakes them up in the morning just before their alarms go off and later herds them upstairs at bed time, making her the “bad guy” instead of me. I love it.
Dog-wise (considering the above list): friends of ours have three daughters and a Corgi dog. That Corgi is great with the girls, friendly with house guests, well mannered, and not overly vocal. Its size doesn’t scream “potential lawsuit” to the wrong person, either.
Good luck with your search!
Thanks, Faye.
I had both cats and dogs growing up and enjoyed both. I would love to have a cat, but my wife is allergic to them. What I like most about cats is that they are low maintenance compared to a dog and they are also great companions. Thanks for the comment.
Chuck