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I'm looking for advice, based on the experience of dog-owners' here, on what are the most easiest to manage dogs to own.
And I'm including.
Minimal chewing on furniture
Not a threat to people ( not looking for watch dog, I have 'other protection' if needed )
Doesn't bark at just anything.
Less prone to illnesses than other dogs.
It could be any size dog, don't care about the size.
What about the amount of grooming the dog needs (as in many long haired dogs) or the amount of shedding from the dog? Is that a big deal to you? Some people don't like to run the vacuum cleaner every day to clean up dog hair. Some dog breeds shed a lot more than others. If you want a low-maintenance dog to minimize vacuuming the floor (or furniture) and dog grooming, that should also be indicated because that will narrow the list of recommendations.
What about the amount of grooming the dog needs (as in many long haired dogs) or the amount of shedding from the dog? Is that a big deal to you? Some people don't like to run the vacuum cleaner every day to clean up dog hair. Some dog breeds shed a lot more than others. If you want a low-maintenance dog to minimize vacuuming the floor (or furniture) and dog grooming, that should also be indicated because that will narrow the list of recommendations.
T'hat's actually not a problem. I'm in a townhouse, so I won't bother neighbors with the vacuum noise. Thanks for adding that consideration though.
I suggest going to the animal shelter and getting an adult mixed breed dog. Puppies of any breed will chew. If you get an adult dog it is likely to be house trained. Ask the shelter workers for a dog that is laid back and not a barker.
A mixed breed has less chance of health issues and if you rescue a dog they will forever be grateful to you!
I was going to suggest a golden retriever or a lab, if you wanted shorter hair. They're both large but fairly easy to train.
If you get a puppy, they're going to chew some. That's just what a puppy does while their teeth are coming in. It's the same reason babies teethe.
But if you get a large breed, you might want to connect with a breeder who has an adult dog that needs a home or a rescue service for a particular breed.
If you are looking for a German shepherd, golden, or lab, you might want to try some of the guide dog schools. if their dogs get rejected, they'll place them as pets and those are really nice dogs.
One of my friends got a German shepherd from Guide Dogs for the Blind that had to be placed simply because he couldn't eat a wheat-based diet.
Other factors no one has mentioned yet and they have more to do with YOU OP.
How much exercise are you willing to provide for this dog?
Do you expect the dog to run miles of trails with you or must it be happy on the couch when you're off work?
Will you expect it to provide you with agility champion pride or reflected glory?
Will you want to take it along everywhere or relegate it to a crate at home so your car's upholstery stays cleaner? Not all dogs enjoy car trips or being left alone in a car while you shop.
Should it not mind if you are gone long hours every day?
How much actual time will you want to spend interacting with the dog? Will it simply be a friendly presence in your house or do you want to spend a lot of time/effort (challenge) teaching, training, focused on it?
Be flexible/tolerant enough to take to a kennel if you need to travel frequently?
How interactive do you want the dog to be? There are needy more slavish dogs, "velcro" or shadow dogs that won't let you go to the bathroom by yourself, and there are dogs who are pretty content just to know you're alive somewhere.
Suggest you really evaluate what you expect from a dog as an interactive social creature. A bad fit will result in a very high maintenance pet no matter how healthy the breed or how wash and wear its coat is.
Last edited by Parnassia; 04-09-2022 at 05:07 PM..
Other factors no one has mentioned yet and they have more to do with YOU OP.
How much exercise are you willing to provide for this dog?
Do you expect the dog to run miles of trails with you or must it be happy on the couch when you're off work?
Will you expect it to provide you with agility champion pride or reflected glory?
Will you want to take it along everywhere or relegate it to a crate at home so your car's upholstery stays cleaner? Not all dogs enjoy car trips or being left alone in a car while you shop.
Should it not mind if you are gone long hours every day?
How much actual time will you want to spend interacting with the dog? Will it simply be a friendly presence in your house or do you want to spend a lot of time/effort (challenge) teaching, training, focused on it?
Be flexible/tolerant enough to take to a kennel if you need to travel frequently?
How interactive do you want the dog to be? There are needy more slavish dogs, "velcro" or shadow dogs that won't let you go to the bathroom by yourself, and there are dogs who are pretty content just to know you're alive somewhere.
Suggest you really evaluate what you expect from a dog as an interactive social creature. A bad fit will result in a very high maintenance pet no matter how healthy the breed or how wash and wear its coat is.
What a great list of issues for compatibility between pet and owner. OP says he lives in a townhouse. That means there is likely not a lot of outdoor yard space for the dog while the owner is not home. That makes the availability of the owner to take the dog for a few walks per day even more important.
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