Dog breed suggestions please!

[Ibex]

Now that Mr Ibex and I have purchased a place with a fenced yard, we are giving serious thought to adding a dog to the menagerie. We have some specific criteria, so I’m looking at ideas around breeds/types so we can narrow down what we’re looking for, hopefully to adopt when we get there.

I telecommute so there’s someone home nearly all the time.

• 20-40 pounds
• dry coated
• medium level of energy ie can go on a good long walk with us, but still has an “off” switch when it’s time to crash (ie border collies as a whole would be a “no”, although I’ve known a couple of individuals who I would happily have in the family)
• Lower prey drive/socializable with cats. We have four. This is important. :lol:
• Reasonably trainable (ie I’m not taking up obedience trials, but it drives me nuts when dogs don’t at least sit, stay, and have some concept of recall)

No intentions to breed or show - this is to be a family member only. I grew up with an afghan hound and am attracted to the smaller sighthound types (whippets, silkens etc). There are a couple of breeds I’ve never met one I liked, all in the spitz type, so eskimos etc are firmly out.

[Marshfield]

Pembroke or Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

[Romany]

How about working with some local fosters, fostering an assortment of different dogs, until the two of you find one that fits your wishlist?

Between 4 and 6 MILLION dogs and cats are euthanized in N America every year. I get that some - many - rescues - are a PITA to deal with, but there are also lots of wonderful ones out there with dogs who are dying to love you two to bits, I promise you. I am living proof that at least, oh, 10 of them exist.

[Pep_n_Ann]

I have a coonhound mix that meets almost everything you listed. He almost 50 lbs though.

[Ibex]

[QUOTE=Romany;8825618]
How about working with some local fosters, fostering an assortment of different dogs, until the two of you find one that fits your wishlist?

Between 4 and 6 MILLION dogs and cats are euthanized in N America every year. I get that some - many - rescues - are a PITA to deal with, but there are also lots of wonderful ones out there with dogs who are dying to love you two to bits, I promise you. I am living proof that at least, oh, 10 of them exist. :)[/QUOTE]

Well bless your heart.

If you refer to the OP, you would note that we are more than happy to adopt, and we will likely start there.

For YOUR information, the adoption people around here are absolutely insane and causing more and more people to go to breeders. The behaviour of many rescues is disgusting, and I would not want any association with most of them. Adopting from a municipal shelter is dodgy, and I wouldn’t do it when there are other pets in the house.

And if I choose to buy a purebred puppy? That would be none of your business

[cnm161]

So I know this is usually when everyone chimes in with their favorite breed and ignores some of your criteria.

Which is why I’m going to recommend a Sheltie. Super trainable, enough energy to be out and about with their people but great couch potatoes indoors, manageable coat (mine gets a quick brush once a week and a deeper pin brushing every 2 weeks to a month). Mine leaves cats alone. Also is very cute.

[Romany]

[QUOTE=Ibex;8825667]
Well bless your heart.

If you refer to the OP, you would note that we are more than happy to adopt, and we will likely start there.

For YOUR information, the adoption people around here are absolutely insane and causing more and more people to go to breeders. The behaviour of many rescues is disgusting, and I would not want any association with most of them. Adopting from a municipal shelter is dodgy, and I wouldn’t do it when there are other pets in the house.

And if I choose to buy a purebred puppy? That would be none of your business :)[/QUOTE]

Eh? Didn’t mean to offend you, Ibex, honestly! I suggested fostering because that can be a less irksome route than dealing with over-zealous private rescues, and all our local municipal pounds work actively with fosters (SE Ontario…I’m guessing you, too, are in Canada from your title?). Sorry you took such huge offence, and good luck with your search for a suitable dog.

[Romany]

[QUOTE=Ibex;8825609]
Now that Mr Ibex and I have purchased a place with a fenced yard, we are giving serious thought to adding a dog to the menagerie. We have some specific criteria, so I’m looking at ideas around breeds/types so we can narrow down what we’re looking for, hopefully to adopt when we get there.

I telecommute so there’s someone home nearly all the time.

• 20-40 pounds
• dry coated
• medium level of energy ie can go on a good long walk with us, but still has an “off” switch when it’s time to crash (ie border collies as a whole would be a “no”, although I’ve known a couple of individuals who I would happily have in the family)
• Lower prey drive/socializable with cats. We have four. This is important. :lol:
• Reasonably trainable (ie I’m not taking up obedience trials, but it drives me nuts when dogs don’t at least sit, stay, and have some concept of recall)

No intentions to breed or show - this is to be a family member only. I grew up with an afghan hound and am attracted to the smaller sighthound types (whippets, silkens etc). There are a couple of breeds I’ve never met one I liked, all in the spitz type, so eskimos etc are firmly out.[/QUOTE]

Back to your criteria - over the years we have found, by my reckoning, 8 dogs which fitted your criteria admirably, and they came mostly from municipal pounds, and 4 came from level-headed private rescues who re-boots duds (ie they each had an unforgiveable flaw such as; only 3 legs, a bit food-aggressive, a bit old and scared of men, and a bit too enthusiastic about life - seriously). They were mostly terrier or Labrador types, which is a pretty wide margin.

