What kind of dog should I get?

VballLeash

Ok so I want to get a dog... I would really like to find one that I can run with. The problem is that I live in an apartment so I can't get a big dog cause that wouldn't be fair to the dog. I plan on exericising this puppy though! I was looking at maybe a border collie beagle mix, they are medium sized I think, what do you guys think? Anyone have a great dog, oh and I want it to be able to be house trained! Thanks MFP!

~Leash

iRun4wine

We're planning on getting a Beagle in the Spring, and I plan on running with him/her

ittybittybadonkadonk

maybe a cocker spaniel

neenaleigh

jack russells are always ready for a walk, small and compact, but brave enough to guard you! :bigsmile:

VballLeash

Thanks Kelynn! Do they bark a lot though? Oh and I'm starting gluten free today!

~Leash

VballLeash

maybe a cocker spaniel

Don't cocker spaniels have a lot of hair? They are really cute though!

~Leash

michlingle

We're planning on getting a Beagle in the Spring, and I plan on running with him/her

If you want to run, don't get a beagle. I have one and she stops to sniff everything constantly!

McFatterton

A goldendoodle!!! Take a look at my picture - how could you pass up that face!?

Obviously, mine would be a little too big for you, but there are miniature goldendoodles as well. Or a ****-a-poo - those are small and adorable!

oops - didn't think about that being a bad word - shame on me!

cocker spaniel - poodle mix

ittybittybadonkadonk

maybe a cocker spaniel

Don't cocker spaniels have a lot of hair? They are really cute though!

~Leash

you could keep them trim .... my mom has one and she is a lover ..... and not big

VballLeash

A goldendoodle!!! Take a look at my picture - how could you pass up that face!?

Obviously, mine would be a little too big for you, but there are miniature goldendoodles as well. Or a ****-a-poo - those are small and adorable!

OMG how cute! But he has a lot of hair,I don' think I can keep that clean...

ittybittybadonkadonk

you could get a poodle ... or a ****z zoo (sp?)

Simone32

Get a rescued adolescent aged american pit bull terrier. There are tons in the shelter right now and most around a few months are already on their way to being house trained. I have two that I run with. They have both learned to run right beside me and my little one is only 40lbs.

ShellyLee

Border collies are generally HIGH energy.. and beagles can be loud (not very kind to the close neighbors). I've got two dogs. I have a pembroke corgi, great dog LOVE her, but definitely not into going running with me lol. I also have an Australian shepard, who I think if I'd been a runner earlier in life would love to go with me.. but as he wasn't he mostly tries to trip me up. Both of these dogs are herding breeds, very smart, and again can be high energy and since they are smart they will find things to entertain themselves when bored (but this really goes for ALL dogs). That said mine aren't any of these things.. they are lazy, sleep all day, and are well behaved. I think if you've got plenty of time to spend and train that an Australian shepard might work for you (or Aussie mix). They're medium sized dogs, have plenty of energy. Mine has lived in houses and condos.. he's adapted to both. They do shed quite a bit though!

Just make sure you look into the breed(s) before deciding on what to get. There are some amazing dogs that go through the shelter because people don't learn about the breed before they purchase and then the dog doesn't fit into the lifestyle of the people that get them. Soo many owner surrenders are because the dog is too active, but had they looked at any site it would have told them that! Go check out your local shelter!

LittleSpy

Greyhounds are AWESOME apartment dogs! They don't need a lot of exercise and are really content to sleep about 20 hours a day if necessary. They can be *great* running partners if their stamina is built up (my retired racers were built and trained for sprinting). I've been building my guys up slowly. They can go a good 2.5 miles now if the temp isn't too high.
Greyhounds vary in size from about 40 pounds to about 100 pounds and come in something like 160 different color combinations. Retired racers don't have a lot of genetic health problems like a lot of dogs because they're bred for *health* and athletic ability. Plus, if you adopt a retired racer, they'll probably already be trained pretty well to heel on lead and house trained.

Fantastic dogs (I have 2)!

allisontaylor

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE adopt a doggie that would otherwise be put to sleep at a shelter! Please don't buy one, and please make sure to get it spayed/neutered! Mutts have many less health problems than full-breeds. A good friend of mine has a pug that she trail runs and hikes with often - and it does awesome, but again, no need to get a full-bread anything! Good luck

liz72

Beagles are barkers, and I'm not sure how well a Border Collie would do in an apartment. They need a lot of exercise and probably need to keep busy since they're a "working" breed.

vanimami

I have a german short haired pointer and we also got him because my bf and I are active as well. They're medium sized: males are between 55-70 but it's all muscle, they are not big dogs. They are very high energy dog, though, so if you plan on running with them daily, you should be fine. Mine does not bark very much, actually we call him a mute :huh: but every dog in a breed is different. I would recommend just to do your research, though

LittleSpy

Mutts have many less health problems than full-breeds.

:noway:
This is not necessarily true. There's nothing special about a "mutt" and they can have just as many genetic problems as poorly bred purebreeds. If you did choose to buy a purebred dog from a breeder, though, PLEASE research your breeder thoroughly. There are way too many irresponsible breeders out there (I'd say about 90% of breeders are horrible and are in it for the $$, not bettering the breed).
2 of my dogs are rescues from horrible back yard breeders. 1 was bred for bones so thin that he can hardly walk without breaking a leg (has broken 2 since March). The other was kept in a tiny cage and was used as "breeding stock."

For apartment living, stay FAR away from any herding dogs (collies, border collies, shelties, corgies, shepherds, etc). They *will* go nuts without adequate exercise (and it's a lot of exercise).