[Altag]

What do you mean by dry-coated?

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Miniature Schnauzer (although they can be noisy!)
Beagle (WILL be noisy! LOL)
Brittany

[Altermyne]

@Altag;8825826

What do you mean by dry-coated?

I wondered that too, wondered if the OP meant dry-mouth

[Marla_100]

I also wondered what “dry coated” is? Is that a coat that doesn’t get wet when it rains?

[Ibex]

Sorry, I had thought it was a real term, and when I googled it, it turns out it’s not?? I’ve heard it used a lot, so possibly regional.

I’ve always heard it referring to dogs that don’t have dense coats (whether short or long) or oily coats to protect them against the elements. You see a lot of dogs I’d consider to be “dry coated” in the hypoallergenic/non-shedder category, but we’re not stuck to that.

[Houndhill]

[QUOTE=Ibex;8826085]
Sorry, I had thought it was a real term, and when I googled it, it turns out it’s not?? I’ve heard it used a lot, so possibly regional.

I’ve always heard it referring to dogs that don’t have dense coats (whether short or long) or oily coats to protect them against the elements. You see a lot of dogs I’d consider to be “dry coated” in the hypoallergenic/non-shedder category, but we’re not stuck to that.[/QUOTE]

I must admit, I was intrigued by this description as well. Thank you for the further info, but I am still not certain what constitutes a “dry coat”.

What about the Silken Windhund? You mentioned them, and they seem to fit your criteria, but perhaps their coat is not what you consider “dry”? Or do you think one might be too prey-driven with your cats?

They do seem like nice dogs to me. I wouldn’t mind their coats and I’m sure if you got a puppy, it would do fine with your kitties.

[Houndhill]

Have you considered the Lowchen? Or are they too small for you, more like 15 pounds- but “hypoallergenic” (I know there is no such thing) coat that can be clipped any way you like, very “biddable”, long legged and not unappealing to those who are drawn to the sighthound body type.

Too little?

I think you are describing the Silken Windhund in your requirements- more “biddable” and less terrier like than whippets (perhaps due to the alleged Sheltie influence- never mention this to SW folk!).

[Houndhill]

Some sighthound folks keep a Chinese Crested as their “auxilliary” dog- seems to meet your criteria, except again, may be too small.

[Foxtrot_s]

That was my criteria as well - a single coated dog. Short haired dogs with underlays can shed as much as a long coated dog - with our lab the house had a constant golden glow.

If you can stand the first year of a ballistic Boxer puppy (or adult) there is a wonderful, fun loving companion. Boxer lovers stay with the breed.

My one year old is coming along so well - so friendly, so full of personality.

I decided on a Boxer because she is our fourth. I searched the rescue/rehome sites, but nothing to suit us. Ours is 50 lbs. Our vet adores her.

I also agree with you on the local do-gooders…we purchased a puppy and know its whole history.

I’ve also had a greyhound who was a very special, sweet girl.

We had two Bull Terriers - very nice dogs, and not to be mixed up with Pit Bulls. Terriers nevertheless with their energy and clownish behaviour.

We bred Jack Russells for many years - could dine out on stories about them.
They learned that our cats are off topic.

Those are my 2 cents worth.

[Houndhill]

I think if someone likes the sighthound "“type”, a breed such as the Boxer, excellent in so many ways as they are, delightful dogs, may be less likely to appeal to the sighthound aficionado, due to the unsighthoundlike muzzle and generally being tail-challenged unless early arrangements are made.

[Houndhill]

…and I agree, short-coated dogs can be very bothersome shedders. I found my greyhound and whippet and Rottie were far more problematic in the house, compared to the Wolfounds. Their little short hairs just embedded deeply in any fabric- coated thing, where the wolfhound hair would lie on top of things.

Also, the proper-coated wiry Wolfounds will lie down wet and muddy, and get up clean, leaving easily vacuumed dirt behind.

[jherold]

Standard poodle?

[Bluey]

People that like whippets love them above any others.
They are cuddlebugs, as most short haired dogs tend to be, that love human’s furnace bodies to warm up by.

If raised with cats and trained not to chase, they are ok about that too.

They can be wild and fast outside, but generally crash in the house and also don’t go thru the puppy and teenager stage for as long as most other breeds.