VballLeash

Don't worry everyone, I'm already planning on adopting one! I filled out the adoption pet form already :happy: Thanks for the help, now I'm more confused but I need to make sure I get the right kind of dog, I don't want a loud dog, so I have to look into that for sure!

~Leash

duffyzmom

When our family selected our dog (Duffy) I did a quiz on the internet. We ended up with a schnoodle which is a schnauzer poodle mix. He is perfect for us as we needed a hypoallergenic dog. He is not a good running mate because he has all that terrier need to chase and sniff. If you are in an apartment and want a quiet dog but also want a good running companion, have you considered a Whippet. Size wise they aren't too big. But most of all I encourage you to research research research! When you are selecting your breed and then again when you are selecting your individual dog.

AwMyLoLo

A goldendoodle!!! Take a look at my picture - how could you pass up that face!?

Obviously, mine would be a little too big for you, but there are miniature goldendoodles as well. Or a ****-a-poo - those are small and adorable!

oops - didn't think about that being a bad word - shame on me!

cocker spaniel - poodle mix

Your dog IS cute!! My parents have a standard poodle who is a really good girl but barks a lot.

I have a jack russell and DH and I think she is the best dog in the world! Very sweet, affectionate, and full of personality. Of course, that breed isnt for everyone. They are very very energetic and require a lot of attention. They are very easily trainable. I've had 2 of them and never had trouble potty training them or breaking of bad habits. Good luck!

vrdz3215

I definately vote for a jack russell! I live in a townhouse and I have one, she is the greatest! They are great to run with b/c they love to run! (althought I will warn you they are super fast!) Jacks are hyper, but as long as you exercise them daily, they are managable in an apartment. They are really easy to house train as well! Good Luck on your hunt!

sindyb9

We're planning on getting a Beagle in the Spring, and I plan on running with him/her

If you want to run, don't get a beagle. I have one and she stops to sniff everything constantly!

LOL mine is the same a little on the lazy side. :laugh:

AwMyLoLo

I definately vote for a jack russell! I live in a townhouse and I have one, she is the greatest! They are great to run with b/c they love to run! (althought I will warn you they are super fast!) Jacks are hyper, but as long as you exercise them daily, they are managable in an apartment. They are really easy to house train as well! Good Luck on your hunt!

Yay! I love your dog! :bigsmile:

shannahrenee

get a pound puppy, they're the best dogs ever and you'll be saving a life!

VballLeash

I definately vote for a jack russell! I live in a townhouse and I have one, she is the greatest! They are great to run with b/c they love to run! (althought I will warn you they are super fast!) Jacks are hyper, but as long as you exercise them daily, they are managable in an apartment. They are really easy to house train as well! Good Luck on your hunt!

Yea I was thinking about a jack russel but they are pretty hyper, what if I didn't exercise it for a few days? I want it to be able to go on longer runs too and they have little legs I think? Thanks for the help!

~Leash

BiloxiBelle

We're planning on getting a Beagle in the Spring, and I plan on running with him/her

If you want to run, don't get a beagle. I have one and she stops to sniff everything constantly!

Totally agree!!!!! Our beagle would be the very last choice I would take for a dog to run with. However, our jack russell/cattle dog mix is a fantastic running partner! The cattle dog in him makes him a bit bigger than a jack, so he keeps up well...he's about 30 pounds & sweet as anything. However my #1 answer to the question of what type of dog to get is ONE THAT IS RESCUED!

AwMyLoLo

I definately vote for a jack russell! I live in a townhouse and I have one, she is the greatest! They are great to run with b/c they love to run! (althought I will warn you they are super fast!) Jacks are hyper, but as long as you exercise them daily, they are managable in an apartment. They are really easy to house train as well! Good Luck on your hunt!

Yea I was thinking about a jack russel but they are pretty hyper, what if I didn't exercise it for a few days? I want it to be able to go on longer runs too and they have little legs I think? Thanks for the help!

~Leash

Our Jack stays in her "room" all day and is let out when DH is home for lunch. He tries to run around or play tug a little bit with her, but we don't necessarily take her for hour long walks every night. We goof around and play a little in the evenings but a lot of time she will just hang out with us and chew a bone or something.

Ours is VERY long legged and faster than the speed of light! :laugh: She could definitely keep up on a run with you!

katie517

Any type of dog bred for hunting will generally be easy to train. We have a Brittney Spaniel/Labrador Retriever mix. She hunts with DH and runs/walks with me. She is a sniffer. But it only takes a gentle tug on her leash to remind her to stay in step. She has short hair and is about 42 lbs. She loves the water and has a lot of energy, but does not have destructive tendencies when bored. Very smart. (There is a pic of her in my profile photos. The most adorable dog ever, of course!)

Yes, research would be the key. The quiz sounds like a good idea. Learn about different breeds. And definitely go visit the dogs. Sometimes it is love at first sight.

Best of luck!

jlefton1212

There are dog breed selectors online.

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselectorindex.do

They will ask you questions about what you are looking for, and help you find the best dog for your lifestyle. Also, I recommend watching Dogs 101 on animal planet. They profile many dog breeds and I think it is fascinating.

Also, I notice that you have said that you want a dog that can keep up with you for long runs, but also a dog that will be okay if you don't exercise for a couple of days. Keep in mind that with most dogs will benefit from a schedule and regular exercise. So even if you don't plan on running, you should plan on at least a 30-minute walk to keep the dog happy and healthy.

CrystalT

We're planning on getting a Beagle in the Spring, and I plan on running with him/her

If you want to run, don't get a beagle. I have one and she stops to sniff everything constantly!

I would imagine that would be a fairly common problem with any of the "scent hounds". My dachshund mix is a sniffer. Funny enough, my beagle mix isn't.